PRESENT: T. Joseph, M. Lane, C. Evans, B. Blanchard
EXCUSED: P. Penniman
STAFF: J. Miller, Lee Shurtleff, Fire, Disaster and EMS; J. Kazda, Engineering; J. Hanson, Planning Commissioner; B. Benjamin, Deputy County Administrator
GUESTS: Lou Withiam, Brian Wilbur, E911 Operations Committee
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting opened at 2:03 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes for the June, July and August meetings were deferred to the September Committee meeting.
PROJECT STATUS
DOT
Mr. Hanson stated a meeting will be held next week to discuss the design of the facility. The Memorandum of Understanding is still being finalized and a meeting will be held with the County Attorney following this meeting to discuss some concerns that have been raised.
Ms. Blanchard stated the MOU has been sent to Town of Dryden and their comments are included in the MOU. Cornell’s comments will be discussed with the County Attorney and are not currently included in the document. She noted their comments include how the property will be transferred. After the meeting with the County Attorney, a meeting will be held with Cornell, final comments will be included in the document and then it will be sent to the Department of Transportation. She stated the City of Ithaca has been contacted and they haven’t indicated any problems. She distributed the MOU dated July 29, 1999, and asked the committee to submit any suggestions or comments to her or Mr. Hanson.
Mr. Lane asked about the appraisals of the Third Street and Hanshaw properties. Mr. Kazda stated the appraisal on the Third Street property should be available next week. He distributed the activity schedule for the project along with the executive summary of the environmental assessment on the Third Street property. He stated that additional monitoring wells have been installed on the Third Street property, but what was drawn from the wells has not been tested yet. The tank that is reportedly still buried on the site has not yet been found.
Mr. Hanson asked if a letter has been received regarding the Hanshaw Road property. Mr. Kazda stated that nothing was found on the Hanshaw property when the maps of the site were studied. He stated a report should be available shortly.
Mr. Lane asked if an appraisal and site assessment should be completed on the Cortland site. Ms. Blanchard stated that these should be done, but it isn’t clear who should be doing the work. Mr. Kazda stated that once the costs come in on the Third Street and Hanshaw Road properties it can be determined if we can afford to do the work. Mr. Lane stated that the appraisal will need to be done if the State is figuring the value of the property into their contribution to the project. Ms. Blanchard stated they will be using the value towards their contribution, but appraisals need to be completed to determine a more realistic value for the properties first.
Ms. Blanchard stated a letter was received from the State’s Regional Director of Transportation indicating support for facility relocation and shared space arrangements with Tompkins County. The letter indicates that they will be transferring the Third Street and Cortland properties to the County once appraisals are complete and their attorneys have reviewed all the options. Ms. Blanchard stated that the transfer of both properties is included in the Memorandum of Understanding.
Mr. Lane suggested bringing a resolution to the Board to obtain more money to conduct the appraisal on the Cortland site. Mr. Kazda stated that there was $10,000 budgeted for environmental assessment and there may be enough money remaining to have the appraisal done. Ms. Blanchard asked that a better estimate of what has been spent and what is remaining be brought to the next meeting along with a resolution if needed.
E911 CONSOLIDATION
Mr. Shurtleff stated that the space needs are complete and the Fire and EMS subcommittees are working on their operational plans. These should be finalized in the next few weeks. Mr. Wilbur indicated that the operations plans should be available shortly. He will be meeting with the Executive Committee of the E911 Operations Committee to review them.
TOWER PROJECT
Mr. Miller stated that Dutchill is continuing its work on the study of the sites. He stated he met with Dutchill and an engineer from Motorola to discuss the way evaluations are conducted by both companies. He stated the meeting went very well. He Stated Dutchill has conducted propagation studies on a number of alternative sites and a couple of them could be used. The ones being looked at are commercial sites and contacts are being made with the owners to see if there is any interest in working with the County and what the costs would be. He stated that several cell towers were looked at, but they don’t cover the area needed by the County because their operations are different. He stated the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a study on the Niemi Road site. He stated this site is much closer to the airport than originally thought and could result in a reduction of tower height.
Ms. Blanchard asked if it is necessary to have the tower as close to the new facility or if it could be placed farther away. Mr. Miller stated the tower needs to be close because there is a maximum length of cable that can be run.
Ms. Blanchard stated she received an email from Susan Brock of the Environmental Management Council indicating the EMC is submitting the County’s process to an intergovernmental awards project for the work done between the County and the EMC on the towers project. She will forward copies of the email to committee members.
Mr. Joseph asked what would happen if the tower closest to the dispatch center loses power. Mr. Miller stated that the system has two alternate bands and would revert to the original repeater stations.
Mr. Miller indicated the Dutchill report should be available in six weeks.
CISNET
Mr. Benjamin stated that review of the RFP has been completed and negotiations are being held with the vendor of preference. He stated the original timeline was to have the vendor contract awarded in August, but this will need to be done in September due to the ongoing negotiations. He stated he will be meeting with the E911 Police Subcommittee to discuss CISNET and police agency needs in regards to the information network.
ACTIVTIY SCHEDULE
Mr. Kazda stated there has been some delay in hiring the architect and this effects aspects 1-11 of the activity schedule. He stated that activity 12 places the project back on schedule. A meeting with LaBella Associates will take place next week. LaBella Associates’ draft proposal was distributed. Mr. Shurtleff asked if there is potential for part of the project to be built and become operational and add other parts of the project later. Mr. Kazda stated that the project can be designed so it can be added to later. He stated that the operation of the center would need to be looked at He stated the schedule cannot be completed until funding for the project is obtained.
Mr. Withiam asked where Mr. Spina has designed 911 centers. Mr. Kazda stated he designed the center in Wayne County. Ms. Blanchard suggested getting more information.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:41 p.m. The next meeting is September 28, 1999, at 2:00 p.m. in the Scott Heyman Conference Room.
Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Luu, Administrative Assistant, Board of Representative’s office.