Pottawattamie supervisors advance $6 million bond to fund public‑safety communications upgrades

Pottawattamie County supervisors moved in February to authorize up to $6,000,000 in general obligation capital loan notes to finance peace officer equipment and emergency‑services communications upgrades, including new towers, microwave links and console equipment.

The Board set a public hearing and published notice as required by Iowa law, stating the proposed notes would be payable from the county’s Debt Service Fund and estimating the annual tax impact on a $100,000 actual‑value residential property. After the public hearing the Board adopted Resolution No. 18‑2026 to institute proceedings and later approved a resolution authorizing issuance of the notes (Resolution No. 15‑2026). Roll call votes on the issuance recorded ayes from Supervisors Brian Shea, Susan Miller and Keith Jones; Supervisor Tim Wichman voted nay and Supervisor Jeff Jorgensen was absent for some actions. The board’s resolutions also directed the auditor to publish required sale notices and authorized the county auditor and municipal advisor to proceed with sale preparations.

County staff, including Chief Financial Officer Mitchell (Mitch) Kay, presented the financing plan and the Board worked with municipal advisor Speer Financial and bond counsel to prepare the Preliminary Official Statement and electronic bidding procedures. The County adopted a resolution approving electronic bidding procedures and distribution of the Preliminary Official Statement in late March.

What happens next: With the resolution authorizing the notes in place, county staff will proceed with sale preparations. Final terms (interest rates, series structure and exact levy levels) will be set at sale, and the Board will file any necessary amendments to the levy schedule consistent with the final financing structure.