‘Critical failure’ warning: $1.6 million communication overhaul proposed for McKenzie County
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
McKenzie County officials are sounding the alarm on a “critical infrastructure” crisis, following a presentation to the Board of Commissioners on February 3, regarding the dire state of the county’s emergency communication towers and hubs.
County 911 Coordinator Rick Schreiber, joined by Lieutenant Dustin Newman of the Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Manager Karolin Jappe, presented a proposal for a turnkey replacement project estimated at $1.647 million. The project would replace aging towers and renovate a key communications building that officials described as a high-security risk. The presentation centered on three primary failure points in the county’s communication network:
● Watford City Tower Site: The building housing the county’s main communications hub was described as a 40- to 50-year-old wooden structure with “linoleum floors” and a “spaghetti bowl of madness” regarding its internal wiring. Officials noted the site lacks a security fence and has been previously vandalized, risking the “main infrastructure” for Sheriff, Fire, and EMS services.
For the full story, visit www.watfordcitynd.com and subscribe to the McKenzie County Farmer today!