By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At a meeting of the Henry County 911 board Monday afternoon, Director Mark Archer reported that the block grant applications for the new radio project have been completed and submitted.
Henry County and City of Paris officials are working together to create a more cohesive communication system that would eliminate dead zones. As has been reported previously, dead zones do exist in the county which make it impossible for emergency personnel to communicate with each other at all times.
Archer had reported earlier that the inability of first responders to communicate directly with each other has led to some potentially dangerous situations.
The 911 program is trying to get two block grants, Archer said: one from the county and one from the city and both have been submitted. Grant-writer Rob Goad of the NW Tennessee Development District said both applications “look very good, very promising”, Archer said.
The 911 board has put aside $250,000 in its budget as its share “and if the radio project doesn’t go, that money would come back to us,” he said.
At the request of Paris Fire Chief Mike Williams, the board approved payment of up to $3,600 for a hood to be placed on the stove in the kitchen at the 911 building on Brewer Street. The kitchen is utilized by the three agencies that share the 911 building and by numerous people who attend training sessions there.
Williams said the fire marshal shut down the stove at a recent inspection because it was unsafe. Archer said it was important to have the stove back in working order soon. He said the stove has been disconnected until the part can be installed.
In other business:
–Archer said for the board to expect a higher than usual fee for legal services at the next meeting. He said Board Attorney Chip McLean has been busy working on three separate contracts that have involved a lot of work on his part. “The fee will be larger than usual, but Chip has been doing a lot more work than we usual ask for and it’s very necessary to protect us in these contracts.”
Board members review their agendas at Monday’s session. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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