Sheriff Bryan Murphy, flanked by fellow first responders, came before the Allen County Commission Tuesday morning to inquire about the status of a proposed communications tower in the southeast corner of the county.
The tower will help police officers and firefighters to radio one another and respond to emergencies, especially around Elsmore, Savonburg and Humboldt.
Residents in these areas would also benefit from the proposed tower, as it can hold two commercial antennae with the power to enable better cell phone connections and internet data.
“That’s a double benefit for citizens in that corner,” said commissioner Jerry Daniels.
The cost of the proposed tower is estimated between $800,000 and $1 million.
Murphy said the tower had already received FAA approval and that a geological study of the area had been successfully performed.
“My question is, I just want to know where we’re at. Are we ready to move out with the RFP [Request for Proposal]?” asked Murphy.
After some discussion the Commission voted to approve that the project could move forward, and that a proposal and bids could be submitted and considered.
Commissioner Bill King added that he thought ample funding for the project was available in this year’s budget.
OF NOTE as well is that commissioners attended Monday evening’s public forum on the proposed activities center at Allen Community College.
Regarding the center, Daniels said he’s “not sure that the county can help or if we want to.”
He and King also said they shared concerns with constituents who did not want to see the mill levy or taxes raised in order to build the facility.
“I will not raise the mill levy for anybody,” Daniels said. “But we could loan [the college] a bulldozer.”
During the forum at ACC, President John Masterson said he does not intend to increase the mill levy in order to complete the project.
LOREN KORTE, Chairman of the Allen County Regional Hospital Board, met with commissioners to discuss continuation of the quarter-cent sales tax in support of the hospital for the next 5 years.
