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Commissioners approve $3.2 million for radio network improvement
Summary
The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 13-2025, authorizing a $3,200,000 appropriation from Fund 161 for a multi-agency radio network upgrade and to cover late-arriving invoices tied to the project.
The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 13-2025 on a unanimous voice vote, adding $3,200,000 to Fund 161 for the countywide radio network improvement project.
The supplemental appropriation covers a late invoice for radios received in late 2024 and a separate mobile radio purchase secured in December, county dispatch officials told the board. "These expenses were always planned as part of the project. We just didn't know exactly when they would show up," said Mike Ward, dispatch center representative, describing why the charge appears in this year's budget rather than last year's.
The board opened the item to staff for explanation at 10:30 a.m., and Ward said the purchases address both portable and mobile radio needs across local agencies. He said the portable radios were acquired at roughly a 50% discount and the mobile units were obtained under an enhanced state contract, producing significant savings compared with list pricing.
County staff said the appropriation will be paid from reserves in Fund 161 and will not reduce current operational spending lines in other funds. Commissioner 1 moved to adopt the resolution and Commissioner 2 seconded; the board recorded the vote as "Aye" and the resolution carried.
The procurement work includes distributing radios to agencies so they can migrate to the new network; staff said the purchases should cover roughly 85% of fleet needs and will reduce operational stress on partner agencies during the system transition.
The commissioners asked staff to brief them further on project details; Ward offered to provide a fuller project briefing in the coming weeks.
