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Houston to open up 800-meg system
12/23/04
By RAY LIGHTNER
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Proposed agreement with Peach County could be profitable
WARNER ROBINS Ð Houston County will be letting Peach County use its new communication system Ð and may turn a tidy profit in doing so.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement this week to let neighboring Peach County on the 800-megahertz communication system. Peach County will have to pay a $75 system fee per radio, and a one-time $25 fee to set up each radio.
Peach County received a Department of Homeland Security grant for 12 portable radios and four control stations. Houston County will not charge a monthly usage fee on those, provided they are programmed for basic dispatch only.
There will be a monthly fee of $36 per radio for basic dispatch with optional features private call and telephone interconnect at $10 and $20 extra per radio on any additional radios.
Over the long term, the agreement could be very profitable for Houston County. Houston looks to net more than $7 million over 20 years, based on 833 subscriber units.
As the Houston County system is under warranty for the first year of the agreement, Peach County will not be charged any maintenance fee associated with the core system.
The intergovernmental agreement gives automatically renews annually, beginning Dec. 31, 2005, and gives each side a 30-day written notice to terminate the contract. Houston County can terminate the contract with 30 daysÕ notice for cause.
Houston County Attorney Mike Long Òvery diplomatically emphasized to the userÓ that the agreement spells out what they have to do and what not to do. ÒThere are specific things that have to be done,Ó Long said.
Cause includes violations of the agreement such as operators failing to comply with all federal, state and county laws, codes regulations and ordinances.
Violations will be reviewed by the E-911 director, who has authority to remove a unit from the system. The removal can be appealed to the E-911 Advisory Board whose decision is final.
The Houston County Commission also made the final payment on the system, but will hold one of the payments until more add-ons are needed, explained Commissioner Tom McMichael.
In other business Tuesday night, the county approved a no-parking order from the state Department of Transportation along a section of Ga. 247 at the intersection with Ga. 127 in Kathleen. Commissioner Jay Walker said Òno- parking signs have been posted for some time, but are not being enforced.Ó
ÒThereÕs a store right there and logging trucks are pulling off the road,Ó McMichael said. ÒThe problem is twofold Ð you canÕt see around them and theyÕre damaging the shoulder.Ó
The no-parking-any-time zone would be from 150 feet south of the intersection to 400 feet north of the intersection of Ga. 127 and Ga. 247. The section of the road is 24 feet wide with 100 feet of right of way.
Steve Engle , director of administration for Houston County, explained the zone would be incorporated into county ordinance.
12/23/04
By RAY LIGHTNER
Respond to this story
Email this story to a friend
Proposed agreement with Peach County could be profitable
WARNER ROBINS Ð Houston County will be letting Peach County use its new communication system Ð and may turn a tidy profit in doing so.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement this week to let neighboring Peach County on the 800-megahertz communication system. Peach County will have to pay a $75 system fee per radio, and a one-time $25 fee to set up each radio.
Peach County received a Department of Homeland Security grant for 12 portable radios and four control stations. Houston County will not charge a monthly usage fee on those, provided they are programmed for basic dispatch only.
There will be a monthly fee of $36 per radio for basic dispatch with optional features private call and telephone interconnect at $10 and $20 extra per radio on any additional radios.
Over the long term, the agreement could be very profitable for Houston County. Houston looks to net more than $7 million over 20 years, based on 833 subscriber units.
As the Houston County system is under warranty for the first year of the agreement, Peach County will not be charged any maintenance fee associated with the core system.
The intergovernmental agreement gives automatically renews annually, beginning Dec. 31, 2005, and gives each side a 30-day written notice to terminate the contract. Houston County can terminate the contract with 30 daysÕ notice for cause.
Houston County Attorney Mike Long Òvery diplomatically emphasized to the userÓ that the agreement spells out what they have to do and what not to do. ÒThere are specific things that have to be done,Ó Long said.
Cause includes violations of the agreement such as operators failing to comply with all federal, state and county laws, codes regulations and ordinances.
Violations will be reviewed by the E-911 director, who has authority to remove a unit from the system. The removal can be appealed to the E-911 Advisory Board whose decision is final.
The Houston County Commission also made the final payment on the system, but will hold one of the payments until more add-ons are needed, explained Commissioner Tom McMichael.
In other business Tuesday night, the county approved a no-parking order from the state Department of Transportation along a section of Ga. 247 at the intersection with Ga. 127 in Kathleen. Commissioner Jay Walker said Òno- parking signs have been posted for some time, but are not being enforced.Ó
ÒThereÕs a store right there and logging trucks are pulling off the road,Ó McMichael said. ÒThe problem is twofold Ð you canÕt see around them and theyÕre damaging the shoulder.Ó
The no-parking-any-time zone would be from 150 feet south of the intersection to 400 feet north of the intersection of Ga. 127 and Ga. 247. The section of the road is 24 feet wide with 100 feet of right of way.
Steve Engle , director of administration for Houston County, explained the zone would be incorporated into county ordinance.
