Tower to be erected this week

Salem News. December 5, 2010 - By KEVIN HOWELL, Staff Writer

KNOX TOWNSHIP - The communications tower to be erected in Knox Township is moving in this week.

Tri County Tower last week laid the foundation for the tower, which will be part of the state's MARCS system, a complex computer and communications network designed to provide instant voice and data communications and to supply a communications backbone of statewide public safety and emergency management in a single system.

According to Tom Lyden, project manager, the tower will be assembled this week and then stacked the week of Dec. 20, weather permitting.

Once the tower is up, a shelter will be constructed to house a generator and radio equipment, making way for local fire departments and other emergency departments to begin use by the first of the year.

The tower will support a system of communication available to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office and local fire departments including Damascus, Homeworth and North Georgetown.

"This enhanced communication will expand, acquire and correspond valuable information for first responders on the scene or enroute to any emergency in the community in a mutual situation," explained Knox Trustee Gregg Carver, noting each department will have its own frequency, which will clear any confusion during emergencies when several departments are out at once.

In addition to the greater communication for safety services, the tower brings the promise of broadband Internet service for the township and surrounding areas.

Carver is currently working with OmniCity and OneCommunity to install on the tower equipment that will bring high-speed Internet to an area that has battled cable companies the past two years in an attempt to increase coverage

Although no timetable has been set for the eventual availability of the service, Carver said he hopes to see it ready to go by summer.

"By incorporating high-speed Internet into the rural areas of Knox Township, Columbiana County and the tri-county region (Columbiana, Mahoning and Stark), we will be able to brighten the futures for all businesses, residents and especially students, regardless of age, who rely on the Internet for valuable information in the classroom and bring prosperity of knowledge to everyone's fingertips," he said.

Carver said he hopes to see the township utilize nearby towers, such as in Lisbon, to maximize broadband coverage.

A self-supporting, three-legged unit (meaning no wires will be needed to balance the structure), the tower, although originally designed at 360 feet tall, will stand at 250 feet due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, a change that will not alter its effectiveness, Lyden said.

"It will still be plenty tall enough to do its job," he said. "There was no change in placement of the departments (antennas)."

Located at the Knox Township garage, the tower will cost approximately $380,000, funded by the state at no cost to the township.

Recognizing the many efforts to bring the tower to the township, Carver thanked the township's cable committee, the board of trustees and staff, as well as the community involvement from West Branch Local School District and the local fire departments; Doug Jarvis, North Georgetown Assistant Fire Chief; Darryl Anderson, director of MARCS; former state Rep. Linda Bolon; and former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson and his caseworker, Joy Donathan.

"With the combined commitment of everyone involved, this tower will very soon become a reality and make Knox Township a link to build a stronger Ohio in the areas of emergency response and broadband initiatives," he said.