By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com
WABASH – In response to signal issues in the southwestern corner of the county, Central Dispatch hopes to build or rent space on a new tower.
Central Dispatch Executive Director Sandy Beeks presented a proposal to rent space on a tower south of U.S. 24 at Monday’s meeting of the county commissioners.
“Noble has come to me, they’ve been having problems with their tower, or with getting their signals, for some time,” she said. “I found a tower south of 24 on the county line, just north of 250 South. I contacted the tower, and they said they’d let us get on there.”
She noted that the area near the Mississinewa Reservoir in particular presented signal problems.
WhiteRock Holdings, LLC, would charge the county $1,000 per month plus utilities, Beeks said.
Additionally, new equipment would need purchased, at a quoted cost of $31,153.
“To put up a new tower is $45,000, and I’m assuming you’d have to buy land,” she added.
Beek noted that a new tower would still require new equipment, bringing the total cost to more than $75,000.
“That sounds awful steep, $1,000 a month,” Givens said, later adding “If we’re going to spend $1,000, I’d rather put our own up.”
Beeks noted that other companies quoted her at $1,500-1,600 per month, and that the $1,000 was a proposal.
“I think it’s still negotiable,” she said.
Sheriff Bob Land said that land owned by the Department of Natural Resources, which Givens suggested looking into using, would probably be too low for the signal.
Additionally, Givens noted that the county has an arrangement with a tower on 800 South whereby the county could utilize that tower for only utility costs, but that it may be too far away.
The commissioners took the request under advisement.
Additional news from the commissioners included:
– a brief report on a washed-out bridge on 1050 South, which Highway Superintendent John Martin said would be inspected Thursday,
– signing of a contract with Norfolk Southern Corporation for a railroad crossing on the County Home property, in which the railroad company waived the crossing maintenance fee in exchange for permission to install it,
– the weekly jail report from Land, who said that Wabash County Jail had 102 inmates, with an additional 40 being held in Miami County, three in Blackford and one in safe keep.
Land also requested, and was approved for, nearly $12,600 to replace a three ton HVAC unit at the jail with a five ton unit. County Auditor Marcie Shepherd noted that the money would be drawn from the county’s County Economic Development Income Tax fund.