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Commissioners give conditional support for courthouse window grant, back tower grant applications
Summary
The board signaled in-principle support for a courthouse window rehabilitation grant (asking for a 25% local match) and unanimously approved letters backing communications-tower grant applications; commitments are contingent on council approval of funding and review of plans.
The Washington County Commissioners voted to provide letters of support and to back the pursuit of two grant applications related to county facilities and public-safety communications, while reserving final funding commitments until county council or other funding sources are identified.
EMA director Denny asked the commissioners to sign a letter of support for a historic courthouse window rehabilitation project and to indicate the county would be willing in 2027 to provide a 25% local match if the grant is awarded. Denny presented a preliminary project estimate for window restoration and associated work, saying the total project estimate she used for the grant was about $2,485,679; she estimated the county share could be about $670,000 but noted the figure was provisional and could fall with better bids. Commissioners said they supported the project in principle but would need a plan for where the county match would come from before making a binding commitment.
Denny also sought letters supporting two communications grants: a COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant to upgrade radio equipment and improve responder coverage, and a Community Development / Rural Development application that requires a 25% local match. She described the county's current tower sites (near the sheriff's department in Salem and a Franklin Township location) and said better triangulation requires equipment upgrades and additional radio sites. Denny said one quote for state-level system migration was about $4,000,000 but her proposed, lower-cost equipment upgrade option would be approximately $653,000 to upgrade towers and equipment; she also referenced a six-tower recommendation from consultants with equipment quotes near $900,000 (equipment only).
The board moved to support Denny's pursuit of the communications grants and voted aye. Commissioners emphasized letters of support would not constitute a final funding commitment and said they would need to review detailed plans and funding sources before agreeing to county match obligations.
Ending: Commissioners approved supportive letters and an in-principle motion to pursue grants but deferred any firm funding commitments pending council review and a detailed funding plan.
