District News

East Oregonian   12/30/2009 Radio district takes another step forward Umatilla, Morrow counties seek voter approval for taxes By SAMANTHA BATES The East Oregonian

What will be called the Umatilla Morrow Radio and Data District is a step closer to becoming a reality.

On Dec. 16 Morrow County held its first public meeting and on Tuesday Umatilla County held its first public meeting - both needed steps toward officially forming a taxing district. The district will allow the counties to keep using the 450-megahertz radio system put in place by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program and Federal Emergency Management Agency. To keep the system going, the counties are forming districts to tax property owners 17 cents per $1,000 assessed value. In May, the counties will ask taxpayers to approve the district, vote for five board members and approve the tax. Each item will require a separate vote, said Doug Olsen, attorney for Umatilla County.

East Oregonian 11/26/2009 Radio district gets closer to formation By Samantha Bates The East Oregonian The group seeking a unified radio district for Umatilla and Morrow Countys is taking another step toward its goal. Umatilla County Board of Commissioners on Monday started the process to form the radio district by calling a public meeting. That meeting will be Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. in Room No. 114 in the Umatilla County Courthouse. This starts the process to form the district, which will formally be called the Umatilla Morrow Radio and Data District. It is made up of both counties, but does not include the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Milton-Freewater. The district board will have five members elected at-large. After the public meeting is complete, commissioners can officially form the district, said Doug Olsen, county attorney.

East Oregonian  09/22/2009 City opts out of emergency responder radio district Other communities in county ready to join 450 megahertz system Reporter: Samantha Bates The Milton-Freewater City Council decided Sept. 14 not to join the 450 megahertz radio district being proposed for police, ambulances, fire departments and other emergency responders in Umatilla and Morrow Counties. Milton-Freewater is the only city in Umatilla and Morrow Counties to opt out. Athena was originally against it, but later changed its mind and passed a resolution to join. City Manager Linda Hall said Milton-Freewater often has more contact with College Place or Walla Walla when it comes to help with police, fire and paramedics. Hall said the city has also made numerous upgrades to its own system. The city council was also concerned with costs of upgrade and operations and maintenance. In the end, they weren't convinced a 17-cent per $1,000 assessed value tax would cover it.

East Oregonian  08/26/2009 450 radio district still in the works Reporter: Samantha Bates Athena has reversed course and signed on to the proposed 450-megahertz radio taxing district, while the Echo Fire district voiced its opinion against it and Milton-Freewater is still deciding. Emergency responders in Umatilla and Morrow counties have been working to gain support from every town to form the taxing district, which would continue to fund high-end radio systems installed by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program and FEMA. The tax rate proposed would be 17 cents per $1,000 valuation.