NK supervisors search for ways to fund emergency radio system
New Kent supervisors have begun looking at options on ways to fund joining a regional radio system to improve emergency communications.
Wednesday morning’s work session yielded prospective options for supervisors to address an ongoing issue. At May’s work session, the board received an overview of the radio system from representatives of the York, Poquoson, and Williamsburg Regional Emergency Communications group.
At the June 25 meeting, financial consultant Ted Cole addressed supervisors on costs and methods to pay for the much needed system.
“Motorola estimated $6.7 million at the high end to cover this project [as a worse case scenario],” Cole said, mentioning the figure also includes the construction of towers throughout the county. “Also, after the two-year warranty has expired, it will cost us $211,000 a year in maintenance.”
The consultant presented options to help the county address the proposed expenditure. According to his numbers, payments would run at an estimated $733,000 in the worse case scenario. Those payments would not commence until fiscal year 2015-16.
Cole’s first recommendation was to set aside a 2013-14 two-cent real estate tax increase to support the renovations of the Historic School project and apply it to the system, garnering $486,000. He continued, recommending an additional penny increase in FY2015-16, adding $243,000. Finally, the consultant recommended an additional one-cent increase in FY 2017-18 to help cover the maintenance cost.
“Overall, we are aiming to keep our debt services down and these increases will help us, along with other funds that are set aside,” Cole added.
Other options Cole suggested included borrowing more funds upfront, with payments for the project to begin in FY 2016-17. However, under that option the county would end up spending $7.5 million, whereas the first option will cost $7.239 million.
Supervisors agreed that the options were viable for further exploration and approved a letter of intent to join the radio system. Cole concluded that once more accurate numbers are returned from a Motorola study, he’d make another presentation to the board.
In other actions taken by county supervisors, a proposed regional burn building will have a new location.
Fire chief Rick Opett told board members that after several conversations with participating jurisdictions, Henrico County’s bond counsel denied the use of 16 acres on the old Camp 16 complex (adjacent to Henrico Jail East). After bringing the issue back and further research, it was discovered that the county owned 10.98 parcels of land on Parham Landing Road that could serve as an alternative location.
Opett returned the matter to the board due to a pending $450,000 grant that requires a building permit to be issued by Aug. 21. Supervisors approved the motion to designate the land for the building 4-0, with District 3 representative James Burrell absent.