AUBURN — Androscoggin County will team up with the Lewiston/Auburn 9-1-1 emergency communication system to build a new communication tower on Goff Hill.
County commissioners signed off on the project at Wednesday’s meeting, agreeing to spend up to $50,000 over five years.
The new tower will improve the emergency network in the county and the Twin Cities, county administrator Larry Post said.
“We like the idea of working jointly with L/A 9-1-1,” Post said.
Auburn, Lewiston and the county will split the costs three ways. Post estimated that the project will likely cost the county less than the projected $50,000 over five years.
Sheriff Eric Samson had said at a previous meeting that his department has communication problems in some sections of the county. The Sheriff’s Department has addressed some of the issues incrementally by replacing some smaller towers and transmitters.
The Goff Hill location is the county’s primary tower, but the equipment is aging and is located in what Samson described as a shack. With L/A 9-1-1 planning to build a new tower nearby, Samson was eager to have the county join the new venture.
Post said the project is expected to get underway shortly.
Commissioners also set the schedule for the upcoming budget deliberations. The process begins Wednesday, Aug. 16, and is expected to continue the following two Wednesdays.
A public hearing and finalizing the preliminary budget is scheduled for Sept. 6.
The first Budget Committee meeting is slated for Sept. 20.
ssherlock@sunjournal.com
Androscoggin County Building in Auburn.
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