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trunked radio system is selected, to be sure that the procurement occurs in time to take advantage of the sales tax exemption. . Once the long-term direction is chosen, the issue of how the improvements selected will be funded need to be made. It is probable, especially if the MnlDOT 800 MHz trunked radio system alternative system is selected, that multiple sources of funding may need to be found. This will take some time and it is important to begin the process at the earliest possible time. It is not possible to determine an exact period of time that will be required to get all of the funding agreements in place and executed. . If the 800 MHz trunked radio system alternative is chosen, sufficient radio frequencies are available or can be made available by the Metropolitan Radio Board. If enhancement of the existing system is chosen, then additional radio frequencies will need to be found as discussed in Section III of this report. This will take some time as radio technology needs to improve and it will be some period of time before entities migrating to the MnlDOT radio system turn back some of the frequencies that they are currently using. The plan for obtaining the necessary radio frequencies must be developed and the time when frequencies become available through turn backs must be watched carefully so that Anoka County can apply for those frequencies at the appropriate time and not miss out on obtaining any frequencies that are turned back that might become available to Anoka County. . For either of the base alternative directions, additional radio sites will be needed. Those radio sites need to be determined through detailed engineering studies and leases/agreements for use of the sites under reasonable terms will need to be worked out with the owners of the sites that will be needed. It is probable that the same sites will be needed for the enhanced system and the replacement system alternatives. A possible set of sites that may be needed is shown on the map on the next page. ) Once funding, frequencies and sites are available, all of the radio engineering will need to be accomplished so that proposals for providing the enhancements can be obtained and agreements can be entered into for implementation. . Once the procurement agreements are in place, there will need to be much project management activities for either ofthe base radio system alternative directions that are available. Two dates should be noted if the alternative of replacement of the existing systems by an 800 MHz system is the direction selected. Construction of a new system is to be completed by February 12, 2002 or the FCC may assign the frequencies to another entity. Also, the exemption on the need to pay sales taxes on equipment purchased for use on the MnlDOT 800 MHz system ends on August 1, 2003. Ronald Vegemast Engineering, Inc. -40- Report: Anoka County