Supervisors Discuss 911 upgrade
Discussions on an upgrade to the statewide 911 system were once again on the agenda of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
Plans are under consideration to upgrade the county’s 911 system to join the Iowa statewide interoperable communications system, which other counties statewide are also considering. Page County has already joined the system, and Mills County is already making plans to join the system as well. The proposal from Motorola, which was selected as the vendor of the new system by the state, will cost roughly $5.8 million.
At the supervisors meeting Dec. 27, the board heard from Mike Summers with D.A. Davidson Company on options for a general obligation bond to cover the cost of the new system.
• A nine-year general obligation bond would generate an average annual payment of $723,997. Impact to the levy would be $1.1926 per $1,000 valuation.
• A 10-year GO bond generated an annual average payment of $662,611, with a levy impact of $1.0914 per $1,000 valuation.
• A 15-year GO bond generated an annual average payment of $481,670, and the levy impact was $0.7934 per $1,000 valuation.
Summers was present at the most recent supervisors meeting Jan. 2. Summers had a fourth levy option, a 20-year GO bond which generated an annual average payment of $411,941, with a levy impact of $0.6785 per $1,000 valuation.
“Based on the numbers, the 20-year option would be the lowest cost, and would double the current debt service levy in place for the new jail from $0.6517 to $1.3302,” Summers said.
Total increase to the debt service levy using the nine-year term of debt was $1.8442. For 10-years, the total levy increase was $1.7431, and a 15-year debt term increased the levy to $1.4451.
The supervisors also discussed the 911 project itself. Supervisor Steve Ratcliff asked if other options for the system were being reviewed besides Motorola’s proposal. Montgomery County EMA coordinator Brian Hamman said Motorola’s proposal was the only one under consideration for several reasons.
“This is truly our only option. Motorola was selected as the statewide vender, and we’re using state pricing, so it was never out to bid. Also, we have no other radio vendors to support the system in our area of the state. In central or eastern Iowa, there’s another company, but they don’t have any availability in our area. The only other option would be to make our own system, and at that price, it’s two to three times the cost,” Hamman said.
Supervisor Mike Olson asked if grant money would be available to pay a portion of the debt on the project. Hamman said any grant money would be very restricted.
“As far as I know, communications receives wireless money yearly, but it’s restricted on what it can pay for. I’m not sure it can be used to even pay for the warranty services, or what all that includes, but right now, that’s the only grant out there available in the state,” Hamman advised.
A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in the courtroom of the Montgomery County courthouse.
The supervisors also held their organizational meeting. Supervisor Mike Olson was selected to serve as the Montgomery County Supervisors Chairman. Supervisor Donna Robinson was elected as Vice-Chairman.
The supervisors praised Bryant Amos for his years of service as chairman.
“Your dedication to this job and what you have done is beyond what most people would do,” said Supervisor Steve Ratcliff.
In other business, the supervisors:
• Approved grants for Hungry Canyons for the installation of three grouted riprap basin projects.
Accepted the preliminary five-year roads plan from county engineer Brad Skinner.