[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Asks Ball to Lead Emergency Communications Network

[HOKLIN Lonn * DAS DO]

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503.378.2627

503.428.2169 (cell)

________________________________

From: GOVERNORS Press * Governor's Office
[mailto:Governors.Press at state.or.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:06 PM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Asks Ball to Lead Emergency
Communications Network

 

 

 

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

November 21, 2007

 

Contact: 
Patty Wentz, 503-378-6169

Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496

 

 

Governor Asks Ball to Lead Emergency Communications Network

DAS director will take over Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network
(OWIN)

 

Salem-Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announced today that Lindsay Ball,
director of the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS), will
leave his present post to lead the effort to set up a modern wireless
communications system that lets law enforcement, fire fighters and other
emergency responders communicate effectively.

 

Ball will assume leadership of the Oregon Wireless Interoperability
Network (OWIN) on Nov. 26.  The deputy director of the Department of
Administrative Services, Kris Kautz, will serve as interim director of
the department while the Governor seeks a permanent replacement for
Ball.

 

"I've asked Lindsay to guide this critical effort, because he has proved
himself to be an able, honest and creative government leader," Governor
Kulongoski said.  "We need a manager with his stature, skills and
credibility to help bring Oregon's emergency communications system into
the twenty-first century.  Our success or failure is literally a
life-or-death issue for those who may someday become the victims of
crime or major public emergencies.  I'm confident that Lindsay Ball's
leadership will ensure our success."

 

The Governor praised Ball's record as director of DAS, crediting him
with strengthening the department's management procedures and policies
while promoting a culture of excellence in service.

 

Ball said he is excited over the challenge of leading OWIN.  

 

"Oregon's citizens need to know that their emergency-response agencies
can communicate quickly and effectively," Ball said.  "Our present radio
communications system is old and broken.  We need to upgrade it and
enable fire fighters, police, medical responders and other critical
agencies to coordinate their efforts whenever an emergency strikes."

 

The 2005 Legislature enacted HB 2101, which directed state government to
design a replacement for the fragmented, outdated, and unreliable
emergency radio communications systems now in place throughout Oregon.
That bill addressed the need to provide reliable, instantaneous
communication among separate agencies, enabling police, firefighters and
other responders from all jurisdictions to coordinate their efforts
during emergencies. 

 

The need becomes more urgent in light of a recent mandate from the
Federal Communications Commission, which requires all users of land
mobile radios to convert from wideband to narrowband before January 1,
2013.  Failure to comply would mean heavy federal fines and possible
loss of several hundred FCC licenses by the State of Oregon.

 

Because the cost of the upgrade may be substantial, Ball said his first
priority is getting the most for every tax dollar spent in the planning,
design and construction of the facilities and software that OWIN will
require.

 

"We must prove to taxpayers that we are keeping costs to a minimum,"
Ball said.  "We also need to work closely with local agencies and all
other users of the system to make sure it meets their special needs and
concerns."

 

Before becoming DAS director in 2006, Ball served as director of the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for five years.  He is a former
Oregon State Police officer, having risen to the rank of captain in the
Fish and Wildlife Division.  Since 1995, he has served on the Governor's
Natural Resource Cabinet, and on the board of directors of the Oregon
Wildlife Heritage Foundation.

 

Kris Kautz has served as deputy director of DAS since last year. She
previously served as deputy director of the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife, and as assistant director for human resources in the
Oregon Department of Corrections.  Her career with state government
includes budget policy positions in DAS and the Oregon Department of
Business and Consumer Services.

 

-30-

 

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