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Chilton County to cover $154,000 share of $230,000 P25 radio project overrun as towers go up
Summary
County officials heard an update on the P25 public-safety radio project and approved site work and equipment moves as crews begin stacking the first tower; a $230,000 cost increase was detailed with Chilton County’s long-term share about $154,000 paid over 10 years.
Chilton County officials heard an update Tuesday on the multi-year P25 public-safety radio upgrade and were asked to approve local site work as contractors begin stacking the first tower.
The county’s 9-1-1 director said crews will begin stacking a 250-foot tower at the Cedar Grove site the week of the meeting, followed by work at the county water-treatment plant. “We are stacking the first tower this week,” he said, and equipment installation on both new towers is scheduled to begin May 5.
Why it matters: the P25 system replaces older VHF radios and is intended to provide countywide coverage for first responders, schools and county operations. Officials described the project as a roughly $5 million investment begun in 2023 with agreements signed in 2024.
Project changes and costs: the director told commissioners the two new towers and related construction came in near earlier estimates but additional work raised the price. A lightning strike and missing surge protection prompted battery-backup and surge-protection installs at two existing sites; added dirt work and extra gravel raised the project by about $230,000. The director said Chilton County’s additional obligation will be about $154,000 spread over 10 years, with the city of Clanton, the city of Jemison, the town of Thorsby, the town of Maplesville and the school board shouldering smaller shares over the same period.
“The surge protection is going to save us, you know, in the future,” the director said, describing damaged equipment that Motorola partly warranted after a July lightning strike.
Operations and revenue prospects: the director said the county will continue to invite cellular carriers to collocate on towers to offset costs and possibly create ongoing revenue, but said any deals would come back to the commission for approval. He also requested permission for county crews to perform additional dirt work and gravel at the Cedar Grove site and to transport a radio shelter to that site; commissioners did not object and asked for written details.
Timeline and next steps: the director said he will schedule a groundbreaking when equipment installation begins and will return with final cost breakdowns and documentation. He reiterated that as soon as towers go live the county will finish coverage gaps for emergency services and school bus routes.
Ending: Commissioners asked for digital copies of the budget breakdown and for confirmation of funding sources. The director said those documents will be provided and that he will return to the commission again as the project progresses.
