By Cecilia Nasmith

The Northumberland Radio Tower Project is within weeks of completion, county council's Public Works Committee heard Monday.

Associate Director of Engineering Carol Coleman described the project as “upgrading radio equipment to the digital mobile radio system to provide county-wide service for fire service and public works for all member municipalities.”

The scope of this work includes procurement of all radio equipment and materials, installation and configuration of all necessary equipment and components, installation on towers of new antennas and feed lines, and the decommissioning and removal of the county radio tower. Not included is any work associated with operations, such as dispatch services and hand-held radios.

Coleman offered a look at the situation in each municipality.

Cobourg – The water tower site is owned by LUSI. All equipment is installed and it is ready for commissioning. As for the agreement, she said, “We hare hoping to hear feedback later this week.”

Port Hope – The tower is owned by the municipality, and the agreement will go to council's committee-of-the-whole meeting Aug. 6. All equipment is installed, with the propane tank and generator to be installed “in the very near future.”

Hamilton – The tower is owned by the Canada Coast Guard. The agreement is signed and all equipment installed, with a propane tank still to come.

Alnwick-Haldimand – The tower is owned by Xplornet ON7257. With the agreement signed and all equipment installed, it is ready for commissioning.

Cramahe – The tower is owned by Rogers, with the agreement signed and all equipment installed. The older antenna has been replaced, and it is ready to go.

Alderville – The tower is owned by Alderville First Nation, with the agreement signed and all equipment installed (with a propane tank expected “very soon”).

Brighton – The tower is owned by American Towers, with the agreement fees being negotiated and the equipment ready for installation. “We are very close to having an agreement,” Coleman said.

Trent Hills – The tower is owned by the municipality, to be operated as per an agreement approved by council. All equipment is installed, and it is ready for commissioning.

The timeline Coleman presented calls for much of the work to be completed “in the next two or three weeks.” Stress testing has begun, and it is anticipated the towers will be commissioned by the end of August. Radios will be programmed in August and September.

“The county tower will be taken down and removed once the system is fully operational, likely in October,” she said.

The budgeted amount, including non-recoverable HST, was $501,342, with a $25,000 contingency fund. To date, contingencies have amounted to $33,557. These have included removing and relocating an osprey nest and extending the fence at the Alderville site, as well as engineering design services for the Cobourg water tower assessment.

“Once we sort out final costs, we will bring back a report on what additional funds are needed to complete the project,” Coleman said.