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Scappoose council presses Columbia County 9‑1‑1 district over poor radio coverage, seeks commitments
Summary
Councilors, the police chief and a city council member who sits on the 9‑1‑1 board described long-running radio coverage gaps in Scappoose and discussed next steps including a meeting with the new 9‑1‑1 director, a possible MOU, grant searches and mediation under ORS 403.160 if necessary.
Council President Tyler Miller and other Scappoose officials told the council they are pressing the Columbia County 9‑1‑1 Communications District to address persistent radio-coverage gaps that, they said, create safety risks for first responders and the public.
“The coverage in the Scappoose area … is by far the worst out of any place in the county,” said Council President Tyler Miller, who also serves on the 9‑1‑1 board. Miller traced the problem to incomplete radio-site work and what he described as repeated failures by prior district managers to follow consultants’ recommendations, despite funds set aside for equipment.
Why it matters: City police and fire personnel rely on the district’s radio system when cellular service fails. Chief Loewen told council members that the southern part of the county, including in‑building coverage for schools and portions of U.S. 30, experience intermittent or degraded two‑way radio communications. “There are issues within the southern part of the county,” the chief said.
What council heard and suggested: - History and scope: Miller and other speakers said consultants hired years ago recommended additional radio sites and infrastructure; some projects began but were never completed. Officials said the district transferred $1.2 million from an equipment reserve fund to its general fund and that coverage problems have persisted even when funds were available. - Technical needs: Speakers identified at least two radio sites they view as necessary — a completed site on Pisgah Road that needs finishing and a proposed site near Grana/Watts that would improve coverage along Dutch Canyon and U.S. 30 and provide in‑building coverage for schools. - Options discussed: Miller and staff urged a first step of meeting with the district’s new executive director to secure a concrete plan and an MOU that specifies work, timeline and funding commitments. If talks fail, Miller said the city could ask the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to mediate under ORS chapter 403, section 403.160. Miller also suggested jointly pursuing grants and potential local funding partners.
Chief Loewen and city staff emphasized public-safety urgency and recommended working collaboratively with the district while preparing contingency options if progress stalls. No formal action or vote was recorded; councilors asked staff and Miller to arrange follow-up meetings with the district’s director and report back to the council.
