There currently is no cell phone service available on that state route from Drawdy Mountain to Marmet.
“The main purpose of this tower is for emergency communications for several organizations,” such as Boone County’s division of highways, board of education, fire departments, ambulance services and police departments, according to Boone County Ambulance Authority Executive Director John “Tony” Workman.
The tower also will be used for cell phone service, however.
The project still is in the planning stages at this point.
The Boone County Ambulance Authority received a public service grant to pay for the construction of the tower.
The proposed site for the tower is Washburn near Racine, although “we may have to find somewhere else to place the tower, due to some legal issues,” Workman said.
The legal issues have made the Boone County Ambulance Authority turn the project over to the Boone County Commission with Greg Lay appointed to be the lead man on the project. His job is overseeing the site and keeping communication open with the commissioners.
“We are asking the county commission to take over this project to finish it up,” Workman said. “Cell phone companies have been contacted and they seem very interested.”
The public service grant has been given to the Boone County Ambulance Authority to construct the tower and get it operating properly, Workman said, but the project has to be under construction by the end of the year so the organization doesn’t lose the funds.
The tower must meet certain criteria and has to be IRP compatible, which is statewide inter-operable radio.
The tower will be 300 feet tall and is ready to be constructed by Indiana-based Tower Innovations. The company will build the tower and ship it here in pieces up to 20 feet long. It will be put together like an Erector Set when it arrives here.
Workman said there should be communication for emergency services and service for cell phone users on W.Va. 3 by early 2008.
Contact Staff Writer Crystal D. Cook at HYPERLINK "mailto:ccook@coalvalleynews.com" ccook@coalvalleynews.com or 369-1165.
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