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County updates radio system, wins state bridge grant and approves shoulder work
Summary
County leaders reported paying $338,000 toward a county radio repeater system, confirmed one state-funded bridge project that depends on purchasing wetland credits, and approved up to $30,000 to crush and reuse asphalt millings for shoulder work ahead of a spring paving project.
The Richland County Board heard progress reports on a countywide radio upgrade, received confirmation of a state-funded bridge project, and authorized preparatory road work to reuse asphalt millings.
Andy (identified in the transcript as Speaker 10) said the county has made an initial payment of approximately $338,000 to Global for radio equipment and is finalizing contracts and site agreements needed for an FCC license. He said four of five required repeater site hosts have given verbal commitments and the county is working to secure the fifth site in Durham Township, with hopes of having the system operational by year-end or in the spring.
In separate remarks, the highway official (Speaker 8) told the board the county received confirmation that one bridge project was awarded state funds from a DOT program and explained the remaining obstacle — purchasing wetland mitigation credits — will now be possible because the state made credits available. The official said the availability of credits should allow easement negotiations and project advancement after roughly two decades of delay.
On roads, the highway director described a plan to crush and screen roughly 3,200 tons of asphalt millings to create shoulder material before a spring paving project. The proposal — intended to avoid higher unit prices in the formal paving contract — included a request for authority to accept a contractor’s proposal not to exceed $30,000 so the work can proceed without formal bidding. The board approved the authorization.
Next steps: county staff will finalize repeater site contracts, pursue the FCC licensing steps, coordinate wetland-credit purchases and easement negotiations for the bridge project, and proceed with the crushing and hauling work in November so shoulder work can precede the April paving contract.
Representative quote: "We have made our first payment to Global at 338,000... we're in the process of getting contracts together," (Speaker 10).
