Lorain County radio controversy continues

DAVE O’BRIEN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

The monthslong war of words over public safety radio upgrades in Lorain County continued this week as backers of the L3 Harris digital radio system responded to a plea by the Board of Commissioners to be patient as a new process is worked out.

The controversy has drawn cities, villages, first responders, elected officials and emergency workers into the fray after county commissioners Jeff Riddell and David Moore undid a contract that would have paid Cleveland Communications Inc. to provide the L3 Harris radios firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, their commanders, city mayors and a host of other supporters say they need. Various legal battles in the war also are continuing, with attorneys for the county responding to CCI’s pending 2-month-old lawsuit in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

Commissioner Jeff Riddell on Tuesday urged patience as the county works out a new plan. He and Moore voted in January to rescind the nearly $8 million contract the county signed with CCI in De-