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CEO says wastewater upgrades were fully funded by partner; urges a comprehensive communications audit after repeated failures
Summary
County CEO Everett reported a recent nearly $5 million relining of the wastewater system and about $1.2 million in new blowers and motors that he said were paid in full by Atlantic Ridgefield; he warned that county public‑safety radio and dispatch communications have failed repeatedly and recommended an expensive, in‑depth audit and RFQ to guide fixes.
County CEO Everett gave an extended miscellaneous report updating the commission on capital work and public‑safety communications. Everett said the county completed approximately $5,000,000 in relining work at the wastewater treatment plant and contracted for new blowers and motors totaling about $1,200,000. "I got a 100% of the cost being paid for it by Atlantic Ridgefield," Everett said, adding that the upgrades leave the plant "set up to go for the next 30 years" and that he does not expect substantial wastewater fees for residents to increase as a result.
Everett also updated the commission on an appraisal of the former Wells Fargo building, telling commissioners appraisal work is progressing and that fees were substantially less than the $25,000 the commission had allocated.
On emergency communications, Everett said deficiencies were exposed during a recent manhunt and other incidents where local officers could not communicate with dispatch or neighboring agencies. He recounted multiple examples: borrowing highway patrol radios during a multi‑vehicle crash response and officers unable to talk while responding to an incident near Georgetown Lake. "Everybody else had radios that worked except the home team," he said. Everett described a cross‑department advisory group that recommended a more intensive audit of the county's communications system. He said an audit and procurement process could exceed the threshold that allows the county to pick a vendor directly, and estimated the cost could be in the range of $100,000 to $170,000 (he said the exact number was uncertain).
Everett said Red Veil Communications had conducted an initial review for neighboring jurisdictions; the county will try truncated/adjunct radios on the county network as a test and is preparing a request for qualifications for a full communications audit. He said the state has roughly $40,000,000 set aside for communications improvements and that the county may be eligible for some of those funds.
Why it matters: Communications between dispatch and field responders affect response times and public safety; the wastewater upgrades alter the county's capital and operating outlook for sewer rates.
Next steps: Everett will present a request for qualifications for the communications audit at the next commission meeting; test radios will be available for county use this week and the Wells Fargo appraisal will continue.
