Commissioners back 911 radio-coverage plan, ask staff to prepare funding resolutions

Commissioners agreed Nov. 25 to pursue a plan to improve radio coverage for first responders at three county locations and asked county staff to prepare the necessary funding resolutions.

Jessica Spears of the Huron County Emergency Management Agency told the Board the county has identified three sites with poor 911 radio coverage. Two villages have water towers available for equipment at no charge; a third site will not be ready for about two years while the tower is repainted. Spears presented cost estimates for the projects and said the village partners are contributing in-kind support — tower space, building space and trenching assistance for Frontier fiber connections.

Spears provided a line-item example for one village, saying the Wakeman package would cost $429,635.57 if the county selects the lesser generator quote. She said recurring Frontier fiber charges would be $440 per month and that the county's 911 Levy account currently holds about $487,000.

"By radio equipment, I mean the infrastructure," Spears said when asked to clarify what costs included.

Commissioner Harry Brady asked how much the county had available and how funds would be moved; Administrator/Clerk Vickie Ziemba said money could be transferred as a one-time contribution into the Levy Fund from permanent improvements, provided state-auditor guidance is followed and a resolution documents the transfer. Commissioners indicated support for selecting the Greenwich option — about $40,000 more — to allow room in the Levy account for contingencies and to keep work moving.

Ziemba said she would begin preparing resolutions and documentation to authorize the funding and implement the projects. Commissioners praised staff for pursuing cost-sharing with villages and for refining estimates.

The Board did not adopt a final funding appropriation at the meeting; it directed staff to draft formal resolutions for a future session.