From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: May 23, 2008

Sheriff's Office Awarded Large Grant

The Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) has notified the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office that the office has received a "conditional" award totaling $752,000 from the FY 2007 Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program (PSIC). This is the total amount requested from OEM for Lincoln County’s Communications Project. The Sheriff’s Office has committed the matching portion of the grant which amounts to $195,000. “The people who were involved in the planning that ultimately led to this project are to be congratulated,” stated Sheriff Dennis Dotson.

The grant will fund the building of a microwave system connecting selected radio repeater sites in Lincoln County to one another. Lincoln County has already partnered with the Oregon Wireless Interoperable Network (OWIN) and looks forward to developing and completing the communications project within the next few years. This infrastructure is only phase one of a two phase building project. Repeater site development will be the second phase to complete the entire project.

OEM advised in their letter that the award is conditional upon submittal of a more detailed budget. A group of public and private stakeholders will engage in implementing the plan. Partners include the county’s fire districts, hospitals, public schools, Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, Central Lincoln PUD, law enforcement, Emergency Services, 911, and the Board of Commissioners and have been meeting for approximately 18 months.

“This is an exciting announcement and impressive achievement for Lincoln County.” “This funding is the necessary first step in providing emergency responders and others with the infrastructure for interoperable communications in Lincoln County and beyond our county lines,” stated Sheriff Dotson.

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