Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril_6_2004_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES APRIL 6, 2004 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, April 6, 2004, 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Present were: Chairman Steve D. Johnson Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams Doug Madison Marvin Norman Sara Haire Tice Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Transportation Director Ben Garrison, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, Elections Supervisor Becky Galliher, Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, Health Director Ray Rabe, Nursing Director Donna Campbell, Communications Director David Martin, Emergency Management Director Tracy Jackson, Support Services Director Jim Vernon, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson. REQUEST FOR THE TEMPORARY CLOSING OF SR 1363 - BETHLEHEM ROAD: Statesville Mayor John Marshall requested the county's assistance in the temporary closing of a portion of Bethlehem Road. He said the duration of the closing would be approximately six months. Chairman Johnson said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had concerns that the road's traffic might interfere with the airport's instrument landing system. He said an individual from Ohio University would conduct tests regarding the situation. Planning Supervisor Smith said he would detennine if the portion of the road slated for closure was located in the county or city's jurisdiction. In regards to the city/county Inter -Governmental Agreement pertaining to sewer and the release of extra -territorial jurisdiction in the airport vicinity, Mayor Marshall requested for these two items to be deleted from the 7:00 p.m. agenda. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT REGARDING A $103,133 BIOTERRORISM GRANT: Health Director Rabe requested permission to use a $103,133 grant for (1) office equipment (desk/file cabinet) for the new part-time bioterrorism coordinator (2) vaccine freezer along with an alarm system (3) planning and training equipment plus a contract with Larry Dickerson for updates to the Bioterrorism Plan, and (4) a generator for the Statesville main office. Rabe said the proposed generator costing $89,998.00 would, unfortunately, only service about 10% of the building. He said that to have backup service for the entire building, he would suggest buying one generator this year, and another in 2005, if the same grant funds were available. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT REGARDING A FAMILY PLANNING (TITLE X) GRANT: Health Director Rabe said an additional $10,475 had been received for the Family Planning Program. He asked permission to allocate the revenue for the following: 3 Clinic Exam Lights at $561 each $ 1,683 7 Wali Mounted Otoscope/Othalmoseopes at $570 each 3,990 1 OBGYN Exam Table 885 1 Medical Records Cart 800 2 Acrylic Pamphlet Holders at $50 each 300 Contraceptive Technology Book 60 Foam and Condoms 2,757 (Note: The family planning grant was added to the agenda.) REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE REGARDING THE 800 MHZ PROJECT: Joining the commissioners for this portion of the meeting were Emergency Management Coordinator Tracy Jackson and Communications Director David Martin. Mr. Martin referenced a five-page report that outlined the Communications Task Force's work since November 2002. He said the 800 MHz system had been designated as a long-term goal in the report, and the task force now needed guidance on whether or not the project should be pursued. Mr. Martin's written report is as follows: Short Term (M Progress or Completed) • Addition ofa communications tower in the northern portion ofthe county. An agreement was signed with Olin Community Development and the Harmony VFD for the placement ofa 190 - foot tower at 645 Olin Loop Road. The tower was bid and awarded at a cost of $43,303. The tower is scheduled to ship sometime in April and should be erected by May. • Facility Services has completed an addition to the building at Olin that will be used as an equipment room for transmitters and other radio equipment. • An emergency generator has been installed at Olin at a cost of $9,500.00, and it is in operation. • Nine new Motorola Quantar transmitters have been purchased on state contract at a total cost of $100,815 and are scheduled for delivery, in March. This will allow new transmitters for Sheriff,' EMS/Rescue and County fire at three locations (Rhinehart, ECOM and Olin). • New, antennas and coax has been purchased and installed at ECOM at a total cost of $7,456. • New antennas have been hid and ordered for the Olin tower at a cost of $6,8 78 (installation not included). • FCC Licensing for the new Olin location and addition of Sherif7transmit site at ECOM have been obtained. • FCC Licensing ofa repeater input frequency for EMS/Rescue has been .submitted and passed coordination. (Awaiting FCC license