Franklin BOC Approves Next Step in Gunby Tower Project

Franklin County citizens may soon have more choices when it comes to Internet and wireless service providers.

Franklin County Commissioners have approved the final step that will allow Gunby Communications to build more wireless internet towers in certain parts of the county.

At their December meeting, the board voted to allow Gunby to put up the towers after hearing from owner John Smith.  Smith had asked to install a tower on Hwy 198, but he also plans to install more towers as needed.

At their regular meeting Monday night, county manager Beth Thomas recommended her staff draw up the contract between Gunby and the County for the new towers.

“Gunby Communications has handled the communications for the county for quite some time,” she told the board. “They have proposed an agreement in which we would allow them to erect the towers on our property. This will enable our communications in the county to be improved dramatically in the county.”

Thomas said currently many law enforcement officers don’t have adequate cell phone service when not at work.

“This will be a great improvement to the county’s communications,” she said.

Thomas said because of the holidays a contract had not yet been drawn up and asked the board to allow her staff to move forward with that.

Before voting, commissioner Jeff Jacques made the motion to move forward but noted as part of the contract, the county would purchase a key

“In our planning meeting, it was recommended by Gunby that the county purchase a (noise) voter, which is an electronic piece of equipment which is part and parcel of the improvements,” he said. “The cost of that would be about $12,500.  My recommendation would be to either find a used voter or purchase one at Gunby’s cost.”

Jacques noted the new wireless Internet towers would also be installed in the northern part of the county and would improve the wireless service for the Lavonia and Gumlog communities.

After hearing Jacques’ amendment to the motion the board unanimously approved moving forward with the Gunby contract.