Sawyer County approves $2.825 million public-safety radio upgrade, commits to debt financing

The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors voted to proceed with a GenCom public-safety radio system upgrade and committed to financing the project with a future debt issue.

The proposal, presented by GenCom and county staff, keeps the project budget at $2,825,000 and includes use of several leased tower locations plus construction of a new tower in the Draper area and equipment on the existing Flambeau Correctional Facility tower. Gary Pelletier of GenCom and county staff said the design aims to achieve maximum portable-radio coverage and includes contingencies and lease negotiations for tower sites.

County finance staff presented two financing scenarios over a 10-year period. The finance director estimated the “bottom line” cost impact at about 5¢ per $1,000 of assessed value; under that scenario a $300,000 home would see roughly $15 a year in additional county taxes if the debt were issued as modeled. “The bottom line here is about 5¢ per thousand, so on a $300,000 home would be about $15 a year in taxes,” the finance director explained.

Board discussion noted timing and contingencies: much of the system can be procured and installed before the Draper tower is built, while final leases and the Draper tower will take longer. County staff recommended committing to the project now and completing financing details later this year. The board approved the motion to proceed and to finance the project with future debt; the motion passed without recorded roll-call detail in the meeting minutes.

Project highlights: - Total proposed budget including contingency: $2,825,000. - New tower construction planned in Draper; additional coverage to use Meadowbrook, Edgewater area and the Flambeau Correctional Facility tower. - Financing recommended via a future county debt issue; county staff presented 10-year amortization scenarios. - Estimated mill-rate impact on homeowners: approximately $0.05 per $1,000 of assessed value (example given: about $15/year on a $300,000 home under one scenario).

County officials said earlier procurement of equipment is advisable to avoid long lead times and to keep the project schedule on track; approvals for some tower leases and a Draper build will follow. Implementation will also require final lease agreements and, later, a separate board action to approve the specific financing instrument (bond, note or other debt).