Lyon County’s north communication tower was vandalized to the tune of more than $4,000.
Rick Frevert of Lyon County Emergency Management said the tower, which is used for emergency communications in the county, was damaged by some kind of projectile about 290 feet up. Insurance will pay for the repairs to the coaxial cable to the light on the tower. The temporary fix is about $1,600 and the long-term fix is another $2,815.
“The insurance adjuster is cutting a check minus the $500 deductible,” Frevert said. Frevert said the vandalism is not uncommon with a strobe light on top.
“People use it for target practice,” Frevert said. “Damage was consistent to a larger caliber (gun).” Frevert also gave a short update on the south communications tower. The tower is not yet finished because of delays by Homeland Security.
“We’re moving as quickly as we can,” Frevert said. “It seems like every time (Homeland Security) calls back, they have a new question and it adds another page to our report.”
Frevert said emergency communications have improved dramatically in the northern half of the county since the north tower was raised, but south communications are not as good and if the south tower isn’t done soon, another plan will have to be developed.
In other business, County Counselor Michael Halleran clarified the sales tax issue raised during last week’s meeting by Commission Chairman Marshall Miller. Halleran said county government has very limited power to raise and use sales taxes. Cities have a much broader power over sales taxes.
“What commissioner Miller was saying the other day is that there should be a study group to see if sales tax is a viable way of distributing the tax burden, particularly of those that are visiting the county,” Halleran said.
Halleran said a full study of the issue and how it would effect local businesses has to be done to see if there is any benefit to taxpayers of Lyon County. No further discussions have taken place, Halleran said, but more discussions could take place in the future.
In other business, the commission:
- Authorized purchase of two used federal surplus Schultze mowers for $1,500 after quality check by Virgil Morris and Martin Harsch.
- Denied request to send Harsh and Morris to Komatsu Excavation plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., in Dec.
- Broke tie vote between Frances Smith and Noble Thornton of the Jackson Township Clerk position. Smith won via a coin flip.