During an open forum at Union County Supervisors board meeting Monday, TJ Dunphy asked the board if they would be making a decision or will be setting a deadline on the requested EMS communications system that had been previously requested.
“We have not,” said Board of Supervisors President Ron Riley.
Riley said he does not expect a decision to be made before the end of September and will be meeting with a state representative Wednesday to discuss funding and why, when 92 counties received towers of new infrastructure erected by the state, was Union County left out. Riley said more discussion is needed, however, he thinks it is something the board will proceed with.
“I know it’s nobody’s fault, but where’s our money?” asked Riley.
Riley said he knows there are people who want the decision made, but because of the amount of money on the line, wants the board to do its due diligence and exhaust every other source of funding.
“I just think it’s really important for us to get everybody’s input and we have to decide ourselves,” said Riley.
Dunphy asked why a tower was placed in Ringgold County, but not in Union, which he said is the highest point between the two rivers on Highway 34.
“Where do you put towers? At the highest point, don’t you? To reach the most? So why is it sitting down in Ringgold county? I just don’t understand it,” said Dunphy.
Brian Flynn, a representative from Motorola, explained the state system was put in for mobile coverage throughout the state, not to necessarily provide support for portable hand-held devices. He said, because it was the state installing the infrastructure, they were limited to using state-owned properties. The goal was to provide at least 95-percent coverage for mobile devices across the state, not necessarily 95-percent coverage within the county. Additionally, of the 92 towers put in by the state, some towers are for radio while others are microwave only.
Rick Friday asked Flynn if communication units for the schools could be included in the package at no additional cost to the taxpayers, as previously discussed as a possibility.
“We’re still exploring that. There are many other factors. I’ve got to have other decisions made by the board,” said Flynn.
“Where does the priority of the board lie?” asked Dunphy. “Is it to get coverage within Union County or to be inter-operable with other systems?”
“This is going to sound like a political answer, but I think it’s both,” Riley said.
Riley said the main concern is within the county, but with the amount of money in question, the focus is on both.