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07/23/2008 10:46 AM

 

County interested in Ellwood radio tower July 23, 2008 ECO Staff -- Laure Cioffi, senior journalist NEW CASTLE – Lawrence County officials are looking into buying a radio tower in Ellwood City from an area radio broadcasting company. Brian Melcer, director of county public safety, got permission last week from Lawrence County commissioners to begin negotiations for the tower. Melcer said this is part of a county plan to own all of the towers used by the county for its radio communications with police, fire and emergency workers. The tower is located on North Street in the borough and is now owned by Forever Broadcasting, a group that owns WKST radio, WJST and Froggy 95. John Thomas, program director for Froggy 95, said they no longer use the Ellwood City tower for broadcasting, but do rent it to others. Melcer said the county has been renting space on the radio tower since the late 1990s and pays $654 a month. They are only beginning negotiations, but believe it will cost far less than constructing a new tower, Melcer said. New towers can cost upwards of $400,000, according to the public safety director. Melcer said his department does have a capital improvement fund and there is money available from the county 911 surcharge, money derived from a monthly fee for telephone service, that may pay for the new tower. The Ellwood City tower is about 15 years old and the county may end up renting some space on the tower to other entities to derive some income, according to Melcer. He said the county is also in the process of building a main radio tower for emergency communications in Scott Township. That project had been the priority, but the offer to buy the North Street tower came up and will likely be completed first. Melcer said the county will also look into buying a tower in the northern end of Lawrence County. Laure Cioffi can be reached at laurecioffi@ellwoodcity.org