Johnson County Secondary Roads staff asked supervisors to approve a resolution entering a Living Roadway Trust Fund grant through the Iowa Department of Transportation for $2,000 to purchase Vanner Protos arborist communication helmets and headsets.

"The whole point of it is so that when we are out with in our work zone with lots of traffic ... we can do that safely for not just the motoring public, but for our own employees too," Chris Hensley, roadside vegetation manager, said, describing a system that integrates radios and hearing protection into chainsaw helmets so saw operators, heavy‑equipment operators and flaggers can communicate.

Hensley said the grant requires a local match of $3,635.62, which Secondary Roads has already budgeted from its equipment account. The proposed purchase would include eight fully equipped chainsaw helmets with integrated radios and three over‑the‑head muffs with microphones for equipment operators and flaggers. Hensley said the department learned of the system from Conservation and expects the helmets will improve efficiency and safety in noisy roadside operations.

Supervisors indicated support and directed staff to place the DOT grant resolution on the formal agenda for approval the next day.