UPDATE AS OF 8:00PM, November 5th
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. -- Jackson County passes the Emergency Communication Bond
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. -- Voters will be deciding on a measure that could provide upgrades to the Emergency Communiations of Southern Oregon Dispatch Center's radio system.
If passed, the technology would be replaced with digital technology providing voice and data to emergency responders.
The measure would also expand coverage to areas in the county where responders have ifficulty communicating with dispatch and other emergency dispatchers.
The center says the equipment is between 12 to 30 years old and that the current system doesn't meet the needs of responders.
The cost of the replacement system would be $28 million. The cost would include P25 equipment at all radio sites, new dispatch consoles, new subscriber terminal equipment, site development costs to bring radio sites up to standard for digital equipment, and complete design, deployment, installation and acceptance costs to deliver the final system.
The measure is being proposed because officials say the population and emergency calls has grown and is expected to continue to grow in the coming decades.
