New plan could save Winneshiek County over $5 million of costs in updating the emergency communications system

There are places in Winneshiek County where police, firefighters and other emergency personnel can't use their cell phones or--even more disturbing--their radio dispatch systems.  That's why Emergency Management Agency staffers have set a priority of upgrading the county's communications system.

Winneshiek County recently spent $1.6 million to build a 300 foot tall tower off Highway 9 west of Decorah to improve coverage and reception for its 9-1-1 system.

Now it's hoping to expand that system--but to spend less than $800,000 doing so.  That's because the upgrades would be put on existing towers within the county--not on new towers.  Spending money on new equipment for towers in Jackson Junction, Ossian and Burr Oak won't be cheap--the estimated price tag is $800,000--but it's a lot less than the previous plans, which carried price tags in the $6 million range.

Emergency Management Coordinator Sean Snyder is proposing Winneshiek County borrow $1 million, then loan that money back to Emergency Management, with repayment coming from the agency's tax levy funds.  The idea was praised by county supervisor John Beard, who said, "it seems to me there's a real advantage to this."

Supervisors will continue to work on the issue.