CLAYTON — Utilizing a $10,000 grant in addition to a price reduction of more than $17,079 led to Clayton city council on March 21 authorizing the purchase of eight MARCS radios for use by the fire department at a total cost of $15,620.

Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) is Ohio’s wireless, digital communication network for first responders, providing fiber optic and microwave technology that enables state, local, and federal agencies to communicate instantly with one another during public safety events.

The purchase enables the fire department to replace radios that are 20 years old. The purchase was budgeted in the city’s 2025 Capital Improvement Plan.

By the end of 2025, the department’s current radios would no longer be allowed to be used due to upgrades to the communications system, which would include encryption and other technology, according to Fire Chief Brian Garver.

“A grant came about this year that we applied for and we were able to get it,” Garver said.

He requested that $20,000 that was in the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan budget for the purchase of rescue tools be utilized to purchase new radios while seeking grant funding for rescue tools purchases next year.

“The nice thing about these radios was that when we quoted them out the price was about $43,000 in change, so we get about $27,000 savings and we are only expending about $15,000. It was something that we needed to do and we just moved the purchase up on year when funding was available,” Garver told council.

Council authorized the purchase by unanimous vote.

In another public safety related matter, council authorized the purchase of one 2025 Ford Interceptor Utility SUV for the police department through a five year lease to purchase option agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. at a total cost of $60,600.

The city would pay $13,560 the first year of the lease and $11,660 per year for each of the next four years of the lease.

Council previously approved the purchase of a 2024 Ford Interceptor Utility SUV, but by the time that purchase was approved the 2024 models were no longer available.

Council approved the lease to purchase by unanimous vote.

Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].