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Supervisors approve radio equipment for engineer [Newton Daily News, Iowa](Newton Daily News (IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 3--The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all governmental radio equipment be compatible with the narrow-banding requirements by 2013. Jasper County Enhanced 911 Board received a grant to replace all radio equipment that is not compatible. The County Engineer's office was included in that grant to replace all portables, mobiles and a repeater. Spring Valley Wireless has recommended to the E911 board that it should request a new frequency pair for the repeater, due to the interference that the county has been experiencing for the past several years. That would require the replacement of the duplexer, a cost of approximately $2,300. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved the expenditure at its regular meeting Tuesday. The approval will allow the new acquisition to be incorporated into the grant project, saving money in the long run. In other action Tuesday, the supervisors: --Considered a request from Calhoun County for a contribution to defray potential litigation expenses. A ruling against the county could have an impact on all Iowa counties. Calhoun County has been sued in Iowa District Court by Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad in order to recover repair costs due to a drainage tile that collapsed under the railroad tracks. The case, according to a letter from Charles Rieken, president of the Iowa State Association of Counties, turns on the definition of a 'culvert.' "At issue in this case is whether the railroad or the public should bear the increased cost of an improvement at the intersection with the railroad right of way. This case is of importance to every county in Iowa, since a finding in favor of the railroad would likely be used as either precedent or as persuasive in resolving future issues with any third party landowners adjacent to county property," Rieken said in his letter. Although Calhoun County won the case in District Court, the expectation is that the railroad will appeal. The letter was requesting $500 from each county to help with the possibility of further costs incurred. While the supervisors agreed that the cause was a worthy one, they opted to table the request until next week, in order to determine how many other counties will be contributing as well. --Approved the low bid of $21,251 from Dewey Ford for a 2011 Ford F-250 4X4 pickup, for use by the Jasper County Maintenance Department. Dewey has agreed to take the county's current 2-wheel drive pickup in trade for $10,400, bringing the total cost to $10,851. John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Comments To see more of the Newton Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newtondailynews.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Newton Daily News, Iowa Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |