Allen County commissioners were told Tuesday a new tower to hold antennas and other equipment at the rear of the 911 emergency services center might cost as much as $250,000.
Tommy Lewis, project manager for Hayden Tower Services, Topeka, gave the estimate and then showed photographs of badly rusted parts of the current 150-foot tower. “If there is rust on the outside,” as the photos clearly showed, “there’s rust on the inside,” he said.
Commissioners first learned of the tower’s structural problems a week ago from Angie Murphy, 911 director. The tower is thought to have been built in the 1960s, and rests on a concrete pad behind the building, protected by security fencing topped by razor wire.
Lewis assured towers erected today had a lifespan of 75 to100 years. Lewis said a new tower might meet immediate needs at a height of 120 to 130 feet, but replacing the one in use with another of 150 feet “would leave the top for something you may need later.” He also noted Hayden’s work is turn-key, meaning it would do all construction, from the 20-by-20-foot base sunk well into the ground for stability to the erection of the tower and fitting antenna and wiring to it.
Because of the financial magnitude of the project, bids will be sought once all specifications are in hand, said County Counselor Alan Weber. Hayden will be a bidder.
Before many years, a second tower reaching 480 feet is planned near the county landfill southeast of LaHarpe to give greater distance and clarity to radio and other transmissions. A repeater antenna positioned 370 feet above ground was put in service a few years ago at LaHarpe, and opened parts of southeast Allen County to calls from the Iola tower had had difficulty reaching.
No estimate of construction date or cost of the second tower near the landfill was made.
If bid specifications are ready for distribution in time for a mid-May construction start, the new 911 tower should be operational by late July.
COMMISSIONERS designated April as Child Abuse and Neglect Month in the county, at the behest of Aimee Daniels, CASA director. Representatives of Hope Unlimited also were on hand.
Daniels said 192 children were removed from homes in the 31st Judicial District — Allen, Neosho, Woodson and Wilson counties — in 2016 because of abusive situations, including 70 in Allen County. CASA volunteers were assigned to represent 67 children, and between 250 and 300 children are in care in the 31st District at any one time.
Donita Garner, Child Advocacy Center Coordinator for Hope Unlimited, said her group handled 60 cases of sexual abuse of children last year.
