FARMINGTON – The annoying question “Can you hear me now?” followed by scratchy static that signifies cell phone reception in the mountains may soon be a thing of the past, at least for police, fire and ambulance personnel in Franklin County.

Officials learned Tuesday that Franklin County would be receiving $85,918.48 and Farmington would be collecting $45,127.28 in grants made available to the State of Maine from the newly formed Department of Homeland Security.

The money came to Maine to promote first responder preparedness and to help offset the costs associated with heightened national security.

Consistent with Gov. John Baldacci’s platform of strengthening regionalization and collaboration between Maine municipalities, 45 percent of the money allotted to Maine will go toward county and regional activities and reward communities that work together for a regional good, instead of their own interests, said a release from the governor’s office.

Much of the money will be earmarked for improving communications, a “weak link in our security infrastructure,” Baldacci noted in his letter to towns and counties receiving funding.

No applications were required to be submitted for the grant and the money was awarded with an amount per capita to counties and to towns with more than 5,000 people.

Clyde Barker, director for Franklin County’s Emergency Management Agency, said Tuesday that most of the money will be spent to upgrade communications among first responders, adding that this money will help to start a complete overhaul of the radio system.

Many “dead spots”, he said, or areas of little or no reception often make it difficult for police, fire and ambulance departments to communicate with each other and the county’s dispatch center in Farmington.

Possible solutions include upgrading the towers on Sugarloaf and Mosher Hill and even adding a tower in the Weld/Carthage area and another just north of Rangeley, Sheriff Dennis Pike said.

“We do have some serious communications needs,” he said. “I think this money definitely has the potential to greatly improve our communications.”

Some of the money may be also used to replace antiquated equipment in the dispatch center at the Sheriff’s Department.

The county also hopes to dole out money to small towns throughout the county. According to a release, “Regional funds are to be administered by the county in a manner that best represents and includes small towns that have not otherwise received direct grant funding.”

For the most part, officials said Tuesday it was too early to decide how the money was going to be divvied out. All they could say is how much it was appreciated and spending it by the March 30, 2005 deadline would be a cinch.

“We need to find out what the government really wants us to do with this money,” said Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell. “Hopefully, we will be able to set it up so everyone will be able to talk to everyone else, not just in the county, but nationwide.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com