Hoping communications will be improved in the Lynch and Clover Fork areas of the county, members of the Harlan County Emergency Management E-911 Advisory Board approved a motion to lease building and tower space for a repeater on Black Mountain from Cornett Electronics.
“The site will be near the fire tower on Black Mountain,” said Chairman David McGill. “Tom Cornett already has a site on Black Mountain established and he gave us a quote of $500 per year for a place in his radio building and tower space. This is a viable spot for us. I think this is an economical price and he’s willing to work with us. Cornett Electronics have been more than accommodating to us.”
McGill said by leasing from Cornett Electronics, located in Cumberland, it is saving the county the cost of purchasing a building, putting in electricity and erecting a tower.
He said the building owned by Cornett Electronics is a “good facility.” This is a cost-saving route to pursue, he said.
“It’s a year’s agreement with Cornett Electronics,” said McGill. “At the end of the year, we can decide if we want to continue this lease or develop our own site when and if we hear something back from PennVirginia and KEWS (Kentucky Emergency Warning System).”
Based on previous buildings erected, McGill said the cost would be approximately $5,000.
“As funds become available we’ll try to get this site put up,” said McGill. “We hope to have it up as soon as possible. As everybody knows budgets are going to be extremely tight, especially for the next year or so. Budgets are tight every where — federal, state, county — coal severance money is down. All that plays as a factor in this. We just can’t set a time frame.”
Harlan Fire Chief and board member Linnette Hutchison made a motion to enter into the lease with Cornett Electronics until the E-911 Board hears something back from KEWS. That motion was approved.
In other board actions:
*Discussed E-911 and PSAP Ordinances and described the difference in them as advised by the county attorney;
*Approved new radio standard operating guidelines and described the changes and reasons for updates;
*Elected McGill as chairman of the E-911 Advisory Board.
Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510, ext.115, nsizemore@civitasmedia.com
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