'Microwave system on time, on budget

Willits News

The county's new microwave system is up and running, only 13 months after being approved by the board of supervisors.

Funding for the new $4.1 million system was provided by the county (which borrowed $2.6 million to finance the project), contributions by the district attorney's office and the sheriff's office, the city of Point Arena, a group called the Gang of Five, and the federal government, via funding secured by Congressman Mike Thompson.

According to county General Services Agency Director Kristin McMenomey, which coordinated the project, the new system features a fast rerouting feature that prevents dropped calls, and provides multiple services, such as voice and high-speed data transmission, as well as virtual private networks, which allows multiple agencies to use the same network at the same time without jeopardizing the integrity and privacy of individual users.

The system also offers improved service to the south coast area.

The project added four new transmission sites to the previous nine, as well as four new towers, 36 new antennae, four new buildings and four new power generators.

McMenomey and her assistant Jennelle Rau were praised by supervisors, who gave McMenomey and Rau a standing ovation during Tuesday's board meeting.

"To start in 2007 and to finish in 2008? That is unheard of in this county," said Supervisor David Colfax. "Of course I'm exaggerating. But to do a project like that in one year? That's really something."