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A $43,070 project covered by insurance would pay for all but a $10,000 deductible on the county’s policy.
The equipment was knocked out by a power surge from a nearby lightning strike in April, officials suspect.
Damaged equipment was quickly repaired, but the company servicing the radio tower advised replacing the antennas, lines and components with new products.
Highway department communication equipment located on the same radio tower weathered the surge and did not require repair.
If necessary, cost of replacing highway repeaters and related equipment was estimated at another $27,000.
After two months of debating the proposal, the board decided that degradation of existing equipment nn even though repaired and functioning nn might not be as reliable.
Advocates of replacing the equipment said the county stood to lose its insurance settlement if it delayed action. If equipment failed later, the county could be stuck paying the full cost of replacement, they said.
Others doubted the integrity of the equipment-replacement plan, questioning the quality of surge protection devices and ground systems used at the tower site.
In other actions, the board reappointed Ken Wald to the county’s health and human services board and reappointed Joe Wantoch to the county’s zoning board of adjustment. Both terms run into 2011.
