Members of Shawano County’s executive committee agreed to use part the county’s 2026 contingency fund to bolster one of the emergency management’s communications towers.
The full county board is expected to agree when it meets Oct. 28.
Lt. Chris Madle, also the emergency management director, said approval is given, repairs and enhancements to the tower in Gresham can begin.
“We are anticipating the work being completed by the spring of 2027,” he said.
Three towers suffered damage during storms earlier this year. In each case, the microwave transmission antennas were damaged. Microwave transmission antennas need to be replaced at the Gresham tower, Marion tower and one on state Highway 29 between Tigerton and Wittenberg.
“In short, these microwaves are responsible for connecting each tower to each other to ensure radio signals and frequencies are transmitted across our whole system and not just off of a singular tower,” Madle said. “Two towers had damage in the spring when ice fell off the tower, and the other was damaged during a hail storm (the same storm system where Neenah got hit with the tornado).”
Damage to the Marion and Wittenberg towers totaled $850,000, while damage to the Gresham tower was $480,000. The insurance claim for the Gresham tower is still in progress, said Nichole Zuehl, finance director.
The county must strengthen the Gresham tower before the microwave transmission antenna can be repaired.
“Motorola is requiring us to fix our tower,” said Zuehl said in remarks to the executive committee. “It’s not fit to climb.”
Matt Hietpas, technology services director, said the tower’s height needs to be extended for the new microwave and then made stronger to support the weight of the new dish, which will be higher on the tower.
The cost to extend and strengthen the tower is $135,000, of which $26,221 is available from existing budgeted funds, with the remaining $108,779 proposed to be funded through the contingency fund.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
