Emergency communications get much-needed boost

Cameron County's Kevin Johnson (far left) joined (from left) engineers Chris Kelly and Brian Malinich from the L. Robert Kimball firm along with Karl Hosterman from the contractor, Centre Communications, during a dedication at the new 260- foot-tall communications tower.

Cameron and Elk counties have taken several steps to improve emergency services over the past several months.

One of the most recent developments was spotlighted on Tuesday during an open house and ceremony at the new radio communications tower on Grove Hill.

The 260-foot-high Grove Hill tower fills one of the "black holes" in Cameron County's emergency communications coverage. Construction was stalled by many factors, frustrating emergency services personnel whose radios were rendered useless in the region.

A private landowner, Chris Lund, agreed to donate the use of his property and a used tower was donated.

When construction costs came in at nearly double what had been allocated, local planners went back to the drawing board, said Kevin Johnson, Cameron County's director of emergency services.

Misty Travis photo

That obstacle was cleared when the county obtained funds from the Wireless 911 tax, tacked onto telephone bills. The added money enabled the county to trade in the used tower for a heavier one that could handle additional frequency loads.

Site work had to be completed, an access road cleared and electrical service secured. Cameron County also worked out a deal with the state to build an adjacent structure for transmitters, receivers, generators and other equipment. In return, the Forestry Bureau and other state agencies are able to use the new tower at no charge. The state has also agreed to pay the electric bill.

More than $1.07 million has been spent upgrading emergency communications for Cameron County, including $307,361 for the Grove Hill project.

Funding sources have included: $95,000 from a Federal Fire Act Grant; $628,665 from State Wireless Funding; $248,500 from a Community Development Block Grant; $90,000 from the Department of Homeland Security, and $11,000 donated by the Emporium Foundation.

Emergency communications in Cameron County are integrated with the modern dispatch center in Elk County. There, under the direction of Mike McAllister, a team of 15 trained dispatchers provides 'round-the clock service.

"The dispatcher may ask some questions that a caller does not think are pertinent, but there are good reasons for these questions," Johnson said. Some of the procedures are required by the state or federal governments.

Most newer cellphones contain a global positioning system chip which can help the dispatcher to local the phone.

Johnson said Cameron County is covered in the event of a telephone outage, since communications can be relayed via a radio backup system.