FARMINGTON – Jay officials submitted a proposal to Franklin County commissioners Tuesday requesting nearly $24,000 of a county grant to install a new tower to boost communication capabilities.

County Commissioner Fred Hardy said he hoped it wouldn’t become controversial where the money is spent. The county has been allotted nearly $86,000 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The money has to be spent by March 2005.

The grant is to promote first responder preparedness and to help offset the costs associated with heightened national security.

Jay Town Manager Ruth Marden told commissioners that the town, which is in the southern part of the county and borders three other counties – Androscoggin, Kennebec and Oxford – has a lot of dead zones where communications are limited.

Jay Police Chief Larry White Sr. said installing a new repeater tower would not just help Jay, it would help other towns and bordering counties. County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Barker said there already is a committee working on upgrading communication capabilities in Franklin County.

Hardy said since the emphasis of the grant seemed to be on communication, he asked Barker and his committee to develop a proposal for use of the money.

Farmington Fire Rescue Chief Terry Bell referred to the communication situation in Franklin County as being “pretty serious” with dead spots all over the county.

Bell also added that he has had discussions about putting the $45,000 his department will receive in with the money the county will receive to upgrade the system.

The county and Farmington received grants, according to Barker, because they each have more than 5,000 residents. Jay has 4,985 residents.

Barker also noted that Jay withdrew from the county communications network years ago because Jay officials felt they were not getting communications, and they weren’t getting communications, and set up its own center.

There were a lot of reasons Jay backed out of the network, including the safety of the town’s police officers, White said.

Franklin County Sheriff Dennis Pike invited White to serve on the communication’s committee.

Farmington Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Clyde Ross said the upgrade of the county’s communication system is an ongoing process. He said he would like to see the upgrade of the county’s communication network system continue to complete a plan developed a couple years ago. He would also like to see the funds received added to it and for the committee to look to the future when developing a plan to use the money.

dperry@sunjournal.com