By BARBARA GREEN

Several costly budget proposals including a plan to resolve ongoing radio repeater problems for all the county fire departments were debated by the Montague County Commissioner’s Court this week.

Monday’s session included awards and recognition, but the court also tackled financial issues for the next budget year, while awaiting the arrival of final certified property values and projections for revenue.

Randall Preuninger, chief of the Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, talked with the court representing a committee from the county firefighters association.

Richard Self, local radio technician, said they have come up with a proposal for a simulcast system to replace the repeater system with an ethernet wireless system. It has an estimated cost of $160,000, but Preuninger said they expect it would come in slightly cheaper.

Sheriff Paul Cunningham and Saint Jo Superintendent Larry Smith also discussed the state of a School Resource Officer program with the MCSO. Read the full story in the mid-week News.

(Left) Montague County Sheriff Paul Cunningham and Saint Jo ISD Superintendent Larry Smith discuss a school resource officer program with the county commissioners on Monday. (Photo by Barbara Green)

Pictured – (Left) Randall Preuninger, fire chief of the Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, and Richard Self, local radio technician, talks with the Montague County Commissioners Court Monday about radio upgrade options to resolve communication problems with the fire departments across the county. (News photo by Barbara Green)