The Fayette

County Commission gave approval last week to a $9.9 million lease-purchase

agreement for the county's new radio system from Motorola.

The county

has been working for years to try and obtain new radio frequencies since

the Federal Communications Commission sold off the county's existing bands

of transmission.

Although the

county is committed to the nearly $10 million contract from Motorola,

a lot of the money to purchase the system will not come taxpayers' pockets.

County attorney

Bill McNally is currently in negotiations with the Southern Company, who

bought the county's old frequencies.

When the frequencies

were sold, it was stipulated that Southern Company would aid the county

in moving to a new band width.

County officials

expect to get a good portion of the Motorola contact back from Southern

Company after negotiations are completed. The commission can also pay

off the lease purchase agreement early without any prepayment penalty.