The Bay County Building, tallest structure in the county at nine plus stories, will rise even higher with new radio tower.
Bay County Building to Rise Even Higher With Public Safety Radio Tower
$1.2 Million Project to be Funded Mainly with Homeland Security Grant
September 9, 2009
By: Dave Rogers
The Bay County Building will rise again.
The nine-story structure, built in 1932 for about half a million dollars, now will have a radio tower costing more than twice that amount.
Height of the tower has not been determined, but the tower will undoubtedly make the county building the tallest structure in the county. Now, the City Hall of Bay City, is a comparable height.
The Board of Commissioners has approved receipt of a $960,000 Public Safety Inter-operable Communications (PSIC) grant through the Homeland Security Agency.
The radio tower will be part of the statewide 800 MHz Michigan Public Safety Communication System.
"This will give us incredible connectivity with other agencies across the state and will add immeasurably to the security apparatus," said County Executive Thomas L. Hickner.
A 20 percent match of $240,000 will come from the fund balance of the Central Dispatch Fund.
Motorola Corp. is the sole source vendor authorized by the State of Michigan to construct MPSCS infrastructure, according to the board resolution introduced by Brian K. Elder, chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
Meanwhile, the county is saving about $30,000 in interest payments by early pay off of a $640,000 final bond amount on a 1999 Building Authority Bond Issue for a $2.92 million renovation of the Law Enforcement Center.
The bonds were issued in February, 1999, at a variable rate of 4.25 -4.35 percent.
The redemption amount for the 2010 and 2011 bonds will come from the general fund's fund balance, according to Mr. Elder.
The payoff of the bonds by Nov. 1, 2009 will eliminate the need for appropriations for payments in 2010 and 2011. A budget adjustment will be submitted at the October Ways and Means Committee and board meetings.