NASSAU TOWERS OF TROUBLE
Static on county's radios
Localities balk at relay towers in $46M emergency network
BY CAROL EISENBERG
Newsday Washington Bureau
January 4, 2007
WASHINGTON - An urgently needed radio system that would enable Nassau first responders to talk to one another in emergencies, including a terrorist attack, is months behind schedule because of the reluctance of several localities to allow microwave dishes or antennae on their water towers.
One North Shore water district - Jericho - has refused to participate because the dishes are "environmentally and aesthetically objectionable," according to a letter from its counsel obtained by Newsday.
Bayville residents have raised health concerns, although the village permits 52 antennae from various cell companies on its tower now.
Other localities indicated they would consider the proposal if they were paid, noting they get tens of thousands a year from cell carriers.
"I just don't understand why there's so much resistance, especially since the system is essential for homeland security and county safety," said Edmund Horace, a Nassau County Police Department deputy inspector and special project manager. "I believe it's unconscionable. I think if the general public were aware of the roadblocks to a public safety radio system that is supposed to serve them, they would be appalled. "
The $46-million radio system would enable village, town and county first responders to communicate with one another, as well as with Suffolk, New York City and state and federal agencies. County officials signed a contract with Motorola a year and a half ago to replace their existing 24-year-old system, which has dead zones and is so antiquated that many parts cannot be replaced.
But with only four months to go before an April target date, only eight of 24 required sites have been lined up - with five of those on county property.
Horace said that Jericho and Farmingdale Village have refused to participate, although a Farmingdale official denied that late yesterday. Many localities are still considering the proposal, first made in September 2005.
Signed participants are the Port Washington Water District, East Hills and the American Ref-Fuel plant in Westbury.
The difficulties Nassau is having setting up the radio system shed light on why the New York metropolitan area received only middling grades for emergency communication on a report card issued yesterday by the Homeland Security Department. The report called for "political and fiscal support for broader regionwide communications interoperability. "
"The bottom line is we're not getting the level of cooperation we had hoped for," said Nassau Deputy County Executive Helena Williams. "First responders received such tremendous support from the public after Sept. 11, 2001. We need to ensure that they can count on that same level of public support today. "
Williams questioned concerns raised by localities about health issues or costs.
The county would install and take care of the equipment itself, she said. "And this can't be a health issue since everyone uses cell phones," she added. "The water districts and localities are trying to make a public safety issue into a monetary issue for their gain. "
If the county is forced to do so, it would consider condemnation of property, Williams said, "but we'd like to work in a cooperative fashion. "
But several local officials said yesterday that they had not made decisions because the county had not addressed their concerns.
Bayville Mayor Victoria Siegel said village officials had heard from more than 100 people on the proposal to mount two antennae on its water tower, across from a grade school. No decision had been made, she said, but "the majority opinion we heard is, 'It causes cancer,' 'We don't want it,' 'Put it somewhere else. ' "
She acknowledged that the village now has 52 antennae from cell carriers who pay annual fees. Asked the difference, she said, "When these cell carriers were going up on the water tower, people have not come to public hearings. "
Farmingdale Village Administrator-Clerk David Smollett, meanwhile, denied the county had been turned down.
"We asked what kind of compensation they would be offering because we have to make sure it's maintained, just like we get usage fees from Nextel, Cingular and T-Mobile," he said. "We've been waiting to hear back.
Asked how much the village had asked in "compensation," he demurred. The fees from cell carriers range from $25,000 to $150,000 a year, he said. "We're not looking to make big bucks. It's more to cover maintenance and make sure it's kept secure. "
As for the Jericho Water District, General Manager Greg Hendrickson confirmed that, "as far we're concerned, the proposal is dead."
Talking points on radio system
Why the county wants the system
To replace an outmoded communications system that has dead zones around the county
To enable communications among all county and village police departments, 71 fire departments and six ambulance districts, as well as with Suffolk County, New York City and state and federal agencies.
Why some water districts oppose it
Financial issues. Districts receive payments from cell phone companies that put antennae on water towers and some are exploring the possibility of similar payments from the county.
Questions about how the antennae or microwave dishes would look.
Health concerns.
How it would work
Motorola's proposed system would integrate Nassau's police communications through a series of radios and strategically placed towers. About 24 relays would be installed in Nassau, allowing for broader, countywide communication.
1. Officer in police car communicates via handheld or car radio
2. Signal is sent to a relay system positioned on a water tower or something similar. Cell phone companies have similar systems installed on some water towers.
3. That unit relays the signal to either a central command station or another officer
SOURCE: MOTOROLA
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
