Roachdale dispatch solution may be in sight

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Putnam County may be finding a much-needed solution to dispatch problems for the Roachdale Fire Department sooner, and less expensively, than expected.

Fire Chief Mike Poole first reported the problem to the commissioners in July, and 911 Dispatch Director Dave Costin appeared at the Aug. 4 meeting to review the problem.

At that time, Costin said the problem of missed dispatches in Roachdale was a combination of Roachdale's downhill position from higher ground in southern Franklin Township and FCC-mandated narrow-banding.

Costin said he was examining one promising spot to replace the current relay tower on top of North Putnam Middle School. He added, though, that engineering studies would take time and the project could come at a cost as high as $90,000.

On Monday, Costin had better news than expected. The proposed tower just north of the school passed the engineering studies, and owner Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. is open to leasing tower space to the county.

The tower will allow the county to dispatch from a higher spot than the 75 feet than the middle school location, thus overcoming the topography issues.

Other costs costs will come in purchasing needed equipment such as cable, dispatching equipment, a generator and a shack to house the equipment. However, options such as a used shack could bring the bill in at well under the $90,000 estimate.

Costin said he would provide more information as it becomes available.

In other business:

* Clint Hackleman and several other residents of County Road 800 North near New Maysville inquired about having their stretch of gravel road paved.

Commissioner David Berry told them the road is unlikely to be paved, but the discussion continued.

Hackleman reported that the population in the area had increased over the years, as had the traffic. This means more dust and more people dealing with the dust. He also discussed the problems he sees treating roads with oil for dust control.

Berry and County Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts explained that a number of roads in the county were paved years ago, but the county no longer has the funds to maintain them.

"We have roads worse than that," Berry said, "a lot worse."

In the end, Berry requested a traffic study be performed on the road so the discussion might continue.

"What we're really asking is, we want on the agenda," Clint's father Mark Hackleman said. "I knew I moved to a gravel road, but it wasn't the same gravel road I live on today."

* Randy Bee, who lives on County Road 400 North, brought a concern to the commissioners about weed spraying around culverts.

Bee said he understood why county highway crews sprayed in these spots where mowing is not possible, but worried it may be too close to waterways.

He said he had a calf die following a recent round of spraying, but could not say for sure the two were related.

The commissioners thanked Bee for his comments and said they planned to look into the matter further.

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