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WELLSVILLE -- Kyle Exline, superintendent of the Wellsville Village School District, addressed the Buckeye Water District (BWD) trustees during their Sept. 17 meeting to request a potential partnership with the BWD.
Exline told the board that the district's radio communication system for the buses is struggling to cover when they go outside of the district, so Transportation Director Melissa Antonio obtained a grant to update the system and place a repeater at Daw Elementary School.
Exline noted that once the repeater was up and running, they noticed once a bus leaves the village limits there is no radio coverage. The district is looking for a location that has some altitude. After having conversations with several people from BWD it was suggested to him that he attend a BWD board meeting.
Exline told board members the district is looking for a place for the repeater and an antenna. He noted the cost of electricity for the repeater would be equivalent to the use of one LED light bulb for a year, and all the equipment would be covered and paid for by the district. He also said what they are looking for is a home for the devices.
Through some of the conversations with BWD employees, suggestions were made for several locations on state Route 45, but the district is open to any opportunity, Exline said.
One of the options Exline suggested to the board members is the tank on top of the hill on state Route 45.
BWD District Manager Al DeAngelis said the 750 tank would probably be the ideal spot because they have conduit already in place to run things up to the top of the tank and it's actually one of the highest points in the county, being used by the airport as a waypoint. He also said there is room up there, and the BWD does not have a problem with locating the repeater there if the school district needs it.
It was noted that this is about keeping the students safe and protecting the children outside of the district, and the communication equipment would also allow improved communications with the police and fire department with a direct line of communications.
Trustee President David Dawson told Exline if the board is okay with it he would give Exline authorization to go on BWD property and have the school district's radio people look at the tank and do a test to make sure the location will provide the best coverage they need. If not, they would look at another location for the school district to use.
Jason Hurford, Mobile Radio Communications, who is working with the district, said the overall coverage would probably be best from there but he wants to look at it first before making a decision. The reason they were originally discussing this location is because they also want some in-building penetration for in the school buildings and the further they get out and up over that hill the signal gets lost. What they are trying to do is find something that checks both boxes of being physically close to the school building for in-building coverage but also provides some outside the village coverage.
DeAngelis suggested the possibility of using two sites, but Hurford said it would mean purchasing twice the equipment. DeAngelis suggested the tank located in Russell Heights and a couple other possible locations.
Dawson suggested DeAngelis get together with Exline and Hurford and show them what is available. All the board members were in agreement with that.
DeAngelis said the BWD would do whatever they need to do to accommodate the school district's request.
The Buckeye Water District Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15.