issuance.) • Placement of receivers for Sheriff,' EMS/Rescue and County VFD at the West Iredell VFD substation on Sharon School Road. (West Iredell VFD has agreed.) In process of locating a 40- 60faot section ofsmall tower to be placed. Receivers, currently, in operation at Union Grove will be relocated to Sharon School Road upon completion ofOlin site. Short Term (Not in progress) Note. A Request for Proposal was issued in November 2002 for a complete simulcast system for the Sheriff, EMS/Rescue and Countv Fire utilizing the sites at Olin, ECOM and Rhinehart During the prebid conference there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the analog versus digital microwave system. A digital microwave system was not included in the budget, therefore the RFPs were cancelled. • Upon receipt ofa repeater input license from the FCCfor EMS/Rescue, it is anticipated that duphxers will be added and field units reprogrammed giving the capability of repeater function to all EMS/Rescue units. • It is recommended that a consultant be obtained to assist with the design and procurement of a digital microwave system and simulcast capabilities on Sher{ff. EMS/Rescue and County Fire. Current analog microwave links will have to be updated to digital and a new digital link established for Olin in order to successfully complete a simulcast system. Currently obtaining a proposal from RCC Consultants for their fees. • It is recommended that the above simulcast system be implemented. It is anticipated the total cost will be $250,000 - $270,000 including digital microwave and simulcast capability. The current budget has approximately 5790, 000 remaining and $75, 000 has been included in the 04105 budget. (This is only an estimate. True IIures can not be obtained until completion of the consultant's recommendations.) 2 • Renovation of the Rhinehart tower (painting, etc.) is needed to meet FAA/FCC compliance. This is anticipated at a cost of $20, 000 and is included in the 04105 budget. Long Term The Communications Task Force, in researching the capabilities and desires of a long term radio system, had several discussions with various vendors and looked at future possibilities. The following is a result of those discussions. • In March 2003, it was decided that 800 MHz technology, was a possibility that needed further consideration. Due to issues such as interoperability, private talk groups, emergencv call functions, spectrum refarming, as well as data transmission, makes 800 MHz the ultimate system. • The county, with the assistance of Mr. At Linker with Wireless Communications, appliedforsix 800 MHz frequencies (funded through the Sheriff's Department). The Town of Mooresville also applied for six 800 MHz frequencies. It was the plan that these frequencies be combined for a total county -wide system of twelvefrequencies. The FCC issued the frequencies in August 2003 which included afive year -slow -growth plan. • In thefall of2003, the taskforce recommended that Mr. Al Linker be obtained as a consultant to pursue recommendations, for a county, wide bunked radio system. The total cost far Mr. Linker's services was $31,640 with the county share being 74% (823,414) based on population. • Mr. Linker has recommended an 800 MHz .system with (full junctional) transmitters at Rhinehart; Olin and ECOM (with a new 500 ft. tower built in West Statesville to replace the tower at ECOM) and a mutual aid transmitter in the Love Valley area. There is a possibility that a fourth site may be needed. This would allow for 95% in street portable coverage. The hurastrucurre total cost for a fully functional three site system, new Statesville tower and one mutual aid site was projected by Mr. Linker to be $4,680,000. Ifan additional fourth site is needed the cost could increase by an estimated $1,300,000. The cost ofmobiles and portables would range from $2,500 to $4,015 each. Replacement ofall radios now in service (1423 as of ,tall 2002) would cost between $3,557,500 and $5,713,345. On March 11, 2004, a tour was conducted with a member of RCC Consultants. Upon examination of the Rhinehart tower, it was his initial opinion that this tower would not be capable ofsupporting additional loading. It will be imperative that the tower be capable ofsupporting additional equipment, including a six to eight foot solid dish for digital microwave for an 800 MHz system. Therefore, replacement of this tower would he needed to support 800 MHz at an estimated cost of $125, 000. Also, to support a large enough digital microwave dish for 800 MHz, the tower at ECOM may need upgrading to a larger tower at an estimated cost of $65, 000. Total implementation of an 800 MHz system is projected to cost $9,727,500 to $11,883,345. The county share ofthis cost, ifall other jurisdictions participate, will be $7,198,350 to $8,793,676. (Based on a maximum four site .system) The Communications Task Force has recommended that a consulting firm be obtained to examine this project. It is felt that