How Butler County addresses emergency services needs has become a debate.

County Commissioner Jim Eckstein opposes a proposed $71,769 study to explore all options for upgrading the county 911 radio system and replace frequencies being taken away by the federal government.

Eckstein said at the commissioners meeting Monday that a study on all options wasn’t necessary since one choice, seeking UHF frequencies, was preferable due to effectiveness and cost.

“Who wouldn’t try to do the cheapest thing first?” he asked.

Steve Bicehouse, director of county emergency services, stressed there is no guarantee acquiring UHF frequencies is the least expensive route.

“The only way to know is a full study,” Bicehouse said.

Eckstein disagreed, saying the county could spend far less looking at one option.

He said VHF has better coverage than UHF, which is essential in dealing with emergencies.

Eckstein said he polled 16 people, comprised of firefighters and municipal officials, before coming to a decision.

Bicehouse said in an interview that no system would provide 100 percent coverage all the time without the use of more telecommunications towers than is available now.

He said the county would have to spend more money anyway if it determined Eckstein’s preferred option would not work.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton sided with Bicehouse.

“I do believe what Steve said is right,” Pinkerton said at the meeting.

Eckstein emphasized there was no need to rush through a full study unless the UHF option isn’t feasible.

“We’re not on a timeline,” he said.

But Bicehouse disagreed, saying it would take 2.5 years just to implement a new radio system.

“We are on a timeline,” he said.

The county is working under two deadlines.

A 2012 federal law requires the Federal Communications Commission to take away the use of the T-band spectrum radio frequency from emergency services by 2022 and auction it off to the private sector.

The county is among the areas scattered across the country that use that frequency.

Although money generated by the sale is supposedly going to departments forced to buy new frequencies, there is no guarantee the funds will be available and no distribution process is set.

Another deadline is that Motorola no longer will support the radio equipment used by the county by the end of 2018.

“Our equipment is at the end of its life,” Bicehouse said.

Eckstein insisted a couple months could be spared doing it his way.

“We’re not going to fall off a cliff,” he said.

The commissioners are to vote Wednesday on the proposed study, which would be done by Mission Critical Partners of Centre County.

According to a preliminary needs study by Mission Critical Partners, the county’s estimated cost to address its emergency services needs ranges from $8.5 million to $14.4 million.

Bicehouse previously stressed those numbers are estimates, so the final cost might be less.