By: Adam Rollins, Staff Writer
The city of Warrenton has reversed course and will join in a project to upgrade first responder radio, dispatch and broadcasting equipment across Warren County. City aldermen voted 4-2 to join the project Sept. 15, after initially opting out.
The communications project is being paid for using $2.4 million in coronavirus response funding. The Warren County Commission was provided a total of $4.1 million through the federal CARES Act. The county has agreed to pay for the radio upgrades on behalf of around 10 area emergency agencies.
A group of four Warrenton aldermen initially voted to keep the city out of the project, which would provide Warrenton police with $65,000 in new radio equipment. The aldermen questioned whether radio upgrades are an appropriate use of the CARES Act funding, and instead committed to spending the city’s own money on the upgrades.
However, two weeks later, Aldermen Jack Crump, Ward 1, and Gary Miller, Ward 3, said they had reconsidered their votes. They, along with previous supporters Cheryl Dyer and Scott Schulze, Ward 1 and Ward 2, voted to opt into the radio upgrades on Sept. 15.
Miller said he became comfortable with the project after a lengthy conversation with Joe Gildehaus, the presiding commissioner of Warren County.
“He convinced me that the process he went through, and the attorney he talked to, were in fact sure this was a proper use of COVID-19 money,” Miller told The Record. “Therefore I felt it was in the best interest of the city to go ahead and join all of the other entities that were already involved.”
Miller said it was relevant that the county government is taking responsibility for the spending, rather than the city.
Alderman Crump did not reply to a request for comment about his vote.
Lingering concern
Alderman Gary Auch, Ward 2, continues to have reservations about the funding. He said he believe the communication upgrades are necessary, but questions if this is an appropriate use of CARES Act funds.
“I sat on the 911 board (years ago) ... so I’m well aware of how hard it is to get communication signal in some parts of the county,” Auch commented. “I don’t see how they can say this is COVID-related, because the communication problem has existed long before COVID.”
Auch explained that he’s worried about what Warrenton’s liability will be if a federal audit takes issue with this use of CARES funding and demands the money back. He said he would rather the city avoid the issue by just spending its own money on its own portion of the upgrades.
“As long as we feel like our (risk) isn’t any greater than the $65,000 we’re supposed to receive, I suppose we’re OK,” Auch hedged.
A small confrontation emerged between Auch and Warrenton Mayor Eric Schleuter over the issue at the Sept. 15 vote. Before the vote was taken, Auch asked Schleuter to abstain from breaking a tie in the case of a 3-3 vote, because Schleuter is an officer of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.
Schleuter agreed, but then refuted that his employment would have any influence over a vote.
“There’s no interest or money that would come towards me personally, or gain by me, monetary or otherwise, that would influence any type of vote in this situation,” Schleuter stated.
It was ultimately a moot point, since aldermen voted 4-2 to participate in the joint radio communication upgrades.
Alderman Scott Schulze, Ward 2, is also a county sheriff employee. He was not asked to abstain, and did cast a vote.
Aldermen Crump, Miller, Schulze and Dyer voted to participate in the joint radio upgrades. Aldermen Auch and Bob Delaloye, Ward 3, voted against.
