Emergency Communications Improvement Project

• Improve the talk capacity of the radio network
• Improve the efficiency (Make the radio network easier to use)
• Improve the effectiveness of the radio network (improved coverage)
• Maintain low cost of operation
• Implement infrastructure and facility life cycle management

• November 2019 - Okanogan County voters authorized the Emergency Communications sales tax 2/10 of 1% with 69% voter support.
• April 2020 - Start of the sales tax collection.
• Revenues generated from the sales tax are utilized for the expenses associated with the operation and improvement of the emergency communications radio network.

• February 2022 - ADCOMM Engineering presentation of Phase 1a findings and recommendations:
  
  • Remaining in the VHF band and achieving the improved goals is not realistically possible.
  • Partnering with and investing in the expansion of and leveraging of an existing 700/800 Mhz radio systems is the most cost-effective way to achieve the improvement goals.