NEW BERLIN – As the county creeps closer to completing its communication tower project, emergency services and local municipalities are raising concerns with the current inadequacies in coordinating radio response efforts.

The Chenango County Safety and Rules Committee adopted a plan June 8 to purchase a telecommunications service line to its Millbrook tower in the Town of New Berlin.

The approval of the plan is another step forward in Chenango County’s $6 million dollar public safety communications tower project, aimed at replacing the original 1970s era towers in the area and improving emergency service communications.

The move comes while the Sheriff’s Office is hearing concerns from agencies in the northeastern corner of the county that complain current emergency radio broadcasting coverage is unreliable.

Both the New Berlin Fire and Police Departments, along with the Village and Town of New Berlin, had expressed concern over the lack of signal.

The radio transmissions are pivotal in coordinating emergency response in the area, which is also challenged by a lack of cell phone reception in many parts.

In charge of the office’s communications, Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew L. Beckwith said the issue with the disrupted frequency began in the spring.

“We’re not sure where, but we have some RF (radio-frequency) interference, possibly from NYSEG, in the area that has been complicating things. NYSEG is currently investigating the issue. We can hear them fine, but they can’t seem to hear us very well,” said Beckwith.

He explained that the T1 service line at the Millbrook tower is expected to come online in August or in early fall, but for the time being emergency crews would have to make due until NYSEG discovers a solution or the new tower system is activated.

Beckwith also explained that New Berlin had long faced challenges with communication because of the area’s geography and that the location of the Millbrook tower was specifically selected to address the issue.

“Once the new system is online, there will be not an issue,” said Beckwith.

At a June 9 board meeting, New Berlin Mayor Wade Schrag said he had met with representatives from the town and fire department over the problem.