City Hall·Oxford County Commissioners Meeting
Oxford County Commissioners Advance Radio Tower Grant, Airport Leases, Budget Talks
Oxford County commissioners authorized grant applications for a new northern Oxford radio tower and Upton road work, advanced a draft airport ground lease for legal review, and directed staff on a preliminary budget that includes four regional communications center positions and 24 sheriff's deputies. Commissioners also heard public comment urging an independent investigation into an alleged 2024 sheriff's vehicle crash and discussed inviting local police chiefs to a future meeting.
Key points
- Commissioners authorized Tony to submit the final federal grant application for a new radio tower along the Route 16 corridor in northern Oxford, with a pre-qualification estimate of $1.495 million and a 20 percent local match still to be identified.
- Commissioners authorized project management assistance for the fourth and final phase of Upton's federal lands road project, a $930,000 grant, including up to $6,000 for a required audit.
- A draft 40-year airport ground lease, renewable up to 99 years at 13 cents per square foot, was sent to legal review.
- Commissioners directed staff to present a budget to the Budget Advisory Committee that includes four RCC positions and 24 deputies, with two half positions in deeds and probate removed; the resulting tax increase figures discussed ranged from 9.9 percent to 13.4 percent.
- A former official urged commissioners to reopen an independent investigation into an alleged 2024 sheriff's vehicle crash, saying the matter was never formally closed.
- Commissioners agreed to invite the county's five local police chiefs to a meeting in late November for a general discussion.
Next steps
- Submit the final northern Oxford radio tower grant application by the October 16 deadline.
- Send the draft airport ground lease to legal review.
- Present the preliminary budget to the Budget Advisory Committee, with final commissioner decisions expected at an October 22 meeting.
- Send invitations to local police chiefs for a late November meeting.
- Await the final workforce study report, expected by the end of next week, which recommends adding seven deputies.
Where this came from
Oxford County Government (YouTube)
The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.
Watch the meeting ↗The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.