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Communications staff proposes leasing Manifee site for radio redundancy and county backup; board asks for scoped cost estimate and sustainability plan
Summary
Communications staff proposed leasing a Manifee tower site to host county radio repeaters and emergency backup systems.
Emergency communications staff briefed the board about a multi‑part plan to secure redundancy for county radio systems by leasing an existing building and tower on the Manifee (North Mountain) site.
The presenter said the site contains two legacy towers, a small building with room for racks and an existing meter, and a sturdy tower structure that could host VHF repeaters, an ATAC (a stand‑alone 800‑style repeater), and amateur (ham) radio equipment. Staff said grant funding may cover much of the installation and initial equipment; ongoing sustainability would be the annual lease fee and minimal maintenance. The presenter reported initial lease discussions with the state land office indicated an annual lease in the range of $5,700 that might be negotiated toward $2,500, and said he is pursuing lower figures and possible in‑kind work by county crews for painting and minor repairs.
Staff described three plans: Plan A to lease and immediately move county communication systems and install generator backup; Plan B to lease the site, install ham/ATAC redundancy now and defer further work; and Plan C to identify alternate tower sites. Staff emphasized the approach is intended to provide fallback capability if the state's 800 MHz system is disrupted, and noted the broader uncertainty about statewide funding for the 800 MHz system and potential future fees to counties.
Commissioners acknowledged the value of redundancy but urged caution because of state funding uncertainty for the 800 MHz system and potential ongoing costs. One commissioner asked staff to scope costs, annual lease scenarios and grant availability and to return with a concise plan and estimated ongoing sustainability costs before moving ahead.
Ending: Staff were directed to continue limited research and return with a costed plan and sustainability analysis rather than immediately committing county funds.
