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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORKSHOP re: KPTZ Radio Tower Project JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Mark McCauley, County Administrator Willie Bence, Emergency Management Director DATE: October 10, 2022 RE: Workshop: KPTZ Radio Tower Project: Morgan Hill STATEMENT OF ISSUE: KPTZ approached Jefferson County in August, 2022 seeking funding to place a radio tower on Morgan Hill. ANALYSIS: The rationale for the funding coming from the county was that we are the emergency planners for the county and that having a radio tower on Morgan Hill would dramatically improve KPTZ's ability to share information with the community during a disaster/emergency. Their full proposal is attached. They had originally asked the county for$50,000 to cover the cost of the tower. They had also asked that the county assume project management responsibilities for the tower as well. Because the county declined the opportunity to manage the project due to limited bandwidth KPTZ has increased the ask to $65,000 to cover the cost of the tower and project management through a contractor. Staff agrees that the tower will provide enhanced information sharing before, during and after an emergency and supports funding the project. FISCAL IMPACT: If the funding request is approved it will cost the county $65,000. Funding could come from revenue sharing ARPA or from the general fund. Staff recommends using ARPA revenue sharing funds. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners participate in the workshop and give guidance to staff regarding the request for funding. REV ED BY: -, ‘aix. - 9 Mark McCa y, County Administrat Date PROPOSAL TO FUND MORGAN HILL EMERGENCY TRANSMISSION SITE PROJECT SUMMARY KPTZ and KROH are regional area providers of broadcast information, with a special role in the event of a local emergency. KPTZ together with KROH now request that Jefferson County construct a small communications transmitter facility and tower at the Morgan Hill reservoir in Port Townsend to support the public information broadcast network in the event of a disaster. While every effort has been made to enhance the physical-plant resiliency and information collection systems of both broadcast outlets, a facility is needed to support information exchange and distribution communications between the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and authorized broadcasters at both stations, in any circumstance in which landline telephone and wireless cellular services are disrupted by a major disaster and/or subsequent lengthy power failure. While some modalities of two-way radio communication(VHF Low-band, Amateur and GMRS) do exist between these points, the proposed new transmitter facility and tower will provide a robust auxiliary microwave/radio relay site connecting JeffCo EOC, KPTZ, and KROH via a fullduplex voice system. The approximate cost of the project is estimated to be $106,000. We are requesting $50,000 in Jefferson County government support. A draft budget is attached. OVERVIEW For over a decade, FM stations KPTZ and KROH have partnered with Jefferson County government to be prepared to provide broadcast emergency information to area residents. The ability to continue that partnership at the highest level possible depends upon establishing the new facility at Morgan Hill in Port Townsend, a site optimal for local signal transmission due to its proximity and elevation. This project effort would replace the County's current and unused small container shelter and tower stub at the site with a 60-foot tower and transmission technology to be housed at that location. To be useful for this purpose, the Morgan Hill Reservoir site must be upgraded. As a consequence of the FCC's reassignment of the frequencies previously used for this network,the facility would reestablish the previous microwave network on new frequencies and also provide an auxiliary FM transmitter location for backup use, should either KPTZ's or KROH's main transmitter become damaged or unserviceable in an emergency. All equipment at the site would be provided and owned by the radio stations. A majority of the equipment needed for Morgan Hill currently supports KPTZ's operations. With the exception of the new tower, much of the technical infrastructure has been purchased or is on hand and can be repurposed for this project. PROJECT IMPORTANCE TO LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPARATION The City Council of Port Townsend, in recognition of its responsibility to participate in preparation for a major disaster, in April 2021, passed a resolution to allow construction at the Morgan Hill site and granted use to KPTZ for the provision of emergency information services. At a nominal $0.40 monthly use rate for the 1,000 square feet of land on Morgan Hill, the City's financial commitment equates to $54,000 over 10 years. For over a decade, both KPTZ and KROH have provided facilities, personnel, equipment and services to establish and enable this response network. That effort has enhanced the County's emergency preparedness and raised public awareness of the potential threats and resources available. A dedicated team of KPTZ volunteer staffers who have taken FEMA training qualifying them to embed in the EOC whenever it is activated for an emergency, remain on call every day and night throughout the year. The Morgan Hill relay site project represents the continuation of over 10 years' investment by both stations' directors, staff, and volunteer broadcasters working in tandem with the JeffCo Department of Emergency Services. All of this effort has one purpose—protecting the health and safety of the people of Jefferson County. For the entire community and for all of its many stakeholders, this project is of the utmost importance and requires prompt action.