At the April 20, 2026 Budget & Finance Committee meeting, the Sheriff requested that funding for an emergency communications tower be appropriated in FY2026. The committee noted that expenses would not hit until FY2027, with the bid scheduled to go out in May 2026, and deferred final appropriation until better cost estimates are available. The county attorney also reported receiving documentation for a TACN network entity interested in leasing property on Morrison Street or space on an existing tower for a 45‑year term to improve service for Highway Patrol, TBI, and TCI, and is coordinating with the Sheriff and EMS Director on departmental needs.This combination of an upcoming tower bid and a potential long‑term network lease suggests Hartsville/Trousdale is actively reshaping its public safety communications infrastructure. Vendors in radio systems, tower construction, microwave backhaul, and lease negotiation can engage around tower design, coverage and interoperability planning, TACN integration, and long‑term maintenance and leasing arrangements before the formal tower RFP is released and while the TACN lease terms are still being negotiated.

Committee chose to wait on appropriating emergency tower funding until more accurate estimates are available; TACN lease would improve state law enforcement communications coverage.