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County Emergency Services tower funding rolled over after multiple delays

Towers expected to enhance public safety in southern portion of county

Posted 1/8/25

CANTON -- Multiple Emergency Services communication towers have been planned and approved to be built in the southern portion of the county but delays in construction have forced legislators to roll …

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County Emergency Services tower funding rolled over after multiple delays

Towers expected to enhance public safety in southern portion of county

Posted

CANTON -- Multiple Emergency Services communication towers have been planned and approved to be built in the southern portion of the county but delays in construction have forced legislators to roll over grant funding for the projects.

Legislators took action to do so during the Jan. 6 Operations Committee meeting, approving a resolution to sign a one-year extension with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications.

The county previously received $1,604,582 for the projects, officials said.

Emergency Services Director Matt Denner told legislators the funds come from a formula grant from the state.

"This is a formula grant that gets formulated by the number of 911 calls we take in at our facility," he said.

Denner said he had hoped the funds would be spent down, however multiple delays in 2023 and 2024 meant that the contract extension was required.

"These funds are being used to help with three communication towers," he said.

Denner said the plan is to get the request for proposal portion of the projects done this winter, clearing the way for contractors to begin site preparations this spring.

Officials say the grant allows the state to provide aid to "county, local and municipal public safety organizations in enhancing emergency response, improving capability, improvements in governance structures, operating procedures, infrastructure development, and addressing SAFECOM guidance from the US Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications."

Other funds were previously approved in March 2024 by legislators, as the county accepted $798,892 for the projects.

The towers are expected to be built in the southern portion of the county, including Star Lake and Cranberry lake, both in the Adirondack Park, in an effort to bolster safety efforts for first responders in those areas.

The funds will not pay for the entire cost of the towers or projects but are meant to help bridge the gap on financing, officials previously said.

Towers built in Hammond and Waddington in 2020 cost over $750,000 each, Denner said last year.

Denner told legislators that steel for the projects was purchased in Potsdam, with generators for each site also secured locally.

No timeline was discussed for the projects, however legislators previously said the towers would likely take six to nine months to complete once site work was completed.

The extension, which has been approved by the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services runs through Dec. 31, 2025.