[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6264338,"mediaKeyId","3096817-b04e8ff84ab56c480c05dca020d0fcc4","parentId",3096817,"title","Polk County plans tower replacement, school radio amplifiers with Raycom to shore up public‑safety coverage","audioSeconds",1718,"startMs",973000,"endMs",2691000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096817-b04e8ff84ab56c480c05dca020d0fcc4&start=973&end=2691","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096817-b04e8ff84ab56c480c05dca020d0fcc4/thumbnail_973000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264338/Polk-County/Iowa/Polk-County-plans-tower-replacement-school-radio-amplifiers-with-Raycom-to-shore-up-publicsafety-coverage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264338-03a319ba5626a998b141a750ef8dfb6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098540&Signature=hzf-s9nW73zalXk-XDGoj2DtZ97m0dD9lhzFkg0n7dV1b0imDMGqvbB4S5fQtVjvoI3yt57i7o30jDoxJe8G0-pimGm8c4174IRQKmOazmhR8t8RZzx7wIio550hKLZfmYDghA3675nVk1Z09nGTh6LXRF06F6JA2DAXGMMJ36RiCMwbiIWOvHiaoLigwwzMwN0MubDnoDaidzDC-TYb8tAbKFJfLx0RnYoDxDInapQibYVtTlDMpumi8hiGpWGPsiJWslN7pgYhMprYB8tNSYu6Jrs7fID4CqerP1yvSxWysFm71f0k0HQ5LAPIa4XCrSGoMVlOgWOPYU61qwTN8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County, IA","date","2025-04-23T17:16:52.353Z","article","Polk County supervisors heard a presentation from Raycom and the sheriff’s office describing plans to replace an aging radio tower and install bi‑directional amplifiers (BDAs) in school buildings that have school resource officers.

The sheriff told the board the county’s radio dispatch serves roughly 28 agencies and that the county has invested in a multi‑site radio system that now includes about 11 towers. Mike Miller, a Raycom representative, said the county has about 1,500 radios and that the system handles large call volumes — figures the presentation summarized as about 142,586 administrative calls with roughly 61,775 of those emergency calls; radios on the network average many push‑to‑talks per month, Miller said.

Miller described coverage, interoperability and cost as the principal reasons jurisdictions choose the county’s system. He said the system provides guaranteed coverage for indoor and outdoor portable radios and noted interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions and the statewide system for mutual aid. He also said the Raycom solution has historically cost less than alternatives in some procurements.

On building coverage, Miller explained that modern school and hospital construction can create “dead zones” for radio signals and that BDAs — equipment that amplifies signals inside structures — are a common remedy. The board discussed a list of roughly 18 school buildings targeted for BDAs; Miller said a per‑building estimate averaged about $60,000 in the county’s estimate. County staff said $1,000,000 to fund BDAs was already appropriated in the budget.

On the tower, Miller and county staff said the existing primary tower is structurally unsafe and likely about 50 years old; replacements and related site work are expected to cost up to $2.2 million. County staff said about $1,800,000 in 911 surcharge funds has been set aside to cover the county’s share and that the project would draw from the 911 fund so long as state action does not reallocate those surcharges. The sheriff and staff raised a concern that a state bill introduced this session could alter distribution of 911 surcharge revenue and reduce local amounts.

County staff said legal review of the Raycom amendment and related documents has been completed and that a resolution and memo are ready for board consideration at the next meeting. A project timeline presented to the board showed construction and work slated for completion in 2025–26. Supervisors asked questions about scope, which communities would benefit (Ankeny, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Johnston, Polk City, and others were named), and about the potential for revenue from future tower co‑tenants such as cellular carriers. Raycom said the new tower would also add capacity and provide a redundant path to other regional sites, improving resilience.

