CANYON CITY – Grant County Roadmaster Mark Hensley says the aging radio tower building on Dixie Mountain probably can be renovated, rather than replaced.

Hensley told the Grant County Court this month he estimates the repairs would cost $10,000 to $12,000. He proposes to have new heavy-guage tin put on the roof and walls of the building, which has been damaged by storms in recent years.

The structure, which houses communications equipment for the Road Department and other agencies, is located on land leased from the U.S. Forest Service.

Hensley said Oregon Telephone Company (OTC) had contacted him about possibly helping the county with the costs of the project. He said OTC wants to install some equipment there and “they’re willing to help share the expense.”

The Court asked Hensley to explore what that would entail and whether an upgrade of the existing building would work for OTC.

Hensley had looked into the possibility of replacing the building with a pre-fab structure, which he said would be more costly. He also worried that the Forest Service might need more complicated environmental reviews for such a change.

A remodel, he said, would remain in the existing “footprint” and shouldn’t disrupt radio operations, while a replacement might mean up to a week with no service from the butte.

“I’d say let’s do a remodel, put our radios in and we’re done,” he said.