NEW ULM - Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to commit to migrate to the ARMER 800 MHz narrow band radio system.

The migration allows the Brown County Sheriff's Office and other county agencies to apply for grants to help finance the conversion.

The Federal Communications Commission (FTC) mandated that agencies operating radio systems below 512 MHz must modify their radio systems to narrow band technology before Jan. 1, 2013.

Lieutenant Gina Winter of the Brown County Sheriff's Office said the mandate was made to increase inter-operability due to increased radio traffic that is "clogging up radio frequencies."

Brown County now uses the VHF radio system.

So far, 58 of Minnesota's 87 counties use ARMER or support it as their best radio communications alternative. The other 29 counties are considering conversion.

Brown County Sheriff Rich Hoffmann said the conversion would cost his department $400,000 to $500,000.

"The availability of grants is about the highest it's ever been," said Commissioner Jim Berg. "This change costs a lot, but grants can pay for much of it. We've heard lots of positive reports on the conversion from other counties. Overall, it's our best move."

Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions:

For the sheriff's office to buy ARMER radio equipment with PSIC (Public Safety Inter-operability Grant) funds.

Grant funds will be used to buy 16 $2,015.76 portable radios and two $2,745.75 mobile, in-vehicle radios, per a state contract including $300 less per radio with state and national Motorola promotions.

Radio orders must be received by Dec. 15, 2009. They'll be shipped out by Dec. 30, 2009.

Brown County contingency funds will pay for 20% ($8,781) of the cost. Grants will cover 80% ($35,125) of radio costs.

For the sheriff's office to apply for Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Communication Network (DECN) grants.

Up to $30,000 in grants will be used to complete an ARMER system migration plan.

Up to $175,000 is available for local infrastructure and up to $40,000 for ARMER subscriber radios.

A $201,876.85 2010 contract for outpatient services, adult and child rehabilitative services, direct and indirect treatment, crisis intervention, community education and prevention, information and referral services from Sioux Trails Mental Health Services.

The contract amount with the private, non-profit corporation serving Brown, Nicollet, Sibley and Watonwan Counties. is about $14,000 less than in 2009.

Brown County has fallen in usage and population, compared to Nicollet, Sibley and Watonwan Counties.

A 2010 Employment and Training Contract with MRCI and MVAC. The 2010 state block grant formula increased Brown County's share, allowing increases of $4,500 to MVAC and $2,000 to MRCI.

Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson wrote in his request for board action that both agencies are experts in finding jobs for people with generally lesser skills, even in the current economy.

In an e-mail on the Brown County EES (Easy Energy System) project, Brown County Economic Development Partners, Inc. Executive Director Rob Anderson said over the past 18 months, his organization, with help from Region Nine, developed an economic development strategy to move the county forward.

A committee including Brown County EDA Directors, a Bridging Brown County rep. and two County Commissioners decided to bring an EES production unit to the county and consider implementing a Tax Base Share project.

Following the steps of Mountain Lake's EES project, the Committee asked Region Nine staff to develop a Memorandum of Understanding & Agreement (MOUA) for potential partners to consider in Brown County.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com