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Ulster County declares SEQRA lead agency, approves bridge-camera access and engineering contracts for new radio tower network
Summary
The committee approved a SEQRA lead-agency declaration and related agreements to advance a public safety radio tower at 7284-7286 Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing, authorized a 0-cost MOU with the New York State Bridge Authority for camera access, and approved two engineering contracts totaling $375,350.
Ulster CountyLaw Enforcement and Public Safety Committee members on Aug. 6 voted to advance construction of a public safety radio tower network, including declaring the countyintent to act as lead agency under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act for a proposed tower in the town of Wawarsing.
The resolution authorizes an access agreement with the town of Wawarsing for the construction of a public safety radio tower on town lands at 7284-7286 Route 209 and declares Ulster Countyintent to act as the SEQRA lead agency. Director Erickson said the county's planning department is managing the SEQRA process on the county's behalf because of the tower's land-use and system implications.
Committee members also approved a memorandum of understanding with the New York State Bridge Authority to provide access to cameras on bridges throughout Ulster County. Erickson described the MOU as a "0 cost MOU" and explained that giving the county direct camera access allows 911 dispatchers to monitor incidents on bridges without routing calls through the bridge authority's dispatcher.
The committee approved two engineering and design contracts with Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists and Land Surveyors: one for $222,150 for design and construction services for the Wawarsing tower site, and a second for $153,200 for engineering design and construction services for a tower at the new emergency communication center that will integrate into the countywide radio system. Erickson said the tower design work is 100% state funded for the Wawarsing site and described the radio system as a ring design that uses simulcast transmission across tower sites to provide countywide coverage.
When asked about coverage maps, Erickson said coverage maps exist for each tower site and that the system is designed so "we simulcast, so we go out over all the towers at once to get maximum coverage when we're dispatching." He did not provide a specific single-tower range during the meeting, saying the design is part of the broader system plan.
Why it matters: the radio tower network and camera-access agreements are intended to improve communications and situational awareness for first responders countywide; SEQRA lead-agency status advances environmental review required for construction.
Ending: Each of these items was adopted by the committee and will proceed to the next administrative steps: SEQRA review, final engineering work and execution of the access and MOU agreements.
