Commissioners approve multi-part $2.4M public-safety radio upgrade and tower leases
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Summary
Warren County approved multi-part contracts to modernize emergency radio communications, including a $2.4 million Motorola P25 site additions contract, related analog equipment and microwave equipment agreements, and 30-year tower-site leases funded partly by a revenue bond and a transit authority grant.
Warren County commissioners approved a multi-part public-safety communications upgrade that includes Motorola P25 site additions, Motorola analog equipment and CAC microwave installations, as well as long-term leases for tower sites.
Speaker 7, who leads the project effort, said the work began in 2018 and aims to replace aging infrastructure and bring the system up to 2025–26 standards. "Part of this new system is using microwave connectivity ... it's the more modern way to connect your towers," Speaker 7 said.
The largest contract — Motorola P25 site additions — is for $2,400,000 and will be funded with the county’s revenue bond. Commissioners said the Warren County Transit Authority will contribute roughly $1,900,000 via a grant to offset county costs. A second agreement for Motorola analog radio equipment and services was described at approximately $975,000, also to be funded from revenue bond proceeds. Commissioners approved both contracts by voice vote.
The board also approved two 30-year leases for tower sites (Bull Hill and Sugar Grove/Sheffield) at $8,000 per year to provide locations for the new equipment. Staff noted a third lease for the Scandia site will be handled with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Commissioner questions included whether funds collected via a dedicated debt millage established for radio repairs were being used as intended; staff said revenue-bond expenditures are monitored and overseen by third parties. Officials said the average cost to the property owner under the revenue bond mill was roughly $50 per year.
Speakers said potential additional grant support may come from Senator McCormick’s office to help offset microwave-equipment costs. The project aims to reduce weather-related outages tied to legacy copper phone-line connectivity and modernize reliability for emergency responders.
Next steps include final contract execution and coordination with the transit authority and state/federal grant administrators.