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Officials report damage to Sheep Creek repeater; county seeks temporary generators and coordination with Idaho Power
Summary
Emergency staff reported damage to the Sheep Creek repeater site affecting county law-enforcement and fire communications; IOEM and local providers offered generators and technicians while commissioners asked Idaho Power about more resilient infrastructure options.
Emergency Manager Johnny Biddinger told the board that the Tartar Fire caused damage to power lines and the Sheep Creek repeater site that supports multiple county radio channels, and that IOEM and local partners had offered generators and technical assistance to restore communications.
Biddinger said IOEM would send a generator and technicians to attempt radio checks and that Midvale Telephone Exchange had offered a propane generator as an option. Commissioners and staff discussed prioritizing restoration for the Sheriff's Office primary channel and Weiser Fire, and urged outreach to Idaho Power about prioritizing repairs or assessing stronger pole or underground options.
Commissioner Nate Marvin raised the idea of replacing wood poles with metal poles or undergrounding lines to reduce repeat outages after multiple fire events; Biddinger agreed to contact Idaho Power for cost estimates and to invite the utility to discuss options with the board. IT Director Robert Petersen said he could contact an emergency communications vendor with equipment that might be available quickly if needed.
