Editorial

City on board, now that tower project's a 'go'

Friday, June 8, 2007

When the McCook Public Power District first proposed building a new communications tower, the city wasn't exactly enthusiastic.

In fact, because the proposed tower was too high and too close to McCook Regional Airport, the city denied MPPD's request to build it. There was a chance, some day, that the Federal Aviation Administration might deny airport funding because it might endanger aircraft using the new instrument landing system in marginal weather.

Three years, several court appearances and one new city manager later, Sabre Corp. is ready to start construction of the $340,000 free-standing tower next week. As part of the settlement with the city, MPPD agreed to change the tower if it ever becomes a problem with the FAA.

With luck, MPPD field crews should have better communications with the headquarters on North U.S. Highway 83 by October.

Oh, and the City of McCook would like to rent space for the fire and ambulance services' radios.

That's fine with MPPD manager Jim Phinney.

"We're pretty community-minded around here," he said.

Now that the tower is going to be built, it's going to become a crowded place. Besides MPPD and the fire department, Klein's Motor and Electric and the Civil Air Patrol will move their radio equipment over to the new tower, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office is asking for space as part of a new statewide two-way radio system, and two Christian radio stations are interested in spots on the tower as well.

It was easy to see why the old tower needed to be replaced. It was built during the Korean War and needed major repairs and replacements to bring it up to standards, a very expensive proposition. Besides that, it was unsafe, being located right next to the highway and headquarters office.

But how relevant is two-way radio in this day of expanding mobile telephone service? In fact, the new MPPD tower will look a lot like the cellular telephone towers that are springing up all over the countryside.

Quite relevant, according to Phinney. There are many advantages to actually broadcasting a message to as many workers as possible as quickly as possible. When crews are ready to cut off power or energize a line, it's good for as many people as possible to be in on the decision.

"We've caught mistakes that way," Phinney said.

Besides that, two-way radio is much cheaper over the long run, with no charges other than maintaining the tower and replacing hand radios now and then, he said.

Phinney is enthusiastic about the role the tower can play in the new statewide radio system in case of emergency like last December's ice storm, allowing sheriffs' and police departments and the Nebraska State Patrol as well as power districts to communicate much more effectively.

"I want to give McCook's city manager, Mr. Kurt Fritsch, our sincere gratitude for his role in helping us get our tower approved," Phinney wrote in his monthly column to MPPD customers. "He was the only person that even came out and sat down with us to find out our needs and view our plans. It's great to have individuals like him and his staff to work with to bring greater things to the community and region."

That's good to hear. And it's gratifying to see the resolution of the tower problem an example of how the community can benefit from creative, positive thinking.

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