EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bricks & Mortar Report provides updates on major construction projects in Chenango County.

Chenango County Fire Department Tower Project:

• Path studies are still ongoing between the county’s main telecommuncations tower at the Public Safety Facility in Norwich.

• Plans call for microwave installation by August or September.

• The first phase to be completed will be from the Public Safety Facility to Barnes Hill. This will eliminate the leg to former Sheriff’s Office in downtown Norwich. Next will be the path from Barnes Hill to Coventry and Otselic towers, followed by Barnes to Sherburne, Pharsalia and Greene towers and the T1 lines to New Berlin and Sidney.

• Radios and other equipment will be installed as it arrives.

• Emergency Management Officer Matt Beckwith said there will be a 3 to 5 year switch over period for fire department staffs to switch from low band to UHF frequencies. Both will be simulcast during the transition.