(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The process of upgrading the radio communication systems for Beaver County EMS has been moving forward. However, the direction it is heading has led to the public ire of one company that feels it’s the wrong direction.

EMS director Eric Brewer, at the Commissioners’ work session on March 30, talked about a letter he received from Kenwood Corporation about Brewer’s decision to choose Motorola products for the communications upgrade. Brewer said that the letter called the move a “wrong decision”, but the decision he made is the one he’s sticking with.

“We knew going into this that Motorola is more expensive,” Brewer said, “it’s just that in our opinion it’s a better product.” Brewer added that the system is similar to the units used in adjacent counties such as Allegheny and Butler with their EMS communications.

The Commissioners sided with Brewer’s decision as well: “I think we made it pretty clear,” Jack Manning added. “This is our rationale, and this is what we’re going to do…if you want to buy Kenwoods, go buy Kenwoods.”

“We’d rather not have a bunch of junk on the system,” Brewer declared.

The Commissioners’ next work session is scheduled for April 6 at 10:00 AM