FARMINGTON – Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to let the third floor of the county courthouse be used as an emergency communications amateur radio base.

There will be a desk and basic equipment set up in the former superior court clerk’s office with no storage of equipment, County Emergency Management Director Tim Hardy told commissioners.

An antenna would need to be put on the roof, he said. One already there needs to be replaced, he added.

Hardy said he’s working with a group of amateur radio operators putting together an emergency communications team.

It has been successful in other areas of the state, Hardy said.

Amateur radio operators seem to be able to communicate when some emergency responders are not able to, he added.

Hardy informed commissioners that his office is working with others in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire services and other emergency services to submit a statewide communication grant.

In other business, commissioners voted to hire Michael McKellar of Weld as a full-time temporary officer for the next 30 days to serve on the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

McKellar has worked part time for the department for about three years, Sheriff Dennis Pike said.

He expects to ask commissioners to approve similar requests two more times while his transport officer undergoes surgery and recovers from it, Pike said.

Deputy Albert Smith, the department’s transport officer, is expected to be out for 12 weeks.

Commissioners also approved hiring Belinda J. Howard of West Farmington as a part-time cook at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington.

One of the regular cooks is in the hospital, Pike said.

In another matter, county Clerk Julie Magoon said representatives of Smith Reuter Lull Architects plan to meet with the county’s Building Committee to summarize its work at 3 p.m. June 26 at courthouse.

The firm was hired to develop a comprehensive plan for space and structural needs at the county jail and courthouse. It has nearly completed the first couple of steps authorized, Magoon said.

Representatives of the firm would like to meet with commissioners at their first meeting in July, she said.