Hermiston Herald
May 20, 2003

Counties find working together difficult

By Frank Lockwood
Staff writer

HERMISTON - Morrow County officials expressed their dismay when Umatilla
County representatives were silent or conspicuously absent from Thursday's
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program briefings.

The briefings concerned a radio system thought to be essential prior to test
burns with actual chemical agent this fall at Umatilla Chemical Agent
Disposal Facility. Doherty's office reports he is sick with pneumonia.

Briefings were to have taken place at the Citizens Advisory Commission
meeting at Good Shepherd hospital. It was the third time Umatilla County
Commissioner Dennis Doherty had failed to attend a bi-county meeting,
leaving Morrow County officials to talk among them selves.

And talk they did. Doherty had spoken with "individuals" concerning the
radios, Morrow County officials claimed. Morrow County Commissioner Ray
Grace, for example, said that he had asked Doherty what the issues were, and
that Doherty had discussed some with him only after swearing him to secrecy.

And CAC Chair Bob Flournoy said, "For two years there has been trouble
communicating with Umatilla County."

In April, Umatilla backed out of commitments to oversee the purchase of a
450 Megahertz radio system which is said to be an essential part of the
emergency preparedness, necessary prior to burning actual agent at Umatilla
Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. Trial burns with actual agent were
expected to begin this fall.

A month ago, Dennis Doherty had left early from the April's meeting of the
CSEPP Governing Board, of which he was the chair, leaving others to finish
the meeting without him. Vice Chair Linda Fox had read into the minutes a
letter in which Doherty resigned from his position as the administrator of
the Intergovernmental Agreement for the 450 MHz system. That left the future
of the 450 Mhz system uncertain, other board members said.

The system is meant to keep fire fighters, police, rescue workers depot
officials and government leaders in touch in the event of a chemical
accident involving deadly chemical weapons at Umatilla Chemical Depot. That
rather than a hodgepodge of radio systems, some of which may not be able to
speak with the others. Although Doherty was not present, members had called
on Doherty for a change of heart after Fox read Doherty's April letter,
others had said they were concerned.

The Citizens Advisory Commission had issued a letter to Doherty asking him
to attend Thursday's meeting, to at least discuss whatever issues were
troubling him. Doherty had earlier mentioned "personality, agenda, political
and other problems," but was not specific, and the letter which was read
into the minutes had said he would be unavailable for comment. Later Doherty
had agreed to a teleconference but during the teleconference refused to air
issues of concern, saying that should be done in private, through a
committee (rather than in the full public view).

Morrow County commissioners and emergency managers had hoped Doherty would
break the ice by attending the Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Thursday
evening, but members of Umatilla County CSEPP and Umatilla County Emergency
Management were conspicuously absent.

In the disagreement between the two counties, negotiations over the
Motorola system have been interrupted. "Motorola is ready to move, we're
not," said CAC Chairman Flournoy.

Meg Capps, who often gives Umatilla's report at the CAC, was not present.
Nor was Doherty. In response to Flournoy's written invitation to attend the
CAC meeting, Doherty had written a terse reply. Paraphrased, it was: "Thank
you for the invitation. I will be unable to attend." Flournoy's reaction
was, the community is being "held ransom" for reasons Flournoy was unable to
determine.

Morrow County Commissioner John Wenholz said that when CSEPP was first
reorganized under Doherty it seemed that they had found a way to hold all
parties accountable, the state, the counties the health department, and
others. "I thought all the players were together, but it seemed to break
down," he said. "One member wanted to be a lone ranger."

Wenholz said the radio system was very important to Morrow County, and he
seemed unsure of the reasons. "If there's issues we don't understand what
those issues are," the Commissioner said. "We feel very strongly that
Umatilla needs to move forward."

Grace said he had spoken with Doherty on Wednesday, and that Doherty had
indicated he intended to speak concerning several questions and concerns at
the next Governing Board meeting, which is set to take place May 21.

Doherty's office reported yesterday afternoon that Doherty left for home
five minutes earlier with pneumonia, and that he had also been sick with
pneumonia on May 15, the day of the CAC meeting in question, but the
secretary did not know whether he was ill at the time he drafted the letter.

Frank Lockwood may be reached at 567-6457 or by e-mail at
flockwood@hermistonherald.com.
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