In certain places in Jefferson County, police, fire and rescue workers enter a communications blackout.
“There are significant areas [of the county] where coverage disappears,” said Ken Horvath, public safety analyst for the city of Port Townsend.
Horvath said the gap in radio and communications coverage leaves emergency workers exposed.
On Monday night, he told the Port Townsend City Council that a new, 100-foot tower on Morgan Hill would fix the problem.
“This would allow officers to communicate farther out,” Horvath said.
“It would also help communicate with the West End” though a relay system.
The tower isn’t a new idea.
JeffCom, the county’s emergency response service, began the process of applying for city permits to erect the tower on Morgan Hill in 2004.
JeffCom conducted radiation and visibility studies and held public meetings through the city to complete the permitting process.
However, the city closed the permit application due to lack of progress on the project in 2005.
