MADISON COUNTY, Neb. -- The Madison County Commissioners took the next step needed to get new radios for first responders.

During Tuesday's meeting, representation from fire crews in Madison, Newman Grove, Battle Creek, Meadow Grove, and Tilden delivered their estimates for how many new radios they would need. Many different towns across Madison County have reported being in need of new radios, with some claiming they haven't been replaced in 15 years. Getting radios for multiple towns would allow for easier communication between the cities of Madison County in the case of an emergency, it was reported.

The subject was brought up back in January when Madison County Sheriff Todd Volk asked the commissioners to use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to acquire the radios. Troy Uhlir chairman for the commissioners, said getting these radios would be important, and explained how the funding would work.

"This is an important topic, I think, with our radios," Uhlir said. "As you are aware we have some ARPA money available and we want to try and make best use of that. I think each department is going be different, so I don't want to blanket this and say this is what is going to happen. What may end up happening is we come up with a dollar amount and this is what we are going to give you and you're going to structure each of your department how you feel best served."

With the requested number of radios now known, the commissioners will spend the next few weeks coming up with bids. From there they will choose the bid and inform the departments of how much it would potentially cost.