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Pottawattamie County sells $6 million in bonds to pay for public‑safety communications upgrades
Summary
The Board of Supervisors authorized and sold $6,000,000 in General Obligation Capital Loan Notes to fund peace‑officer equipment and emergency communications systems, including towers, microwave links and consoles. The sale closed after a public hearing and a competitive bid process.
The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors approved and sold $6 million in General Obligation Capital Loan Notes to finance new peace‑officer equipment and upgrades to the county's emergency communications, the board recorded on April 28 and finalized the award on April 14, 2026.
The board opened the statutory public hearing and followed the sale process required under Iowa Code. Mitchell Kay, the county chief financial officer, led staff work on the financing and the municipal advisor’s process described in board documents. The board adopted the required resolutions to notice the sale and authorize issuance, then accepted the successful competitive bid and directed closing steps.
The competitive sale was awarded to Robert W. Baird; the board’s April 14 resolution (Resolution No. 25‑2026) directed the sale and authorized staff to execute closing documents. The bond proceeds will be used to pay costs of acquisition, construction and installation of “peace officer equipment and other emergency services communication equipment and systems including new towers, equipment, microwaves and consoles,” language adopted in the resolution.
Roll‑call votes on the authorizing resolutions were recorded in the minutes. On Feb. 24 the board approved Resolution No. 15‑2026, authorizing issuance of the notes; the roll call recorded AYES: Shea, Miller and Jones; NAY: Wichman; ABSENT: Jorgensen. Subsequent resolutions implementing sale mechanics and paying‑agent agreements were adopted as part of the closing process.
The board directed that the debt service be levied in future years and recorded the anticipated annual levy schedule in the bond documents. County documents estimate the impact of the borrowing on property taxes; the notice included an example annual tax increase for a $100,000 residence and the board recorded a plan to levy the necessary tax each year for debt service.
Next steps include final settlement and execution of paying‑agent and transfer‑agent agreements and routine administrative filings required by state law. The county auditor and financial staff will maintain the debt service fund and report on project expenditures as bonds are spent.
