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County seeks $1.6 million in federal funds as local residents press for more communications investment
Summary
During public comment and the CAO report the county outlined repairs to the Oregon Mountain radio site and said staff submitted a $1.6 million congressionally directed spending request for emergency communication system repairs and upgrades; public commenters urged a local sales tax measure to fund long‑term needs.
Public comment and the county administrative officer’s report focused on emergency communications and the finances needed to fix long‑standing radio and dispatch problems.
In public comment Ben Kellogg acknowledged prior updates from the sheriff on communications planning and asked how much the current phase will cost the county and where future funding will come from, suggesting the county consider a 1% sales tax initiative to shore up volunteer fire departments, the library and the animal shelter. "Put politics and egos aside and get the good work done for the people," Kellogg said.
County Administrative Officer (CAO) reported staff coordinated repairs at the Oregon Mountain radio site, with technicians conducting expedited equipment delivery and repairs that technicians began implementing over the Easter weekend. The CAO also said the county submitted a $1,600,000 congressionally directed spending request for immediate emergency communication system repairs and upgrades. "We submitted for $1,600,000 for the immediate emergency communication system repairs and upgrades," the CAO said.
CAO added the county applied for a Prop 64 public health and safety grant (cohort 4) seeking $1,000,000 in the small jurisdiction category for code compliance work. He said initial repair reports from the Oregon Mountain site are trending positively but further testing is needed, and that final federal appropriations decisions should be known in May.
The meeting record does not list a final local funding source to cover any gap beyond grant awards; public commenters emphasized the importance of clear communication to residents about costs and options. The board and staff said they will continue coordination with state and federal partners and report back as grant decisions and repair tests progress.
