The radio antenna outside the Allen County Emergency Response Center, 410 N. State St., won’t have a clearance light at its top anytime soon, even though several citizens have complained about the lack of illumination.
“It would cost $1,500 to have someone climb the tower and screw in a new light bulb,” Angie Murphy, 911 director, told county commissioners Tuesday morning. “If there were a short or something that required any work, it would cost more.”
While the tower once did have a light at the top, none is required, Murphy said, noting the ruling she received from the Federal Communications Commission.
Commissioner Dick Works, who flies a powered parachute, said aircraft must maintain a minimum height of 500 feet over cities.
The county has operated dispatch services from the North State Street location since January 2010.
Murphy also said a rebuilt radio repeater, to handle new FCC-mandated narrow band transmissions, would be installed on a tower north of LaHarpe at a cost of $2,825, or $3,400 less than had a new repeater been purchased.
The repeater transmits alerts to volunteer firefighters in LaHarpe and Humboldt and the Allen County Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioners said they would pay initial cost and then bill departments on a ratio determined by the valuation of areas they served.
JOE WEINER reported that all structural supports under the floor of the Humboldt Senior Center had been replaced or found to be of sufficient strength. Moisture problems in the basement soon would be solved by the installation of sump pumps.
Also, Weiner said an inspection of the roof Tuesday morning, following heavy rains during the previous 24 hours, revealed only a few minor leaks.
The center, he said, should have “five to 10 more years of good use, maybe more,” on the strength of repairs he had made over the past several months, including leveling of floors.
COMMISSIONERS next meet at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 — no meeting next Tuesday — to reconcile year-end financial records. The next regular meeting will be Jan. 3, staring at 8:30 a.m.
