WOOSTER — The president of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners is now authorized to apply for and accept grants with pipeline companies, an effort to expedite the process as opportunities arise.
The commissioners passed the resolution during Wednesday’s regular, weekly business meeting.
Commissioner Ann Obrecht said during a groundbreaking for a new public safety communications tower in Marshallville a week ago, it was mentioned even though the state has provided a number of grants to help construct the tower and pay for new radios, there was still work to do.
Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Villegas continues to look for grant opportunities, and there might be some private grants available through pipeline companies …show more content…
(After a study by Mission Critical Partners, the commissioners opted to become part of the state’s Multi-Agency Radio Communications System.)
At the time, there were nearly 1,200 radios in the county and three dispatch centers (Wooster/Wayne County, Orrville and Rittman). The cost to update the radios, was estimated to be nearly $5 million; the annual cost to maintain the MARCS system was projected to be $286,000; and the 20-year cost estimate was nearly $10.7 million.
The commissioners asked Rover for a one-time donation of $6 million and Utopia for $3.5 million.
Wiggam said even though the companies were not willing to fund the cost of the system, the commissioners continue to negotiate with them. As indicated in the letters, the commissioners’ focus has been on public safety.
Obrecht and Wiggam have had ongoing discussions to see how both sides can work together. Wiggam pointed out the county has very little leverage, so the commissioners are working on relationship-building and seeing how the companies want to be a part of the community.
“We’ll continue to pursue this,” Wiggam said. “There are many different processes to apply for grants, and we want to be able to move
The commissioners passed the resolution during Wednesday’s regular, weekly business meeting.
Commissioner Ann Obrecht said during a groundbreaking for a new public safety communications tower in Marshallville a week ago, it was mentioned even though the state has provided a number of grants to help construct the tower and pay for new radios, there was still work to do.
Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Villegas continues to look for grant opportunities, and there might be some private grants available through pipeline companies …show more content…
(After a study by Mission Critical Partners, the commissioners opted to become part of the state’s Multi-Agency Radio Communications System.)
At the time, there were nearly 1,200 radios in the county and three dispatch centers (Wooster/Wayne County, Orrville and Rittman). The cost to update the radios, was estimated to be nearly $5 million; the annual cost to maintain the MARCS system was projected to be $286,000; and the 20-year cost estimate was nearly $10.7 million.
The commissioners asked Rover for a one-time donation of $6 million and Utopia for $3.5 million.
Wiggam said even though the companies were not willing to fund the cost of the system, the commissioners continue to negotiate with them. As indicated in the letters, the commissioners’ focus has been on public safety.
Obrecht and Wiggam have had ongoing discussions to see how both sides can work together. Wiggam pointed out the county has very little leverage, so the commissioners are working on relationship-building and seeing how the companies want to be a part of the community.
“We’ll continue to pursue this,” Wiggam said. “There are many different processes to apply for grants, and we want to be able to move