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County OKs bid to pursue communications grants after debate over temporary tower options
Summary
Goodhue County commissioners approved staff requests to pursue port security and radio-console grants and approved an item related to temporary tower work after hearing that mobile command trucks cannot substitute for a full "armor" tower and that vendor availability constrained timelines.
Goodhue County commissioners voted to let staff pursue port security and radio-console grants and approved related tower work after staff described limited vendor availability and technical constraints.
Chad Stefen, of the sheriff's office, told the board that a mobile command vehicle cannot replicate an "armor tower site," explaining that an armor tower includes a sheltered 10-by-30 enclosure with multiple trunked radio channels and racks that a mobile command truck does not provide. "What we're talking about here is an armor tower site," Stefen said, adding that Minnesota has one transportable armor-on-wheels but that it is expensive and not a feasible multi-month substitute for a fixed site.
Consultant Jeff Nelson said site moves typically require about six months of planning and that the county contacted 11 vendors for the Pine Island tank work but "only one had both structures and labor available" for the county's schedule. Nelson said that in that case the city had postponed its tank work from 2025 to 2026 because of budget timing, which affected coordination.
Marty, the sheriff, described a separate port security grant proposal to add heating to an unheated portion of the county's emergency services building that stores boats, a BearCat and other equipment. He said the estimated project cost is $227,700 and that the required 25% local match would be $56,925, funds identified in the 2027 capital plan if the grant is awarded.
Board members discussed the tradeoffs of relocating the emergency communications vehicle (currently kept in Kenyon) and noted that a port security grant review would likely prioritize assets nearer the Mississippi River corridor (for example, Red Wing). Stefen said Kenyon has been a workable location and that the vehicle is kept in a climate-controlled facility during winter months.
On radio systems, Stefen said console and platform migrations are 15–20 year upgrades; the tentative grant request for five radio consoles was $375,700, with the local 25% match proposed to come from 911 funds so there would be no levy impact if awarded.
After discussion, the board voted to approve staff moving ahead with the grants and the related tower item.
The county will notify the board as grant opportunities open and staff will continue coordinating with municipalities and maritime security partners to align applications with grant priorities.
