Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Josephine County seeks durable replacement for aging public-safety radio system
Summary
County commissioners directed staff and Day Wireless to prepare a prioritized replacement plan, cost estimates, and site reviews after departmental reports that the existing VHF-based system is obsolete, with coverage gaps in Cave Junction, Williams and the Illinois Valley.
The Josephine County Board of County Commissioners on July 27 heard from departments and Day Wireless about widespread deficiencies in the county’s public-safety radio network and asked for a prioritized project scope and cost estimate.
Facilities Director Ryan Johnson told commissioners the current VHF-based system relies on four mountaintop sites, equipment at the Justice Building, and a microwave network and that “manufacturers no longer support much of the equipment,” leaving replacement parts increasingly difficult to obtain. Federal Engineering is completing an assessment and coverage maps intended to identify coverage shortfalls, particularly around Williams and Cave Junction.
Day Wireless representative Matt Weinberger reviewed a 2022 Motorola/Day Wireless proposal and estimated a similar 2026 replacement would likely cost about $5 million or more before major site expansions; the 2022 estimate was roughly $3.3 million with about $800,000 in optional lifecycle services. Commissioners emphasized designing the system for long-term maintainability rather than accepting short-term discounts.
The board requested Day Wireless and staff prepare a prioritized project framework separating essential replacement elements from optional enhancements (satellite-capable radios, additional sites, stronger backup power, fiber backhaul) and agreed the Emergency Management Director should participate in site resiliency and exercise planning. No procurement or expenditure was approved; the matter will return after Federal Engineering maps and detailed cost estimates are available.
