A general obligation loan of up to $10.5 million for emergency communication equipment in Washington County will be discussed and considered Tuesday.

If approved, the funds would be used to improve emergency radio equipment, including adding new radio towers if needed. In a previous meeting, Sheriff Jared Schneider said there is a need for this upgrade both indoors and outdoors, and the consultant says currently indoors the coverage in the county is 39% and the standard is about 95%. Schneider says, “From a law enforcement standpoint, I know there’s spots all over this county that we cannot get out on our radios, some of those are in high traffic areas like 218. So we have difficulties at times, being out on traffic stops, being at accidents out on 218, and being able to get out on our radios. And that can be an accident or stopping somebody that’s very dangerous and having to chase after them, and when you’re in that situation you hope that your radio works.”

A public hearing is the first item on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda at Tuesday’s 9:30 a.m. meeting.