Sumter B.O.C seek end to communication problems

ROBERT GRIFFIN

robert.griffin@gaflnews.com

americustimesrecorder.com

AMERICUS — The Sumter County Board of Commissioners discussed at length the purchasing of new equipment to improve communications inside the sheriff’s office, the Correctional Institute and the new Sumter County Fire Department. The topic of radio communication has been among the commissioners and the Board “for at least five years,” as Commissioner Rick Davis stated.

The problem with the communications is the coverage of hand-held radios that the sheriff’s office and in turn the new fire department are using. Last week, commissioners voted on the purchase of a new repeater for the fire departments so the department can receive their frequency through the FCC. The new proposed additions to the antenna and communication system in the county would greatly improve the communication issues that County departments have been experiencing.

Commissioners discussed the issue at great length, before deciding to table the issue until Friday morning, allowing for County administrator Lynn Taylor to meet with the sheriff’s office, and with Motorola to hear the exact needs of the department. This meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room at the new Sumter County Courthouse and is open to the public.

Also at the meeting commissioners unanimously approved a request from David McElmore to display nine documents at the new Sumter County Courthouse. These nine documents include the Ten Commandments as extracted from Exodus chapter 20, the Mayflower Compact, The Declaration of Independence, the Magna Carta, The Star Spangled Banner, the national motto, the preamble to the Georgia Constitution, the Bill of RIghts and the description on Lady Justice.

In other items voted on or discussed at the Commissioners meeting:

• Commissioners approved a request from Rosser Construction for six weeks of limited construction management services in the amount of $14,000.

• Approved a request from Rosser Construction for 30 weeks of limited construction management services on the Sumter County Judicial Complex for $27,500.

• Approved rescinding a motion made at the June 25 regular meeting for approval of the Internet service agreement with Georgia Public Web for Internet service at the new courthouse at a rate of $2,650 per month. The commissioners also approved an Internet service agreement with Mediacom Enterprise Network Solutions for Internet services at the rate of $1,900 per month and instillation at $2,500.

• Approved declaring the remaining items at the old Sumter County Courthouse salvage and to dispose of the items in the proper way.