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San Luis approves 60‑foot radio tower and equipment shelter to improve East Side emergency communications
Summary
Council authorized purchase of a 60‑foot Sabre S3TL radio tower ($109,792.03) and approved fabrication of a 16-by-17-foot shelter ($336,917.10) to house repeaters and networking equipment; part of tower cost covered by an AZDEMA grant, shelter cost partly from the general fund.
The City Council approved purchases intended to strengthen radio communications for police and fire on the east side of San Luis.
The council voted to buy a 60‑foot Sabre model S3TL self‑supporting Category 6 tower for $109,792.03 using grant funds and to authorize fabrication and installation of a 16‑by‑17‑foot equipment shelter at a total cost of $336,917.10. The tower purchase was presented as fully fundable from the city’s Arizona DEMA public‑safety grant; the shelter will be paid primarily from the general fund with about $39,000 from remaining grant funds applied to the project.
Fernando Corona, the city’s IT manager, said the two‑phase project is intended to ‘‘improve the communication on the East Side of the city of San Luis to ensure that police and fire staff have clear communication while responding to emergency situations for residents in this area.’’ He told the council the tower phase (foundation and tower erection) would take roughly six to eight weeks and the combined project timeline including the shelter is about 34 weeks. The shelter will include HVAC, door access control, lighting, alarms and a backup generator, and is designed to protect roughly $300,000 in radio and network equipment.
Council members suggested the city explore leasing mounting space to cellular carriers as a potential revenue source once the tower is installed. The council approved both items unanimously.
Why it matters: Council and staff said the project addresses documented ‘‘dead spots’’ in the eastern portion of the city near a medical mall and a detention facility, and it will expand outdoor coverage for first responders and future development.
