The Lycoming County commissioners want to hear from community members on how to tackle paying for the county radio system overhaul, said Commissioner Tony Mussare.

One option to cover the approximately $7.4 million project is to take out a bond and pay on it for 20 years, which would cost the county’s 116,000 taxpayers an estimated $3.18 per person per year, or about $369,000 annually.

That estimated total does not take any grants or other financial aid the county could receive into consideration, the commissioners said.

“Doesn’t sound like a whole lot of money when you put it that way, over the 20 years,” Mussare said. “But what do you get from it? That’s what we have to base our decisions off of.”

“It’d be interesting to see what the public thought about carrying this bond versus taking the cost over a shorter period of time,” he added.

The overhaul not only would involve updating equipment that is expected to be defunct by the end of 2020, but also adding coverage to the multiple dead zones present in the county.

Doing so would help citizens and first responders, Mussare said.

“You can’t send people out and ask them to save lives without giving them the tools that they need to come back safely and do their job while they’re out there,” Commissioner Rick Mirabito said.

In another matter, the commissioners will consider approving multiple contracts for Lycoming County Children and Youth to continue carrying out the following programs through June 30, 2019:

• Youth Workforce Development and Employment through STEP Inc. at a cost not to exceed $165,000.

• Family Navigation services through STEP Inc. at a cost not to exceed $45,000.

• Nurse Family Partnership Program through UPMC Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice at a cost not to exceed $75,000.

• Child advocate services through Susquehanna Valley County Appointed Special Advocates at a cost not to exceed $30,000.

• Strengthening Families Program through the West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission at a cost not to exceed $20,000.

• Mental health services from Bruce Anderson, licenses psychologist, at a cost not to exceed $10,000.

• Medical consultant services from Dr. Russell Gombosi at a cost not to exceed $15,000.

Though the contracts come with hefty price tags, a majority of the costs are picked up by federal and state dollars, said Mark Egly, Children and Youth Services director. The county’s share typically is 20 percent or less of the total cost, he said.

Other items to be considered include software and license purchases for information services, bid awards for baler materials and three personnel hires.

Commissioner Jack McKernan also was present.

The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Executive Plaza.