By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — An agreement between the city and the state about a tower that powers a long-range communications system is in place for another quarter-century.

By a 4-0 vote, City Council on March 26 approved a memorandum of agreement with the Delaware Division of Communications to maintain a leased property behind the Seaford Police Department on Virginia Avenue, meeting requirements for Delaware’s 800 MHz Digital Trunked Radio System.

City manager Charles Anderson prefaced council with background before the vote.

“The original agreement was 26 years ago, in 1998 when the tower was built. That is the time that the state of Delaware invested heavily in the 800 (megahertz) system,” he said. “We were one of three sites that were negotiated with to construct towers throughout the county. That system is still in use, and the 25-year agreement has run its course and is up for renewal.”

Mr. Anderson said Delaware officials wish to maintain the site because it still works, adding, “They have updated, and they have lease arrangements with Verizon and other vendors on that tower.”

The city’s electric director Bill Bennett, Public Works Department director Berley Mears and Police Chief Marshall Craft were involved in this discussion, he noted.

Among others, Seaford police and utility crews utilize this system.

“By having this (tower) here and this agreement in place for the last 26 years, it has allowed us not to invest in our own local radio system. We piggyback on their system,” the city manager explained.

And, while the agreement lapsed last year, the parties continued in good faith, he said.

There will be a different payment structure, however, as the state now prefers to give a monetary amount annually rather than to provide equipment.

“When we initially executed the agreement with the state, they provided us with ... radio communication equipment. It was about $250,000 worth of equipment. They gave it to us, set us up. All that equipment has aged. We have had to replace it,” Mr. Anderson said. “Now, they prefer not to give us equipment. Equipment is much more expensive. In exchange, they are offering us the $20,000 a year.”

That amount will increase by 3% each year through 2049, ending at $41,875, he added.

The city’s Finance Department, Mr. Anderson said, recommends putting the state payment in a reserve fund for radio equipment or related issues during budget deliberations.

It was in October 1993 when the state purchased the statewide radio system to provide communications for all state, county and municipal government agencies, fire and emergency medical services, and a select number of federal entities.