Town hopes agreements will improve communications, internet service

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 7/27/17

SILVERHILL, Alabama — The town of Silverhill is looking to make improvements to communications and technology systems with the approval of a pair of measures during its council meeting Monday, July …

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Town hopes agreements will improve communications, internet service

Posted

SILVERHILL, Alabama — The town of Silverhill is looking to make improvements to communications and technology systems with the approval of a pair of measures during its council meeting Monday, July 17.

The council voted to enter into an agreement with Summerdale and Elberta to share the cost of a contract with Southern Software Inc. for the purchase of a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.

The contract is part of a grant that was received through the town of Summerdale. That town’s council voted to approve the contract at its June meeting.

The system includes a mapping display component, including project management and software support. Under the terms of the agreement all three municipalities will have full access to the CAD System and will equally share the annual support cost.

By purchasing and implementing the CAD System, according to the resolution passed at the July 17 meeting, “a municipality would have the capability to connect to and communicate with surrounding municipalities in an emergency situation with greater accuracy than with the current system.

It will cost about $19,000 to purchase the software, said Silverhill Police Chief Kevin Brock. After that there would be a total maintenance cost of about $10,000 per year, or about $3,400 for each municipality.

In other business, the council voted to approve a contract with Point Broadband to use the town’s water tower to install equipment for internet services.

Mayor Pro Tem Jared Lyles, who presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Tim Wilson, said the town had addressed concerns over whether or not the placement of antennas would interfere with the placement of a T-Mobil antenna on the facility and concerns over payment to the town.

Point Broadband representative Sherry Sullivan was present at the July 17 meeting to address any concerns.

In April, officials with Point Broadband and ITC Holdings told Gulf Coast Media that the company is expecting to access about 25 towers in Baldwin County over the next four weeks.

Contracts have already been signed with other municipalities, as well as the Baldwin County Commission, North Baldwin Utilities and Belforest. Both Loxley and Summerdale approved 10-year contracts with the company in May.

“There have been some delays, but we are working to get everything up and running as soon as possible,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan addressed the Robertsdale City Council in June and it was stated then that officials were looking over the contract with Point Broadband, but she told Silverhill Council members Monday that they were unable to reach an agreement with Robertsdale.

The council also voted July 17 to approve a proclamation declaring the town of Silverhill as a Purple Heart Town.

Ed Evans with the Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2208, along with other members of the organization and several local veterans to celebrate the proclamation.

Council members discussed the placement of signs around town declaring Silverhill as a Purple Heart Town.

Also addressing the council was Frankie Kucera with the Gear Jammers Car Club, who organized the placement of a Veterans Memorial at Paul Anderson Park across from town hall.

More than 100 residents attended a Memorial Day Service, which was moved from the park to Little Hall because of weather concerns, Kucera said. Plans are to have a Veterans Day service at the park and to revive the Memorial Day Weekend Car Show, with proceeds going to build monuments to individual veterans.

“We appreciate everything the town did to help make the memorial a reality,” Kucera said, “and we want to do what we can to honor all veterans.”

The council also voted July 17 to purchase potted plants for the annual Arbor Day give-away and voted to authorize the purchase of equipment for the town’s fire department.