The Department of Justice鈥檚 grant could allow Medford to help the county in efforts at revamping the region鈥檚 emergency radio systems.
In 2019, voters passed a to upgrade Jackson County communication infrastructure used by first responders, including adding 20 tower sites to improve coverage and replacing outdated analog gear.
But that project, headed by Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, is currently faced with a $4.6 million shortfall. According to Jody Hathaway, ECSO鈥檚 project manager, the budget deficit is due to increased prices for material and construction.
鈥淚 have towers that I'm still ordering. And from what I paid two years ago and what I'm paying now, [the price] has increased,鈥� said Hathaway. She noted there was a 16% rise in costs since the project began.
Medford鈥檚 DOJ grant will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on ECSO to provide radio equipment, according to the city鈥檚 emergency manager, Aaron Ott. He said the funds will also to those public works employees who lacked essential hardware during 2020鈥檚 devastating Almeda Fire.
鈥淭hey currently do not have radio capability,鈥� said Ott. During the fire he said some workers used their cell phones for communication. 鈥淭his radio system will allow us to coordinate our unified command system ... in real time,鈥� he said.
The city could purchase the new Motorola radios in the next two months.
In February鈥檚 legislative session, Oregon lawmakers passed $2.5 million in funding for ECSO鈥檚 county-wide emergency radio system upgrade, which is intended to be completed in 2026. That bill is awaiting Governor Tina Kotek鈥檚 signature.