Supervisors thanked Raycom and county staff for bringing a solution; staff said they will return with the resolution and contract milestones on the next agenda for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Polk County Board of Supervisors Board Staff Meeting (04/23/25)","oneSentenceSummary","County leaders heard Raycom and sheriff’s office officials describe an 11‑site radio network, plans to install bi‑directional amplifiers in schools with SROs and replace a structurally unsound tower using $1.8M in reserved 911 surcharge funds; a resolution is ready for board consideration.","taxTitle","Polk County, Iowa","taxId",2975,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6264344,"Polk County presents third‑quarter FY2025 budget amendment after revenue uptick",647,298000,945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096817-b04e8ff84ab56c480c05dca020d0fcc4&start=298&end=945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096817-b04e8ff84ab56c480c05dca020d0fcc4/thumbnail_298000.jpg","/articles/6264344/Polk-County/Iowa/Polk-County-presents-thirdquarter-FY2025-budget-amendment-after-revenue-uptick","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264344-6b406f38a24b0a890fd03f3ea83ed169/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098540&Signature=a1mdm70xc~jBwHQ~wfowpFhJA6C3j7mhm1oiViBoNGzl7abm2Mei8oyoPvhWU-wmQ8nVglVrOZ95gJ8oZZ6ObuVWUzLPlXo8-YahboVDM6f8slUs~R3NuJR5NJ4YLhNeW5ISF02X5l1CRniF4q5fvxyVnMmFZZwb3iyKbMjh4TqvtEIF9rIOvmnEv3oEFEo-sdw14AAOP8bBktLEwOoBlmeYNxvPGegzaNcdt7jycTZHuKKZgNwpcGATum0O1mlxMxznFJUvRDCU-ykRpbJXq665T3jtTaxLwkF6Mg90RlLmxt6LXBNUjBS5MEUt5k27WttXfjE8KXU1T7WVj2JxyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deb Anderson, county staff member, presented Polk County’s third‑quarter amendment for fiscal 2025, saying the county has seen higher-than-anticipated revenues and is adjusting appropriations to carry it through the rest of the fiscal year.

The amendment increases projected interest earnings by about $1,500,000 to an estimated $9,500,000 and raises service-of-civil-papers revenue by roughly $900,000 to about $4,000,000, Anderson said. Other revenue adjustments named in her presentation included roughly $400,000 from the City of Des Moines toward a life services center, about $100,000 in initial payments tied to disability access work, and reimbursements to the county for two ARPA-funded projects.

Anderson also identified non‑general‑fund revenues: a $750,000 Department of Justice grant for a resource center construction project and roughly $600,000 in donations to the Easter Lake North Shore construction through the Great Outdoors Foundation. She said the county will reduce timing on a planned bond issuance by about $10,500,000 and is trimming revenues and expenditures in behavioral health by about $8,500,000 as the county phases out direct administration of a mental‑health program.

On the expenditure side, Anderson listed an overall general‑fund increase of about $1,200,000 for personal services tied largely to accrued leave payouts and severance costs, and noted the jail budget needs additional personal‑services funding because a 24/7 operation incurs overtime when vacancies occur. She said IT subscription and maintenance expenses are up about $800,000, refugee resettlement funding approved by the board accounts for about $500,000, and jail food costs are trending about $400,000 higher.

Other adjustments included an expected $200,000 in conservation flood expenses (with possible future FEMA reimbursement), increased telephone costs, a $200,000 line for energy‑credit tax consulting in a non‑general fund, and a $100,000 security audit and audiovisual work for senior center upgrades. Anderson said the medical examiner requested about $135,000 for equipment including cots and cameras.

Anderson described several large “in and out” items that net to zero for the general fund: about $1.5 million in grant adjustments, $1.6 million for water quality work, and a $1.5 million Healthy Homes program. She said board funds previously budgeted for a bi‑directional amplifier (BDA) would be moved to the sheriff’s budget to incorporate the work into a Raycom contract.

On larger capital and pass‑through items, Anderson said the county expects to receive $243,000,000 in bond proceeds that will be passed to the airport and noted $2,000,000 flowing through for Central Iowa workforce development. She said secondary roads projects include city contributions for asphalt improvements and about $200,000 in energy‑efficiency rebates reinvested in county projects.

Anderson said the county authorized publication of a public hearing for this budget amendment yesterday; the auditor’s office will publish the notice and the hearing is set for May 20. After brief questions from supervisors, no additional changes were requested at the meeting and staff said they will incorporate any public input before final submission to the auditor’s office.

The presentation included several items county staff said would be trued up in subsequent budget cycles or by future reimbursements, and several line items were described as timing changes rather than permanent increases.","County finance staff outlined a third‑quarter amendment showing higher-than-expected interest and other revenues, several expenditure adjustments including jail overtime and IT costs, and a delayed bond issuance; a public hearing is scheduled for May 20.","actionData","errors"]

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Polk County plans tower replacement, school radio amplifiers with Raycom to shore up public‑safety coverage

Polk County presents third‑quarter FY2025 budget amendment after revenue uptick