ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. (Aug. 1, 2023) – Effective today, with a stroke of the pen from Rock Island Arsenal Garrison Commander Col. Daniel Mitchell and Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, the City of Rock Island is now providing the Rock Island Arsenal with radio maintenance service for the Directorate of Emergency Services on RIA via a 10-year Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) between the City of Rock Island and Rock Island Arsenal.
The Intergovernmental Support Agreement or IGSA now provides for ongoing maintenance of radio equipment which includes approximately 100 portable radios, 40 mobile radios, and three base stations. The goal of this partnership is to maintain radio equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and to ensure the Arsenal's radio equipment is operable and compatible with local radio systems. The partnership is intended to achieve cost savings for both the U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal and the City of Rock Island by purchasing services jointly. Unit maintenance costs are expected to decrease due to volume discount pricing, as expressed by Mitchell at the IGSA signing ceremony held in the Rock Island Arsenal Fire Station.
"Going forward this partnership will result in unit maintenance costs decreasing due to volume discount pricing and an estimated average cost savings of tens of thousands of dollars – taxpayer dollars," said Mitchell. "This is money that can be invested in training, safety equipment upgrade and replacement, and many other areas of need both for Rock Island Arsenal, as well as for Rock Island and further provides additional revenue for the City of Rock Island that contributes to their ability to deliver services for their residents. So, in a tangible way, this is a win-win partnership."
"It is a win-win for not only the Arsenal and the City of Rock Island, but taxpayers and that's what ultimately it's all about – (not only) saving the taxpayers money, but giving them great quality service," said Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms. "(This is about residents') safety and feeling like they're covered so people can live comfortable, sleep well, and know that they are taken care of by having these radios on this new system that the whole Quad Cities converted to here recently."
RIA is committed to enhancing Army readiness and building positive, mutually beneficial relationships with the greater Quad Cities.
"The Army recognizes that these relationships with the surrounding community are mutually beneficial, critical and valuable," said Mitchell. "Because of the ongoing partnership with Rock Island in this past year, the Army named Rock Island Arsenal and Rock Island as one of the top 10 installations with exceptional community partnerships. We've teamed together in ways that have literally been a factor in life and death situations for Quad Cities families and residents; and we have shared professional development opportunities that help us grow as an agile and astute first responder force."
The agreement is the fourth the Arsenal has pursued with local governments. Previous agreements include one with the cities of Moline, Illinois, and Rock Island, for refuse removal and water filtration on the Arsenal, and with the government of Rock Island County, Illinois, for 911 phone services. Since 2019 RIA has saved more than $1 million working with the cities. RIA is in the process of working an additional agreement and are expanding its IGSA partnerships.
"Yes, this is the fourth agreement with the water and sewer and electrical, the garbage collection, recycling, and I see great things in the future," said Thoms. "I don't know why we can't continue to do this with other areas of the Arsenal and the City of Rock Island. So, we look forward to partnerships, better partnership, even in the future."
"We continue to evaluate these intergovernmental service agreements with the Quad Cities and we look forward to partnering with others to make the most of our relationships that can benefit both the Arsenal and the people of the Quad Cities," said Mitchell.
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