The Hermiston Herald 09/01/2008
CSEPP radio system needs tax support
Fire chief says federal money disappearing
Mike Roxbury, Umatilla fire chief, is proposing a new tax district for the continued operation of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) radio system.
After the Umatilla Chemical Depot finishes disposing its chemical munitions, Roxbury told the Echo City Council recently, the federal money that is supporting the radio system will dry up.
Most emergency and law enforcement agencies in Umatilla and Morrow counties rely on the CSEPP radio system for communications, he said. Without it they will have to install and upgrade old radios, which will be costly and drastically reduce their ability to communicate.
Also, a new Federal Communications Commission rule that all public safety radio systems be "narrowbanded," or changed from 25 kHz-wide channels to 12.5 kHz-wide channels by 2013 means the old radios would have to be further upgraded, and their coverage areas reduced.
"It's not really, are we going to have to pay, but who are we going to have to pay and how much," Roxbury said.