Lyon County commissioners were informed during today's Lyon County commission meeting that the construction of the communications tower in South Lyon County has been stalled.
The south tower is the last of three towers to be constructed to improve emergency communications in Lyon County. The other two towers were constructed without delay, said Rick Frevert, of Lyon County Emergency Management.
“This is the third of three towers and we’ve had no problems up until now,” Frevert said. “So, why now?”
Frevert said in March his department was asked for further environmental studies by Homeland Security. Those were submitted. In September and October, they were asked for still more studies. Those also were submitted. As of this month, Frevert has been told that the application has been received and is at the office of Grants and Training with Homeland Security.
“We have no information of when things will move ahead,” Frevert said. “The progress is a degree of concern. We’re supposed to be getting prepared for risks in our county. We’re putting that (the community) at risk.”
Frevert said that his office has been led to believe that there are other projects in other states and communities that are stalled.
“We don’t have specifics, but we’ve been led to believe that,” Frevert said.
Frevert said there is money set aside for the project and it isn’t being used. There’s also another problem.
“The equipment that goes on the tower is arriving,” Frevert said. “It’s already here. We have equipment for the tower and nothing to put it on.”
Frevert said, at this point, they are on a “don’t call us, we’ll call you” status.
“We’re caught up in whatever the problem is and we can’t seem to get an answer,” he said.
Commissioner Scott Briggs asked if Frevert had any objections to him forwarding some of the information to Congressman Jerry Moran’s office. Frevert said he didn’t.
Other items addressed during today’s county commission meeting:
• Commissioners discussed using $1,000 from Drug Forfeiture Fund ($250 each) to area high schools for alcohol and drug-free after-prom parties for spring 2007.
• Commissioners discussed using $1,000 from Drug Forfeiture Fund ($250 each) to area high school for alcohol and drug-free after-graduation parties for spring 2007.
• Commissioners discussed using $15,000 from the Diversion Fund to purchase new copier and maintenance agreement for the County Attorney’s Office and discussed using $250 from Diversion Fund to purchase new fax machine for the Kansas Highway Patrol.
• Discussed transferring $10,000 from Diversion Fund to the Family Solutions Program.
• Discussed using $4,500 from Diversion Fund to purchase equipment for Child Advocacy Center.