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EMA director recommends surplusing portable radio tower; commission discusses donation to amateur radio club
Summary
The EMA director told the commission an older portable radio tower would cost roughly $30,000 to repair and recommended donating it to the Jackson County Amateur Radio Club to serve as a fixed backup communications asset; commissioners discussed liability, transport and potential uses.
During the work session EMA director Joshua reported that a portable radio tower purchased about five years earlier is in poor condition and would cost roughly $30,000 to repair. The director recommended surplusing the unit and donating it to the Jackson County Amateur Radio Club, which could repurpose it as a fixed tower to support the county's emergency backup communications network.
"I would like to surplus that equipment and donate it to Jackson County Amateur Radio Club who can use that tower as part of our Amateur Radio Ham network as a permanent fixture," the EMA director said. Commissioners and staff discussed whether the county could donate the tower to a private entity, liability releases, whether the tower was currently down and transport logistics; the director said the tower is already down and would need transport to the club's site.
The commission asked whether the tower could support broadcasting or weather cameras; the director said, because it is about 100 feet tall, it is not suited for TV or radio broadcasting but can be linked to the club's network to provide resilient emergency communications. Commissioners requested staff include comments about the donation and public-purpose use when the surplus item is formally presented.
The work-session discussion concluded with staff agreeing to prepare the surplus/donation paperwork and to clarify any liability releases required when the club takes possession of the asset.
