County seeks funds for radio system evaluation

Go, look for funds, Wahkiakum County commissioners told Sheriff Dan Bardsley on Tuesday when he asked for money to evaluate the county’s radio network.

Bardsley said he and chiefs of the county’s fire departments have met and agreed that it is a critical need to radio communications.

The county has spent money on equipment and made improvements, but there are still many dead spots and failures, he said.

Firemen and emergency aid responders who rely on hand-held radios notice the problems most often, he said. They often have trouble communicating while responding to calls, he said.

“This is one of their biggest complaints,” he said. “This is a safety issue.”

Commissioners also received a letter from the fire chiefs echoing the request.

Bardsley said they need a study and evaluation by a professional to develop a plan to address the situation. He has identified a likely consultant who has estimated the study to cost $30-35,000.

“We can’t improve the system without that knowledge,” he said.

Bardsley said he had considered the project last fall but withheld it because of the county’s overall revenue concerns. However, the problems continue to vex emergency crews, so Bardsley said he would bring the request to the board.

He added that he had talked with the Wahkiakum Community Foundation, which might be able to create a grant to finance the project.

The commissioners were reluctant to spend money not in the budget.

“How much are the fire departments willing to put in?” asked Chair George Trott. “They have a major share in this.”

“That’s my belief, but we didn’t discuss it,” Bardsley said.

Trott suggested Bardsley go back to the fire departments and ask if they could contribute $4,000 apiece, with the county picking up the balance.

“That’s what I would do,” said Commissioner Tom Doumit.

“I think emergency medical services should share the cost,” Bardsley said. “I don’t want to get into a fight about who will pay and who won’t.

“The important thing is to know what will be done and to have a plan in place to do it."

Trott said the board would send a letter to the departments with the suggestion.

In other business Tuesday, the board voted to hold a public hearing April 10 on the possibility of declaring surplus some county owned land on Fern Hill so that it could be auctioned.