ACCOMAC, Va. (Delmarva Now) — A county-owned communications tower critical to public safety communications is in need of either major repair or replacement, according to a structural analysis.
The cost to replace the tower could approach $500,000, according to County Administrator Michael Mason.
"We didn't really know the extent of what repairs would be needed until some of these inspections were performed," Mason said.
The tower cost $30,000 to erect in 1982, he said.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized use of up to $500,000 from the county's rainy day fund to pay for the fix.
"You can see with these numbers, times have changed," Mason said, adding, "The tower certainly is critical to public safety."
"This is one of those things that you have a rainy day fund for," said Supervisor Donald L. Hart Jr. Hart made the motion to approve using the rainy day fund to cover the expense.
Supervisor Ron Wolff, who seconded Hart's motion, asked whether grants could be looked into to pay for the tower fix.
The problem with pursuing grant funding is timing, Mason said.
"We are at a critical stage where we have to move forward," he said.
The adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2019 included $75,000 for anticipated repairs to the county's three communications towers, located in Accomac, Craddockville and Mappsville.
The structural analysis showed the tower in Accomac "does not have sufficient capacity to carry its existing load," according to a summary in the board's meeting packet for Sept. 19.
"Its structural capacity is at 96.5% and foundation capacity at 144.7%. It is highly likely that this tower's foundation has been in excess of its recommended capacity for much of the tower's life," according to the summary.
Mason pointed out that the existing tower is close to a residential area.
When the tower was built, investigation of the soils on the site was not required, as it is now, according to Mason.
"It is quite possible that the soils were never suitable for the anticipated load," the summary said.
Additional issues were identified with the towers at Mappsville and Craddockville, but those are not as significant as the problems with the Accomac tower.
The Accomac tower has equipment on it for both the Sheriff's Office and the 911 Commission, the summary said.
If it can be repaired rather than replaced, an additional $210,000 will be needed above the budgeted amount.
If it is determined the tower should be replaced, it likely will be relocated adjacent to the Public Works office, on county-owned property near Sawmill Park in Accomac, Mason said.
Repairs to the Mappsville tower will require an additional $80,000, which Mason said can come from the budget contingency fund.
Repairs to the Craddockville tower can be completed with existing funds, he said.
One of the criteria for using money from the county's rainy day fund is "to mitigate a potential event that, left unaddressed, could jeopardize the safety or security of the public, students or employees," he said in the summary, adding, "Repair of the Accomac tower certainly meets this criteria."
The rainy day fund currently has $10.8 million init, with another $855,944 to be added this fiscal year.
