ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090105
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY PAGE: 23 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTOPHER L. BOYD STAFF WRITER
At age 10, Bill Powers began working with his father at the family television repair shop in Pulaski County. He fooled around with old can openers and other appliances and gradually worked his way to fixing televisions and cooking stoves.
Powers, 52, developed his passion for the electronic repair business 42 years ago, and today he still carries his toolbox armed with screwdrivers, black tape, wire strippers and other electrical tools everywhere he goes. However, he doesn't carry the box for the family business anymore; he now carries it for the residents of Roanoke. He ensures that they have open lines of communication to the city's safety officials.
Powers is the communication technician supervisor for Roanoke City. He and his four crew members are responsible for installing and maintaining approximately 700 mobile radios, 500 portable radios, 26 base stations and communications equipment used by 911 operators. These services allow police, fire and rescue officers to communicate with their dispatchers and also allow the dispatchers to communicate with residents in need of assistance.
"It's an important and almost invisible function you don't always get a pat on the back for," said Ron Wade, acting manager of communications for the city.
The job requires Powers and his crew to be on call 24 hours a day, even on weekends. Brenda Powers, Bill's wife, said he frequently receives late night calls to go fix something somewhere in the city. After a storm, Brenda is often prepared for her husband to be called away. The 1985 flood was just one situation of many that required Powers' expertise.
"The power lights went out at Mill Mountain, and we were afraid that helicopters wouldn't be able to see how to get people off the tall buildings," Powers said. "We had to fix that. Also a lot of radios were under water for a while and weren't working."
Powers said he enjoys installing new systems more than any other part of his job. His most recent big installation project came with the construction of the walkway from the Hotel Roanoke to downtown. Powers designed and wrote the specifications for the surveillance cameras that sit in strategic areas of the walkway.
Powers also created a special mechanism that can be used by police officers if a hostage situation arises. It's a speaker box that can be thrown from a police car to the hold-up area. It is connected by a wire to the siren switch allowing the police officer to remain in the car and speak directly to the hostage through the radio. Traditionally, officers had to be outside the car to speak through a megaphone.
"I just enjoy fooling around with that stuff," said Powers.
Brian Jones, one of the four technicians in what is referred to as the "Radio Shop," has worked for Powers a little more than two years. He said Powers is fair, he has good supervisor skills, and he is just an all-around good guy.
"I've got four outstanding guys working under me," said Powers. He believes they play a vital role in helping the city run efficiently and effectively. He says he realizes that people often take what he does for granted, but "it's nice to know that you can keep the communication systems going and provide something that people can use every day.''
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB