Iowa County weighs statewide ISIX radio options, votes to pursue Raycom refresh

Iowa County supervisors heard a detailed presentation from ISIX representatives and Motorola sales staff about the statewide interoperable radio platform and the technical options for county public-safety communications, then voted to pursue a Raycom system refresh rather than a full rebuild.

Frank Cueva, Motorola area sales manager, and Nealey Nichols, the statewide interoperability coordinator, described the ISIX platform as a statewide, P25-based system built to provide redundant, interoperable radio coverage. "Interoperability is important for public safety," Nichols told the board, noting the system was originally built with roughly 90 sites and has grown to about 160 sites and more than 48,000 users. Presenters said county coverage maps show gaps for portable indoor coverage in parts of southern Iowa County and that additions or site changes can improve local coverage.

Motorola representatives outlined technical trade-offs, including P25 Phase 2 TDMA standards, options for encryption, and the use of LTE-capable radios to augment coverage where land-mobile radio signals are weak. Jay Burrell, Motorola vice president, described realistic timelines: "This is probably a 16 to 18 month project," he said for a build that does not require construction of new towers.

Board members pressed on cost, paging needs and procurement. Several supervisors said they wanted an apples-to-apples comparison and recommended a consultant or RFP process to evaluate refresh and rebuild bids. The presentation included a historical, informal estimate discussed in board comments of roughly $6.5 million to $7 million for a comprehensive build package; Motorola stressed that final costs depend on chosen coverage requirements, paging integration and whether existing shelters and backhaul equipment are reused.

Supervisors debated risks tied to equipment reaching end of life and to the project timeline. One supervisor said the county is approaching a 10-year refresh cycle and cautioned against delay; others urged careful vetting because of the expense. After discussion the board made and seconded a motion "to go with the Raycon/Raycom refresh" and took a voice vote. The motion carried following recorded aye and nay responses. The board approved pursuing the refresh but left financing details and a proposed bond on the agenda for a future meeting.

What happens next: supervisors asked staff to pursue comparative bids, consider hiring a technical consultant for an impartial needs assessment or RFP specification, and to report back on financing options at the next meeting when the radio financing item will return to the agenda.