Commission approves up to $5,000 for 911 tower grounding; authorizes PSAP radio repair up to $1,000
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Summary
Commissioners agreed to pay up to $5,000 toward grounding work to protect the county 911 tower from lightning strikes and approved up to $1,000 to repair a damaged PSAP radio.
County staff told commissioners the county’s dispatch tower has been struck by lightning multiple times, damaging equipment and risking service to the 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Staff presented a quote from Randy’s Tower Service for tower grounding and related parts and labor; the total project estimate including parts and shipping was expected to be roughly $10,000. The City of Pratt offered to contribute $5,000 toward the grounding work. The commission approved a motion to spend up to $5,000 for grounding the tower with Randy’s Tower Service; the motion passed 3‑0.
Staff also reported damage to a PSAP radio from the lightning strikes. Commissioners voted to repair the damaged PSAP radio for up to $1,000 rather than purchase a new unit. County staff said a repaired unit would restore full communications with neighboring counties and that a temporary radio was already in service. The repair motion passed 3‑0.
County staff described phase‑two mitigation steps that would include splitting and grounding incoming electric and data lines to the dispatch building to reduce future risks, but no contract for that work was presented or approved at the meeting.