Monroe to join emergency radio program

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, June 30, 2005

Monroe finally has agreed to pay about $756,000 over seven years to join Snohomish County’s new emergency radio system after complaining about the price tag.

But four other cities in Snohomish County still haven’t signed on.

Monroe officials explored alternatives, from starting their own system to going with one used by the Washington State Patrol, Mayor Donnetta Walser said. But none panned out, so Monroe decided to switch to the 800-megahertz system.

“We felt like we have no choice,” she said.

The city will make the payment, which includes interest rates, from an 8-cent property tax increase approved by voters in September, said Carol Grey, the city’s finance director.

The 800-megahertz system is replacing the county’s old overcrowded system and is expected to improve the speed of emergency services.

Phase 1 of the project cost about $17.6 million and is in use west of Highway 9 from the county’s southern end through Marysville, said Brian Haseleu, the county’s budget manager.

Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo and Woodway have switched to the system.

The county is hoping to complete Phase 2 in early 2006, which will cost about $12.6 million.

Arlington, Darrington, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Snohomish and Stanwood are part of the second phase and have agreed to pay.

The county hasn’t reached a payment agreement with Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Index and Sultan.

The county is offering a discounted rate to cities that join the system by July 31.

“We’re hoping everybody will sign with this,” Haseleu said.

The county is asking about $90,000 from Gold Bar, he said. But Gold Bar Mayor Colleen Hawkins said the city isn’t planning to join.

“We absolutely don’t have the money to pay for that,” she said, adding that if the county wants to cut off emergency radio service in Gold Bar, the city can’t stop it.

The city hasn’t found any alternatives, Hawkins said.

“I don’t think we have specific game plans at this point,” she said.