County eyes moving antennas, lists radio-tower property for $75,000 to improve southern coverage

County staff told commissioners they have applied to move several county radio antennas to taller towers near Preston Road to improve radio coverage in the southern part of the county and that the county may sell or rent its existing radio-tower property for $75,000. The change matters for public safety communications: staff said moving antennas to taller towers should improve reception and provide redundancy for 911 and sheriff radio traffic in areas that have had coverage problems. Augie said the county could move "the antennas up a 100 something, roughly a 100 feet" and that the new site on Preston Road would host antennas at about 450 feet while nearby towers are "300 some feet." He said the county has land tied to an existing tower and is marketing that parcel: "Yes. And we got 5 acreage to ground with it too... 75,000," Augie said. Augie said the county had placed antennas at a different location in the past and that emergency responder agencies at the time reported few issues. After some disputes with the prior tower owner, county antennas were relocated to the radio station tower, a move staff and the sheriff said had created coverage gaps in the southern county. Board members discussed potential uses for the listed property if the sale proceeds, with Augie saying, "We could rent it. We could sell it. You know, whatever." He also said the county hopes the Preston Road location will resolve coverage issues and that the current tower could serve as a backup if needed. No formal sale was completed during the meeting; staff reported the county had priced the parcel at $75,000 and confirmed the site includes about five acres. The board scheduled no vote; staff said they will pursue the antenna relocation approvals and report back when site negotiations or leases are advanced. If the antenna move and any property sale proceed, county staff said the change would be subject to any approvals required by the tower owners and to standard lease or sale steps. The board did not set a timetable for final action.