The Burleigh County Commission moved Wednesday night to fix the problem of spotty police and fire radio coverage in the county's northwest and southeast reaches.

"Right now, it's kind of dicey," said Communications Manager Mike Dannenfelzer.

Dannenfelzer said increased activity in the county - for everything from brush fires to more medical calls - is straining the current system. Deputies and rural fire and EMS personnel have to be sent out to these areas, and it's not safe to have them out there if they can't communicate on the radio, he said.

The commission unanimously approved releasing funds for the county to lease space on two communications towers to shore up the system. The county currently uses two towers.

After considering the options, renting space won out over building new towers because the latter option was deemed much more expensive.

Dannelfelzer estimates that the leasing can be done for between $500 and $900 per month per tower. He said he hopes to begin getting the new system in place by August.

n After a spirited debate, commissioners decided to table a provision that would have required property owners to have a 40-acre block track of land to build a home on agricultural property.

The provision was suggested by Planning Director Carl Hockenstad, who said it was needed to clear up some confusion about the law. The law states that rural landowners must own 40 acres in order to build a home.

But confusion arose earlier this year when Painted Woods Township allowed a home to be built by somebody whose total property holdings added up to 40 acres, but who did not have a 40-acre contiguous property. Hockenstad said the intent of the law is to require people to have one 40-acre block of property, not spread out properties that added up to 40 acres.

But some commissioners objected, saying the details could be too tough on rural landowners. For example, the ordinance says that a 40-acre plot bisected by a highway doesn't qualify.

"I would feel violated if I couldn't build on a 40-acre plot because there was a road running through it," Commissioner Jim Peluso said.

"I think we're causing problems for some people, and I don't think we want to do that," Commissioner Doug Schoenert said.

The commission voted 3-2 to table the manner, with Chairman Jerry Woodcox joining Schoenert and Peluso to vote yes.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 250-8264 or jonathan.rivoli@bismarcktribune.com.)