a larger firm with experience in the implementation ofthese types of systems is desirable over an individual consultant. It is projected that the total cost for such a firm would be $220,481 to $270, 000 or about 2-2.5 percent of the total projected .system cost. Comparisons After consultation with other counties, it was learned that Forsyth County was in the process of irnplementing an 800 MHz that will require eight tower sites. Catawba County has just concluded a study that will require eleven tower sites (note that Catawba is requesting in house coverage instead of in street coverage). Catawba County is looking at budgeting $400, 000 a year far seven years for seven receiver sites and four transmit sites on VHF/UHF and upgrading current towers. This cost does not include digital microwave that will be needed for simulcast. After bringing their current system up to date, they advised they are projecting an additional $21 million to build out an 800 MHz system. At this point, they are not sure of their fume direction regarding 800 MHz. With this information, it is questioned if the proposed three to jour- size system would he sufficient to cover Iredell County. Any additional sites that may be required is projected to cost $1.3 - $1.5 million each. Possibilities The county could possibly work with the State Highway Patrol and the VIPER network to partner with us and therefore maintain our current assigned 800 MHz frequencies, jf pursuit of our own 800 MHz system is not currently feasihle, but is planned for the future. There are variables associated with this plan and retention of our 800 MHz frequencies would not be guaranteed. Looking of alternative solutions for supplementing our current system is also possible. This could include working with cell carriers to provide private talk groups and console integration until such time as buildout of our own system is possible. Again, retention of our 800 MHz frequencies would he questionable. Options Plan A • Continue the upgrading of our current UHF/VHF system to a fully functional simulcast system. • Continuepursuit of afullv,funetional 800 MHz system and begin implementation diming fiscal year 200412005 with full county -wide implementation completed in fiscal year 2007/2008. Plan B • Continue the upgrading of our current UHF/VHI'system to a fully functional simulcast system. • Continue pursuit of a fully functional 800 MHz system in stages with the first stage being the placement of single sites at ECOM and Rhinehart. * This plan would benefit the City of Statesville and the Town of Mooresville. There would not be county -wide coverage far county units. • County, to look at alternate supplemental private system until such time as county wide 800 MHz is implemented. Plan C • Continue the upgrading of our current UHF/VHF system to a fully functional simulcast system. • Totally, abandon the pursuit q1'800 MHz and begin exploring the possibility, of UIIF/VHF trunking (no cost estimates available). Conclusion It is recommended that the county, continue to upgrade the current UHF/VHF.systems to include digital microwave and simulcast. Retention of a consulting firm is needed to assist with design and procurement. An 800 MHz system is the "hest of the best, " if constructed to perform and cover the entire county. However, it will be costly, to build a system to cover all the needs, and at this time, the total sites needed is questionable. A consulting firm will be imperative to insure the design will cover all our needs. With FCC mandates, it will be imperative that future plans include 12.5 kHz radios by 2008 with implementation ofsome type digital system by 2013. Martin asked for direction regarding the 800 MHz project. He said the purchase of the digital microwave system and the simulcast capabilities were highly recommended, and the estimated cost was approximately $250,000. Chairman Johnson asked Martin how satisfied he would be with the county's coverage after the microwave and simulcast components were added. Martin said the audibility with the three transitor sites simulcasting should be fairly clear. Chairman Johnson said the original estimates for the 800 MHz system were too low, and he suggested that the county complete the projects already started. Johnson said the 800 MHz costs might be lowered in the future, especially if the technology changed. Martin acknowledged that the prices for an 800 system seemed to continually "grow." Jackson said his department would stay alert as to price changes. He mentioned that a discussion pertaining to directional amplifiers might be requested in the future. Commissioner Williams asked if the task force would continue to meet. 4 Martin said yes. Jackson asked if the board would like the staff to maintain the frequencies and to continue working with the state. Johnson said yes, and the options needed to be left open. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing session at 6:34 p.m. Approved: Clerk to the Board