Agenda - 09-12-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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their radio coverage across their service territory and to better coordinate storm restorations and routine field communications. The Department of Homeland Security Maintenance has defined the PEMC trunked radio communication system as critical infrastructure because, if severely damaged, there would be a significant impact on the ability to serve large quantities of customers for an extended period of time, These damages would have a detrimental impact to the reliability or operability of the energy grid, and could cause significant risk to ptablic health, safety and welfare. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has permitted three new radio frequencies to the facility.. That permit expires on October 5 and PEMC anticipates requesting an extension. When the new PEMC tower is operational, the LAWS tower, located in the Hurdle Mills neighborhood in the northern part of the County, will be available for other public and private communication antennas. The North Carolina Highway Patrol VIPER 800 mega Hertz communication system has requested co-location of the LAWS tower. This will allow multiple public agencies, such as Orange County Sheriffs Department and EMS to better communicate during emergencies, such as hurricanes and ice storms.. PEMC has offered its existing tower, after de-construction, to the Orange County EMS facility on New Hope Church Road. If this happens, it would be a cost savings to the County, PEMC has also offered free co-location space on their replacement tower to the County Sheriffs Office and to EMS., EMS needs to improve its communications system to better use the VIPER system tower on Eno Mountain,. The County Information Technology Department is interested in establishing campus-to-campus network connections using tower-mounted equipment. The use of the existing tower for County purposes could be an important first step in acquiring tower access rights,. As access rights are negotiated for other towers in the County, the Information Technology Department could replace leased fiber lines and provide more reliable network availability during emergencies. Negatives. The expedited review process is a deviation from BOCC normal process, which solicits public input to ensure the public's right to know about and comment on important BOCC decisions. With the exception of bringing the petition forward at a time not in accord with the normal November 20, 2006 Quarterly Public Hearing, all other procedures will be followed. Additional/Expanded Notice to the Public, All the property owners who were contacted by letter for the required April 2006 balloon test and who own property within 1,000 feet of the PEMC property boundaries will be re-notified of the hearing (and that it is outside of the standard public hearing schedule) by a certified letter in accordance with ordinance requirements; additionally, a sign will be posted on the property and the legal advertisements will be submitted to the local papers for publication, FINANCIAL IMPACT: Any casts involved in staff review or the normal public outreach will be reimbursed through the Special Use Permit application fees and escrow account, RECOMMENDATIONS: Administration recommends that the Board, for the purpose of protecting the health, safety and welfare of the general publio. t) Approve PEMC's request for an expedited review of the replacement tower Planned Development amendment with Class A Special Use Permit modification; 2) Approve the legal advertisement setting a public hearing for October 3, 2006.