Lapel all in for new safety service

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LAPEL — In critical times, communication can be the key to helping a town get through a crisis.

At the most recent Lapel town council meeting, the board approved adopting AT&T’s FirstNet, a premium high-speed wireless service, as a communication service for town employees.

FirstNet is a government-only service offered to help council members, police officers, firefighters and other town personnel communicate during a disaster.

“The ability that FirstNet provides the utilities, police and fire of this town is tremendous because, God forbid, anything happen to this town that happened in Pendleton last year, this gives us the ability for our phones to work even when other people’s phones aren’t working,” town council member Tom Marvel said. “(With FirstNet) we can communicate, utilities can communicate, fire can communicate, police can communicate on top of our radio system and everything else. Now that Madison County has adopted FirstNet and we have adopted FirstNet, some of their resources are available to us if catastrophic events like that happen.”

Council president Chad Blake said FirstNet will replace their previous service and will cost less.

“Our cost of service for our phones with our current provider is almost double with what our cost of service is with FirstNet,” he said.

Lapel Police Fepartment is already with the network. Initially designed for first responders, FirstNet is now available for other government officials, including school board members.

“Catastrophes happen, everyone uses cell phones and towers overload,” Lapel Police Chief Kelly Naselroad said. “(FirstNet’s Ban 14 Network) cuts all of them out and says, ‘I’m jumping in front of you,’ and you are able to keep communication with utilities, police and fire.

“We have a better option that suits the town, and not only that, it prepares us better. That’s the key, in an event of an emergency or disaster.”

Auto Pay off to good start

The town’s recent switch to a system that offers auto pay for utility bills is paying dividends.

In November of 2019, the town approved using Boyce Systems, a billing software that offers auto pay as well as more detailed information for the customer.

The new system cost thousands of dollars to set up but is expected to save the town about $400 per month and pay for itself within the first six months.

Deputy clerk Paula Lee told the council 110 people so far have signed up for auto pay. Lee told the board she has been getting positive feedback in the payment change.

“It’s a huge win for the town, because it saves time, and money is in the bank faster,” Blake said. “Not just for time-saving for the town, but the convenience for the residents. We’re spending money to make their life easier. Anytime we can take cost out of the process that can potentially turn in to a savings on the bill.”

New Utilities Superintendent

After interviews done through executive sessions earlier this month, the town voted unanimously to name Mary Armacost the town’s utilities superintendent.

She was the only candidate of those interviewed who was nominated for the position at the Jan. 16 meeting.

Beer Festival Set for May 9

Scott Isaacs spoke to the board at the January meeting asking to close Main Street between Ninth Street and 10th streets for his business, Pax Verum Brewing Co., to play host to a beer festival.

The event is scheduled from noon to 9 p.m. May 9.

Isaacs said he is hopeful to make the festival an annual event.

The board approved the request.