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== General Description == 

From the local Laurel, MS, newspaper:

'' “The Housing Authority has various needs,” [Housing Authority Executive Director Kay] Guy said. “These units are very old. They do not have central air and heat. The older units do not have enclosed closets and all the drainage needs to be upgraded.

''“With the doorbells, I was looking at upgrades for my elderly units and the overall housing authority,” she said. “Doorbells were just a very small portion of our needs. ... We listed doorbells because there was a request from our Residents Council.”

''Guy said, if approved, each of the elderly units at the Housing Authority would receive two door bells.

''“The doorbells could be placed on the inside of the elderly units for emergency needs,” she said. “The elderly units would be enhanced with an exterior and interior doorbell. The interior doorbell would be used in case of emergencies.”

''Guy said the Housing Authority has 72 new units, which were built due to the S-Curve Project, and they already have doorbells and were not included in the estimate.

''Guy said once she completed her portion of the survey, she submitted it back to Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack’s Office.

''“It was a simple survey,” she said. “I did this on Nov. 7 and faxed it to the mayor’s office and that’s all I know about it.”

''According to the paperwork, the survey, once completed, was to be sent to the United States Conference of Mayors.

See [http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_037113953.html Doorbells ringing a sour note, Laurel Leader Call, Feb. 6, 2009]

== Points in Favor ==
From the linked article:

''Guy said it’s important for people to realize how the Housing Authority is funded.

“We only receive federal funds,” she said. “We don’t receive state or city funds, all of our funding comes from the federal level. People need to know that our funds have been decreasing steadily over the last five years.”''

The same article notes this is part of a larger project to modernize the public housing, as well as just an estimate from a survey.

== Points Against ==
There are 632 units so this is $155 each unit to fit two doorbells. Seems expensive.

May be the Department of Defense is installing the doorbells!! They are 'safety critical' and MIL Spec-ed :-)