Door County officials received a big boost from the federal government to upgrade its public safety radio system.

As a part of the bipartisan spending bill approved by lawmakers last week ahead of a threatened government shutdown, $3.9 million was earmarked for Door County to upgrade its system. Two weeks ago, at the Door County Board of Supervisors meeting, Technology Services Director Ashley DeGrave provided an overview of the communication tower and radio upgrade project last done in 2013. The project would upgrade the current tower network from an analog system to a new digital system. As a part of the upgrade, the county would build six new towers near the Washington Island Ferry, Sevastopol Dunes Lake, North Highway Shop, Horseshoe Bay, Bayshore Drive, and Baileys Harbor. The project would be separated into three phases, with the board approving the land acquisition/site testing phase for up to $700,000. The second phase will include civil/shelter/site work and tower construction, and the third phase will be FCC licensing acquisition and tower/radio equipment.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says securing funding like this is important for rural areas like Door County.

The communication tower and radio upgrade project is expected to cost over $25.6 million by its completion in 2028.