Pottawattamie County approves $6 million bond to upgrade emergency communications

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors approved a financing package to fund upgraded emergency communications and peace-officer equipment, moving forward with the sale of $6 million in general obligation capital loan notes.

The board opened the process in February with a public hearing on authorizing a loan agreement and the issuance of notes to cover “peace officer equipment and other emergency services communication equipment and systems including new towers, equipment, microwaves and consoles.” After required public notices, the board adopted a series of resolutions to conduct the sale and solicit competitive bids.

The board’s municipal advisor managed the sale process and the board later awarded the notes to Robert W. Baird of Milwaukee. Under the final financing structure the notes were sold with a purchase price and interest profile approved by the board; detailed amortization and levy schedules were adopted so the county can levy an annual tax to pay principal and interest over the notes’ term.

Board members said the financing will support radio and console upgrades that county dispatchers and first responders have been planning for several years. Chief financial staff presented projected levy impacts and noted the county’s plan anticipates no increase in tax rate beyond the debt service levy to cover the notes’ payments. The board adopted the definitive loan documents and related administrative resolutions in April to finalize the transaction and to appoint a paying agent and registrar.

Opposition focused on timing and cost. At several votes Supervisor Tim Wichman registered the sole dissent on procedural resolutions, arguing the board should scrutinize long-term operating costs in addition to capital spending. The rest of the board voted to proceed. The financing package included explicit pledge language that debt service will come from the county’s debt service fund and a schedule of payments was adopted to meet statutory notice requirements.

The board approved grant- and contract-related steps for deploying the equipment and directed staff to proceed with implementation steps including tower work and procurement of specified consoles and microwave equipment. County officials said they expect the project to proceed in phases and to report back to the board as contracts, permits and construction schedules are finalized.