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| 12/28/2007 12:13:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Converting communications system
Lynda James
Correspondent
Park County's Board of County Commissioners signed a participation agreement with Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado on Dec. 20. The agreement will allow emergency response agencies to use the state's digital trucked radio system infrastructure for intra-agency communications.
Park County Emergency Manager Lori Hodges said communications became a national issue after Sept. 11 because emergency responders to the Twin Towers could not communicate with each other due to agencies using different radio frequencies. Since then, the federal government has been providing money for state and local governments to convert their systems to a uniform 800 MHz digital radio system.
Commissioner John Tighe said the issue came home during response to the 2006 Platte Canyon School District hostage situation and death of Emily Keyes when Park County responders could not communicate efficiently with Jefferson County responders.
The state, and several counties that have mutual aid agreements with Park County, have already converted to the new system.
According to Hodges, Park County has received $300,000 from Homeland Security and is waiting for federal approval of another $600,000 from Public Safety Interoperable Communications to convert Park County's communication system. She said the county has received state approval and expects federal approval in the spring of 2008.
Once the money is received, Hodges said the county's communications department will be upgraded and radios will be bought for emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services. She expects it will take until the spring of 2009 to complete the upgrade.
Hodges said with the new system, Park County will be able to communicate with other agencies on a statewide basis because the digital system has further range than the current wideband VHF system. Agencies on the new system will all use the same radio frequency.
Hodges said the county will also convert the current wideband VHF system to a narrowband VHF system because some agencies, including the United States Forest Service, will be using a narrowband VHF system.
Another advantage of having both systems is that if one system goes down for some reason, the other can be used as a backup.
The state already has several communication towers in or near the county that are on the digital system. Hodges said once Park County has been converted, an evaluation will be completed to determine if another tower or more equipment will be needed to provide continuous coverage throughout the county. She anticipates that a tower will be needed on Kenosha Pass.
Road Vacation
Wayne and Patricia Heffelman received a road vacation for property on Vallery Way (aka Valley Way) south of Hwy. 24 and west of Hwy. 9 in Hartsel.
The property historically was a gas station. The Heffelmans plan to restore the building and convert it to a real estate office.
Because Vallery Way also is the access to Hartsel Springs Bathhouse and Colorado Midland Railroad Company Depot, the road vacation was approved for 20 feet of the 80 feet right of way, thus allowing access to these historic properties.
Both the Heffelmans and Hartsel Springs Ranch that owns the depot and bathhouse properties agree that the remaining right of way will be gated at the southern end of Heffelman's property to prevent easy access by trespassers to these historic properties.
Rezoning to Commercial
David Williams received a rezoning from residential to commercial to operate a vehicle repair shop. The property is located in Lake George on Navajo Avenue. Williams has operated Silver Cloud Automotive on the property since 2003.
Commnet Wireless, LLC recently received approval to install a monopole telecommunications tower on the property and represented Williams at the commissioners' hearing.
Rezoning to R-35
Erick Ahonen, Susanna Chiappetta and George Horvath received a rezoning from Conservation-Recreation to Residential-35 for a 40-acre parcel west of Alma in Section 2, Township 9 South, Range 78 West. They inherited the property from their parents and have it listed for sale. The property is adjacent to Alma Park Estates subdivision.
Exemption and Rezoning
Randy Addington received an exemption for an illegally created lot and a rezoning to residential for property located on Old Sawmill Road in northeast Park County in Section 25, Township 6 south Range 73 West.
The 6.8-acre parcel was illegally created by a quit claim deed in 1990 by adding 4.8 acres of a 45-acre parcel to a legal 2-acre parcel.
The approval was conditioned with Addington consolidating the two parcels into one.
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