East Oregonian
March 22, 2003

Counties disagree over CSEPP radio project

By SHELLY INGRAM of the East Oregonian
singram@eastoregonian.com

HERMISTON - Discussion continued on implementation of the 450 megahertz radio project when the Oregon CSEPP Governing Board met this week.

It has been delayed because of disagreements between Umatilla and Morrow County officials on the depth and areas covered in a pending Quality Assurance plan, and also the payment schedule of an undetermined amount in administrative fees listed as part of the original agreement outlined between the counties and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The project has been further delayed because bids for part of the construction of the project have been contested and must be sent for a re-bid.

"It is pretty plain to everybody that there is a significant difference between Umatilla and Morrow counties," said Umatilla County Commissioner Dennis Doherty.

A letter sent Thursday by Doherty requested a meeting between representatives of both counties, Irrigon Mayor Linda Fox, Hermiston Fire Chief Jim Sterns and Oregon Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission Chairman Bob Flournoy next month to work to resolve the matter.

In other business, the board heard reports on the progress of the computer-aided dispatch program and the region's evacuation program.

The evacuation plan currently calls for clearing the Hermiston area within six hours of an emergency. That time frame could be significantly reduced if additional traffic lights were added to the area and linked, the board agreed.

"This indicates that with a series of enhancements it is possible that we could evacuate in two hours," said Casey Beard or Morrow County CSEPP.

Warning sirens will have new sound for tests

The CSEPP warning sirens will have a new sound in April - for tests, that is.

The test sirens now have the same single, long tone that would be used in an actual emergency. That will be the tone again on Tuesday for the final test of the month.

But on Tuesday, April 29, a Westminister chime will replace the standards siren sound during tests, in order for residents to more easily differentiate between a test and a real emergency.

"Children tell me it sounds like some grandfather clocks or some doorbells," Cheryl Humphrey, Umatilla county CSEPP information officer, said of the chimes.