NORWICH – Chenango County’s board of city and town supervisors learned for the first time Friday morning that their projected $3 million communications construction project could now cost $3.5 million, plus $4.5 million more to lease the antennas.
The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, put in charge of development, construction and administration of the project last year, suggested the higher tower construction price as a more economical way to bid out the project. Lawmakers last year resolved to set aside funds for the first three towers only, in Otselic, Coventry and Norwich.
“DASNY has suggested the we consider bidding construction at all (nine) sites for a better estimate,” Clerk of the Board RC Woodford reported before a meeting of the Finance Committee on May 3.
After two years and $750,000 already paid out for design and environmental review, Woodford said DASNY would require $2,074,000 in hand before bids can be awarded as planned in June.
The revelation appeared to dumbfound committee member Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, last week, who said, “The worst part is that we know in 10 years that this thing is going to be so obsolete.”
The communications project, called “the second phase” of the Public Safety Facility building project, calls for replacing 1970s era towers with new towers capable of supporting microwave antennas.
Federal Communication Commission band width changes coming up in 2011 have forced the infrastructure upgrades. “That’s what’s driving this,” said Board Chairman Richard E. Decker, who sat in on the committee’s meeting.
The special 1 percent sales tax imposed in 2002 to build the new $26 million public safety and jail facility also applies to the second phase of the project. County leaders plan to also apply approximately $1 million anticipated from farming prisoners in from other areas in the state, $700,000 left over from the first phase of the project, 911 landline surcharges, Tobacco Settlement Funds and any new grants available through the Sheriff’s Office.
A discussion ensued regarding raising surcharge rates and possibly using revenue streams from the Social Services Department or applying $1 million in flood-related monies earmarked for the Public Works Department. Treasurer William E. Evans said payments on short-term loans borrowed for the first phase of the project would retire in time to cover portions of the line leasing charges if need be. Town of Lincklaen Supervisor Wayne Outwater asked whether any line space could be leased to cellular companies.
“How can we afford $1 million a year for leases? How’s that even possible?” Brown asked Evans. Evans said the county tracked $16 million at the end of 2006 and aims to keep $10 to $11 million “as a safety net” for cash flow and emergency needs. With commitments already made for $1.1 million for cell 3 at the Pharsalia Landfill, an unnamed amount for the old jail construction project and now $2 million for emergency communications, the safety net would be maintained, he said.
“We’ve only committed to do three towers. But, with the price of steel, the economies of scale might pay us to go ahead and fix the system,” Decker said.
Chairman Lawrence Wilcox said any new technology that comes down the pike later on “won’t be any cheaper.”
The committee agreed to take $2,074,000 million from surplus.
“What’s really crazy about this whole thing is that we will be putting in a million per year in towers and we can’t get an ambulance to come to Pharsalia now,” Brown said.
Earlier this year, the ambulance company that was serving Chenango County cut its fleet from three vehicles to one.