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Stephenson County keeps $70,000 for communications tower, drops planned truck purchase after debate
Summary
After a heated discussion about public-safety communications and equipment spending, the Stephenson County Board approved the highway budget that maintains $70,000 toward a planned communications tower and preserves a $100,000 construction equipment line while removing a $45,000 truck purchase.
Stephenson County board members approved the county highway budget Wednesday while keeping $70,000 in the highway fund for a proposed communications tower and removing a planned $45,000 truck purchase from the equipment line.
The move preserves a $100,000 construction-equipment line and keeps the $70,000 radio-and-service allocation intended to help address known reception dead spots in the county’s far corners. Board members debated whether the county should shoulder the bulk of the tower cost or require deeper contributions from public-safety partners.
Why it matters: county highway staff and public-safety officials have identified a coverage gap in the north and west parts of the county. The county’s contribution, proponents said, would improve radio reception for emergency responders in those areas and support fire and EMA…
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