Testing under way on Mount Aeneas antenna

An antenna was ferried by helicopter to a building on Mount Aeneas last week so tests of the county’s emergency services signals finally could begin.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said about a week ago he received approval from the U.S. Forest Service to place an antenna inside a building leased by Optimum and begin testing radio coverage.

The county is paying Optimum a $1 fee to use space in the building, Curry said. Optimum has communications equipment inside the building on land Optimum leases from the Forest Service.

Emergency services personnel in Flathead County already are testing the antenna, Curry said Tuesday. The testing process essentially involves driving around to see if reception can be received at various sites in and around Bigfork, Lakeside, Somers, Flathead Lake and in the Jewel Basin.

“Those tests so far have been favorable,” Curry said.

In addition to testing by county emergency personnel, Flathead National Forest personnel are conducting their own tests of the antenna’s capabilities, Curry said.

Curry expects the testing to wrap up around the end of May.

“Once we’re done testing we’ll sit down with the Forest Service and see what the next step is,”  he said.

He’s optimistic that forest personnel will agree that an antenna on Mount Aeneas will result in better communication capabilities throughout southern Flathead County and allow the county to permanently place a 4-foot antenna in Optimum’s building. Optimum has agreed to the county’s request but forest officials haven’t.

For almost a year, county officials have been seeking approval to put the antenna on Mount Aeneas.

“We have poor coverage in the south end of the county,” the sheriff said of his desire to put an antenna on Aeneas.

Forest officials, however, wanted signal tests conducted from other sites.

One test was conducted off Swan Hill in March, but county Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute said that test showed Swan Hill covered less area than an antenna on Mount Aeneas.

County officials wanted the Forest Service to consider proven communications results from a February avalanche response effort in Jewel Basin when a temporary repeater was placed partway up Mount Aeneas.

Chute said that temporary antenna, which was approved by the Forest Service, provided “fantastic coverage.”