State emergency management seeks Warren permission to pursue new 800 MHz first-responder tower

Mark Pappas, director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, presented the state’s request to site an 800‑megahertz first-responder communications tower at 47 Ridgeway Drive, a Rhode Island Department of Transportation property. “Our request and proposal ... is to put an 800 megahertz first responder communications tower at 47 Ridgeway Drive,” Pappas said, describing RISCON — the statewide system for first‑responder radio communications.

Pappas told the council RISCON serves more than 16,000 users including state police, DEM, RIDOT, local police and fire departments, mutual aid partners, Coast Guard and hospitals. He said the planned site would include a lattice tower, shelter, backup generator and fiber/microwave backhaul and that the state would not install any cellular equipment. “There’s absolutely no cost to the community,” he said.

During question-and-answer, council members raised two operational issues: whether antennas on an older nearby tower could be consolidated to the new site, and who owns the existing tower. Pappas said engineering work would be needed to determine what could be moved and that the state would work with the town on any permitting process. The town solicitor advised that siting would proceed through the zoning board and noted federal law considerations for communications facilities.

Council directed staff to have the solicitor and town manager work with the state on next steps for a formal zoning application and to investigate ownership of the older tower so the town can evaluate consolidation possibilities. No formal zoning or permitting decision was taken at the meeting; Pappas said the agency would follow the town’s process and return as required.