North Fulton Radio Authority Chooses Company To Build 3 Towers

The North Fulton Regional Radio System Authority has approved a bid from Calhoun-based company to build three new towers in an effort to implement a dependable form of communication among its public safety agencies.

The authority on Tuesday selected Midland Communications to provide radio tower construction services, which includes building three new towers on Hembree and Fouts roads in Roswell and Lackey Road near Milton.

The company will also install new equipment along Morgan Falls Road in Sandy Springs, Atlanta Fire Station No. 21 on Roswell Road in Buckhead, the Roswell Water Tower, along Freemanville Road in Milton and Morton Road near Alpharetta.

Sandy Springs City Manager John McDonough, who chairs the authority, said new equipment will also be added to the rooftop of the Riverwood Building near the Cobb County border.

The contract award was for $899,448, and construction time is slated to take around four months. Once the contract is executed and the company receives a notice to proceed, Midland Communications will have a 10-day window to begin construction, McDonough added.

The timeline also includes needed permitting per city where the towers are being constructed and any needed regulatory approvals, the chairman added.

Established on July 1, 2013, the North Fulton Regional Radio System Authority seeks to provide a reliable and locally funded public safety radio system for eight police and fire agencies serving more than 280,000 residents. Included in the consortium are the cities of Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell and Sandy Springs.

Johns Creek initially signed on to participate, but has since backed out. The city is now working with Fulton County to improve the radio signals in that area.