MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County’s emergency management director is keeping a close eye on a fast-moving bill in the state legislature he said could be devastating for first responders.
According to Mike Wolfe, a bill originating from the House finance committee suggests a taking $1 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN).
“Basically that is the radio communication network that emergency services from 911, law enforcement, fire and EMS uses in almost all of our 55 counties throughout the state,” explained the MECCA 9-1-1 director.
The legislation, HB 4742, passed a second reading in the house Thursday. Wolfe said the bill is a lengthy solution to gain financial ground as the state is facing a budget shortfall of more than $350 million.
A $1 million dollar cut accounts for about 25 percent of the SIRN budget.
“It’s also going to affect our community and citizens in how we can communicate with emergency responders for the needs they are having,” Wolfe stressed.
The SIRN, Wolfe said, has become crucial for in the Mountain State where reception and clear communication between 911 operators and first responders had been sketchy.
“Up until before the early 2000’s when we started using this network, we were using high band and low band radio communications. That meant for Monongalia County, if you were in the central part of the county, you could communicate in this area, but you may not even be able to communicate toward the western end of the county.”
Wolfe reached out to county commissioners, Morgantown’s fire and police chiefs, the Monongalia County Sheriff and others asking them to contact legislators to bring attention to the concern.
The network also strengthens communication with agencies outside West Virginia.
“We’re very aware that everyone is going to have to look at their spending and make cuts where it’s feasible. But, emergency services and providing public safety to the community is not one of those areas,” Wolfe declared.
Wolfe’s Wednesday night plea to lawmakers to at least amend the section of the bill dealing with SIRN funding may have been late. He said he hopes contacting senators could keep the bill from impacting emergency radio communications.