The agreement is moving forward after an agenda item was unanimously approved at the June 28 commissioners meeting of the Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9. ESD No. 9 is the governmental entity that funds and manages the Cy-Fair VFD.
After the transition is made, CFISD officers and firefighters will each have their own lines for communication to ensure there is no interference between the two, said Sergeant Tommy Collums, telecommunications supervisor for the CFISD police department. Collums said the move would strengthen the signal for CFISD officers, which often becomes weaker when officers are inside buildings.
“Law enforcement radios are not intended to penetrate buildings," he said. "Goodson Middle School is about a mile from the station ... you step inside the front doors and our radios don’t work."
The switch will provide officers with better communication during possible emergencies like those seen at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Santa Fe high schools, Collums said. He said the department is planned to be switched over to the new radio system after a final legal review of the contract between the two entities. The move will not come at any cost to CFISD.
New vehicles purchase, new commissioners take over
The Cy-Fair VFD was also granted permission to purchase 10 new vehicles at the June 28 meeting. Commissioners approved the purchase of five maintenance vehicles, one quartermaster vehicle, two emergency services vehicles and two suppression vehicles that can be used during high water rescue attempts.
The board also appointed district officers, including for two commissioners—Tommy Balez and Jessica Rivas—who were elected to the board in May. Commissioners were appointed to the following positions:
- President: Tommy Balez
- Vice President: Bob Janusaitis
- Secretary: David Langenberg
- Treasurer: Jessica Rivas
- Assistant secretary and assistant treasurer: Scott DeBoer
