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    • COMMUNITY

    Location of county radio tower draws concern in city

    By LEGION TAYLOR Reporter

    Sopchoppy city commissioners raised concerns about the proposed location for a new radio tower for Wakulla County’s new first responder radio system.
    The county proposed constructing a 300-foot communications tower near the intersection of Park Avenue and Gulf Street in Sopchoppy, as part of an upgrade to the radio communications grid.
    The system is intended to improve radio communications for law enforcement and firefighters for areas of the county that had a weak signal or, as in Smith Creek, no signal.
    Other towers are being planned for elsewhere in Wakulla – namely one in Smith Creek and one near the sheriff’s office, both of which are already under construction.
    County Planning Director Somer Pell was at the meeting, and explained to city commissioners that these radio towers are being built in order to bolster the emergency communications grid, so that in times of crisis, such as a hurricane, it is much easier to get everyone organized and keep people safe.
    The county and the city commission couldn’t come to an agreement, however, because of the proposed location of the tower being zoned as residential, and therefore having a height limit of 35 feet, as well as the tower being potentially disruptive to nearby residents.
    Rather than make a decision right away, the city commission asked that the county come back at a later date with a full exploration of pros and cons for the proposed location as well as a few others.
    In other matters before the city commission:
    • The city commission vacated the city’s interest in portions of the alley between Wakulla Street and Mill Street
    • The commissioners voted to employ Capital City Asphalt to work on a road improvement project in Sopchoppy, as their bid was much better than the bids that other companies put forward.
    • The city commission briefly discussed where to hang the gateway community sign which came as a result of the trail town designation, but they have to verify its location is acceptable to the state Department of Transportation, so no decision was made at this time.
    • Operation Santa asked city commissioners if they’d like to adopt a family this year, and they decided to, donating $600 to help a family in need.
    • The city clerk raised some concerns about the plants in front of the Depot Park growing too tall and blocking visibility into the park, which could potentially be a safety risk. The city commission agreed that they should have a word with the people who maintain the flowerbeds.
    • The surveys of potential well sites are steadily coming along, but the county is moving slowly on getting the well sites and the setbacks approved by the appropriate state entities, which is frustrating the city commission.
    “We’re four months into this and we’ve got nothing,” City Commissioner Glenn Rudd said.
    Sopchoppy commissioners decided to put more pressure on the county government to get everything done.