CADIZ - Sheriff Ronald J. Myers submitted a request to the board of commissioners for funding to replace the Harrison County Sheriff's Office microwave transmission system.
The sheriff explained that his department had implemented the current communication system in 1998, using a microwave transmission system to help cut costs which were up to $800 per month to maintain phone lines to remote locations in the county.
Transmission towers located at the county engineer's garage and near Deersville have transmission dishes which are no longer repairable. Sheriff Myers told the board that he had received a quote from Staley Communications for purchase and installation of a new system.
"One of the things about this new system is that as the commissioners have worked and Horizon has worked to supply broadband to the outlying areas, we looked at microwaving that and we are supposed to get a drop in our communications building here in Cadiz," said Sheriff Myers. "One of the options we looked at, instead of hanging two or three dishes on that, is if we could get a dish that combined the services.
"Combining my services, the county side for the public safety side, which is all the squads, fire departments and ourselves, and also help with the broadband aspect of it," Sheriff Myers explained. "Staley's was able to get us a quote off a state contract and I am here this morning to have the commissioners approve the expenditure of $44,000.31 for this system."
"This will be a long process. It's not something that we just put the dishes up and it's good to go," Myers warned, as at least three entities will be involved in the project before it's completion. "There is some backbone we are going to have to do and some things the commissioners are going to have to do to figure out who their last mile carrier is going to be at all these sites. So hopefully the county can generate some funds from this."
"Will this improve communications?" asked Commissioner Don Bethel.
"It will improve our communications because our dishes are beyond repair," Myers responded. "It gives about 40 GB of what we need to push broadband throughout the county as well."
Agreement 32-12 will contract Staley Communications to take the initial step of installing the new dishes on the current towers.
The board also took another first step in the county's effort to find ways to capitalize on the deep well gas boom in approving a term sheet for the proposed Piedmont water well project.
"What we are doing today is simply approving the term sheet that we have all looked at and gone over and then we can take it to the attorneys who will draw up the contract for it," Commissioner Barbara Pincola explained.
According to the terms, Kokosing Construction Co., Inc. will undertake the marketing and sales of water developed from the Piedmont complex, as well as planning, design, financing and construction of water well, water nodes and other infrastructure necessary for the collection, delivery and/or distribution.
Kokosing will pay for the entire project and initially collect the primary share of 70 percent of raw water revenue for reimbursement of the cost of work for water well development until they are fully reimbursed with the county collecting 30 percent.
Once the company has recouped its investment, the primary share will be allocated to the county. This allocation of revenue will remain in effect for future water sales on the contract which will cover a period of 30 years.
Kokosing will have exclusive rights to all water in excess of the the needs for the municipal water supply from the Piedmont site. It will determine the sale price and provide the county with a total cost for the project, monthly water withdrawal reports and accounting reports.
Other county raw water resources may be added to the agreement by future amendment.
In other business: Commissioners established a sinking fund which will contain $75,000 for use in an emergency. Pincola stated that up to 5 percent of the general fund was allowed to be placed into this account. The board also transferred $25,497.74 into the CHIP fund.
The board approved a new expense line item for Homeland Security and Emergency Management using funds from the 2011 Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $19,387 to be used for the purchase of new radios for the Cadiz and Jewett police departments.
Don Bethel was appointed as signing member of the County Risk Sharing Authority.
The board also adopted a space heater policy for the county.
Palmer may be reached at mpalmer@timesleaderonline.com
