County nearing end of radio upgrade

Wahkiakum County officials hope to complete a major upgrade of the radio communications by mid-summer.

For two years, law enforcement, emergency responders, and other governmental organizations have been upgrading radio facilities to prepare to switch from broadband to narrow band radios by next January.

The switch is a response from a Federal Communications Commission mandate designed to allow more entities to use the same spectrum of airwaves and thereby allow more use of the airwaves by public and private groups.

On Tuesday, Commissioners Lisa Marsyla, Blair Brady and Dan Cothren passed motions to authorize the start of the final phase of the project.

County Emergency Management Coordinator Beau Renfro said the work will have four parts:

1. Installing surveillance systems for the KM Mountain and Wendt Elementary School repeater sites;

2. Equipping a new repeater for the county at the Wickiup Mountain site in Clatsop County, Ore. Renfro said this site will improve radio communication in western Wahkiakum County.

3. Reprogramming all radios and repeaters to comply with the FCC's narrowband mandate, which takes effect January 1, 2013.

"My goal is to have this done by June," Renfro said after meeting with the commissioners.

4. Installing two repeaters for county Public Works and Wahkiakum PUD communications. The two repeaters, Renfro said, would cost around $10,675, plus sales tax.

Overall, the work is expected to cost between $30,000 and $35,000, Renfro said; the county has budgeted $50,000.

He added that he has been discussing a cost share agreement with Wahkiakum PUD Manager David Tramblie in case there are unexpected expenditures that push the total over that amount.

The PUD is considering covering the cost of power to the sites beyond the contribution it already makes, Tramblie said.

"We appreciate Beau's effort," Tramblie said of the project. "It's critical. Without coverage in severe weather, we're dead in the water."

"I want to express my appreciation to Beau for making sure Public Works will be ready to handle the problem with narrowband," said county Public Works Director Pete Ringen.

"This is a huge project," said Sheriff Jon Dearmore. "Beau has done a tremendous job getting this ramped up to where we should be."