CLINTON — Clinton Fire Department could receive new radios for firefighters after the city council placed on file a plan to supplement  funding.  Some of the radios scheduled for replacement are at least 13 years old.

The department applied this year for a $46,000 grant through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).  The grant awarded, however, turned out to be significantly less, $21,955.

Of that grant amount, the department was awarded $17,500 to replace radios used by the firefighters.

The original plan was to replace 12 radios.

“That’s why we applied for so much money through IEMA,” Brandon Robinson told the council.

The department secured through the state bid program a price of $25,733 to get 12 new radios but are a little over $8,200 short based on the grant award.

The city budgeted $10,000 for another piece of fire department equipment, but personnel learned the cost to run power for the equipment would have exceeded the cost of the equipment.  That plan was canceled for the time being, so they asked commissioners if they would redirect money allocated for that project to make up the difference to purchase the radios.

“We’re wondering if we can utilize that money to go for more safety equipment, such as these radios,” Blake West told the council.

The new radios from Motorola are rated at 500 degrees heat resistant, would fit better under firefighters’ coats and come with noise-canceling mics, which suppress background noise and better isolate the user’s voice while being used.  The radios also work much better at receiving clear signals from inside dense structures.

Commissioners’ consensus was the plan for redirecting budgeted funds to help buy the radios would work.  The plan was placed on file for a vote at the next regular council meeting.

• See the complete story in the Friday, Nov. 19, print edition of the Clinton Journal or now in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.