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Officials OK $400K 911 radio purchase

ELKINS — The radio equipment at the Randolph County E911 Center is at the end of its lifespan, and officials on Thursday authorized its replacement.

The Randolph County Commission was unanimous in its decision during a 1:30 p.m. meeting at the James Cain Courthouse Annex. The new equipment is valued at more than $700,000 but will cost the county just over $400,000 through discounts and other cost-saving measures, said Cindy Hart, director of the Randolph County Office of Emergency Management.

When the 911 center was first established, the administration at the time decided it would be best to set aside money each year for the eventual replacement of the radio equipment, Hart said.

“We’ve put money back the last 12 years, so we actually got two more years out of the equipment than we planned,” she said. “That’s very impressive because it doesn’t usually last that long. It’s now starting to show signs of wear and tear.

It’s malfunctioning, and it has to be replaced.”

The county is looking at the possible relocation of the 911 center to the former FAA building at the Elkins-Randolph County Regional Airport. Officials are currently in the process of assessing the cost of such a move.

The hope is the current equipment will last until the move so the new equipment can be installed at the new location, Commission President Mike Taylor said. However, by purchasing the new system now, officials will have the equipment on-hand if the current system breaks down, he said.

“What’s critical here, and where we’re going to be walking a tightrope, if you will, is I really don’t think we want to put this new equipment in the current building if we do move. It’s a work in progress. But one way or another, this radio equipment has reached the end of its lifespan,” he said.

In other business:

• The Commission approved $3,000 in funding for the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Downtown Christmas Parade set for Dec. 7. The rain date is Dec. 9.

The event continues to grow each year thanks to contributions from the Commission and others who work to make it possible, Chamber Executive Director Chelsey Jones said.

“The parade brings in a variety of groups from Randolph and surrounding counties,” she said. “Santa Claus will be going through the parade and meeting hundreds of children at the YMCA, where they will receive treats from him and Mrs. Claus. This parade is a necessary and positive event for the Randolph County community.”

Jones said officials are hoping to add a Community Christmas Sing-Along to this year’s event. The Chamber is partnering with The Inter-Mountain to print a song book that will be distributed the day before the parade, with copies also available the day of the event.

“We hope to be able to print caroling books and have other groups involved to create a feeling of togetherness,” Jones said. “For some in the community, this is the only holiday experience they have, and it is an honor for us to bring them this event each year.”

Taylor said the annual parade is a great event.

“We applaud the Chamber for the work they do. I know there’s a lot of work and a lot of effort, and it does bring the Christmas spirit to everybody in the downtown area,” he said.

• The Commission approved $2,000 in funding for a visit from the Harlem Ambassadors basketball team Nov. 11 at the gymnasium on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

The event is being sponsored by the Elkins Rotary Club in cooperation with The Inter-Mountain, D&E, Elkins Auto and the Elkins YMCA. The proceeds will go back to the community, YMCA Executive Director Sid Gillispie said.

“We’re going to have a drug-free, family friendly activity in this community, and we’re going to have 300 tickets we’re going to give to at-risk kids in the community to attend this event,” he said. “That’s going to be through local churches, the YMCA and anyone else that reaches out to Rotary who feels like they can subsidize those tickets. We can sit 1,200 there. We’re hoping to have a large crowd for this.”

Gillispie said the Ambassadors are similar to the Globetrotters, but offer a stronger drug-free message and a focus on involving the crowd.

“We’ll have a Rotary team that we’ll put together, if anyone’s interested,” Gillispie said. “I think this is a great thing for the community, and I think we’ll have a packed house. I believe a lot of businesses and individuals are going to be backing us.”

Taylor said he believes this type of event is needed in the area.

“There’s no doubt about it; education and prevention are two of the tools we need. Drugs are not only a problem here in Elkins and Randolph County, but all over the country,” he said. “The thing that pleases me as a commissioner is to see the businesses, the churches, the private groups and everybody getting together to make this thing as successful as it can be.”

“I think everybody from government, businesses, industry, private individuals are taking ownership and recognizing the fact that there is a problem and that we need to address it,” Taylor added.

Commissioners Joyce Johns and Chris See both agreed.

“I think it’s a good thing for the kids. At our church, we have quite a few who would benefit from that,” Johns said.

“You have to start them young and teach them,” See said.

• County Clerk Brenda Wiseman said early voting begins Oct. 26 and will run through Nov. 5. The polls are open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9-5 p.m. on weekends.

“We’ve been very busy sending out absentee ballots, and very busy getting people registered to vote, so we’re trying to keep everything going,” she said.

• The Commission voted to participate in a drug-awareness program offered by The Inter-Mountain. The county will purchase an advertisement in an upcoming drug-awareness publication produced by the newspaper.

“The last couple years, we’ve participated in an anti-drug awareness message, and we had taken out an ad in support of the drug awareness program,” Taylor said.

“It’s basically an advertisement featuring facts, statistics and ways to get help. The publication will go out with The Inter-Mountain and will be part of their Newspapers in Education program, which places copies in local classrooms. I think that’s one of the important things here; it’s getting the message out to people in the community.”

The Inter-Mountain’s drug awareness special section will be published Tuesday.

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