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County Administrator's Report 13. 12.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Underground Electric Construction by Gulf Power Company for an Electric Power Isolation Project for the Public Safety Communications Tower - Michael D. Weaver, Public Safety Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning underground electric construction by Gulf Power Company for isolation of electric power to the Public Safety communications tower located on "W" Street:
A. Approve granting an Underground Distribution Easement to Gulf Power Company for a ten foot strip of land lying five feet on each side of the centerline of the electrical facilities as installed and/or to be installed as shown in Exhibit "A" on the property described in Exhibit "B," provided in the Distribution Easement;
B. Approve the Gulf Power Company Agreement for Underground Electric Construction by the Utility, Form 8, to supply and install all primary, secondary, and service trench, duct, and cable for the purpose of supplying electric service to the Public Safety microwave (communications) tower and equipment, in the amount of $8,215; and
C. Authorize the Chairman to execute the Distribution Easement and the Agreement.
[Funding Source: Fund 001, General Fund, Cost Center 330403, Communications] |
| BACKGROUND: |
Escambia County owns a parcel of property where the Public Safety Department is located. Since the Public Safety Building complex was constructed and full occupancy occurred in 2005, numerous lightning strikes and commercial power surges have occurred causing equipment downtime and damage, to include 911 failures. The building’s power source, provided by Gulf Power, enters the building through a massive, dual redundancy Uninterrupted Power Source (UPS), which is also connected to a large generator. Surge suppression is provided by a panel of “Square D” suppressors. The Public Safety microwave tower is also connected or “tied” to the same single power source that runs the Public Safety complex. Over the past several years, many electricians have looked into this problem. Surge suppression has been added at the tower site, but recurring issues with lightning or simple surges have never been resolved.
In March of this year, Motorola electrical engineers conducted a complete inspection of power sources and grounding grids for the Public Safety Building and microwave site. They determined that with the tower site “tied” to the same power source that is fed from the Public Safety complex, anytime the tower is struck by lightning or incurs a power surge, that surge of voltage is “back-fed” into the Public Safety Building through the same source that provides the site’s power; thus, providing a surge increase that overloads the UPS and built-in suppression. To resolve this issue, Motorola recommends isolating power (providing its own source) to the microwave site. This would eliminate the power surges that are emitted from the tower structure back to the Public Safety Complex.
This recommendation provides Gulf Power the right-of-way to install the electrical utility needed for this isolation project. The tower and associated equipment will be connected to its own UPS and generator. Purchase Order 131291 was issued to Gulf Power for this project and remains open, encumbering $8,215; however, Gulf Power will not proceed with construction without a signed Agreement. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| Funding has been encumbered for this project on Purchase Order 131291. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
The Underground Distribution Easement was approved as to form and legal sufficiency by Assistant County Attorney Stephen West on September 27, 2013. The conveyance of this easement is authorized pursuant to Section 125.28, Florida Statutes.
Mr. West also approved the Gulf Power Company Agreement for Underground Electrical Construction by the Utility on October 2, 2013. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| N/A |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| Upon Board approval and execution of the documents by the Chairman, staff will present a recorded copy of the easement and all originals of the construction Agreement to Gulf Power for acceptance and sign-off. Staff will ensure that a fully executed original of the Agreement is provided to the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office for recording in the Public Records of Escambia County. |
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