On borrowed time

County emergency system is nearing its last call

HARTINGTON — Cedar County officials may soon face significant costs to replace aging emergency communication equipment, according to a report presented to commissioners March 10.

Cedar County Emergency Services Coordinator Kevin Garvin told the board that several key components of the county’s system are nearing the end of their lifespan, with the paging system identified as the most urgent need.

“I wanted to provide some financial forecasting as to what we’re facing in the next few years,” Garvin said. “The most urgent need is the paging system. Without that, we can’t get the message out to the emergency services.”

Garvin said maintaining the current system is becoming increasingly difficult because replacement parts are no longer readily available.

“The technology we’re using is no longer available,” he said.

Replacing the paging radios alone is estimated to cost about $125,000.

Commission Chairman Dick Donner asked whether updating the pagers would serve as a long-term solution.

Garvin said it is the most practical option for now, noting that while cell phone-based systems are less expensive, they are not yet reliable enough for emergency response.

“Financially, it’s very attractive to use cell phones,” he said. “But cell phone technology just is not reliable enough to use at this time.”

Garvin added that the county currently has enough spare equipment to handle short-term issues but warned the system is nearing failure.

“Right now we are living on borrowed time with them,” he said.

In addition to the paging system, Garvin said several base radios and repeaters are more than 20 years old and should be replaced as funding allows.

“If we have a little money left at the end of this budget year, it would be nice to replace a couple of them,” he said.

Garvin also said the county’s dispatch console is expected to last about five more years. He noted that Cuming County recently replaced its system for about $125,000 using a lower-cost provider, while a comparable system from Cedar County’s current vendor would cost closer to $500,000.

He added that the county’s 911 system, installed five years ago, will also require updates in the future.

Following the report, Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit suggested the county begin setting aside funds now to prepare for the eventual replacements.

Commissioners also approved four conditional use permits and five building permits at the meeting.

Conditional use permits were approved for:

• Vertical Bridge, DBA Towers LLC, for a 300-foot wireless communications tower with a 75-by-75-foot fenced base near Coleridge.

• Joey Tramp, District 2, for an acreage on a 7.9-acre tract west of Highway 81 near the Menominee turnoff.

• Roger Janssen, District 2, to split 6.2 acres from farmland for an acreage.

• Matt Potts, District 3, for a new home southeast of Crofton near Constance.

Building permits were issued to:

• Jacob Siebrandt, District 3, to move a house onto his property for use as an additional dwelling.

• Steve Noecker, District 5, for a 36-by-84-foot hoop barn.

• Marvin Nordhues, District 1, for a 60-by-80-foot insulated shop.

• Larry Tweedy, District 1, for an attached garage in the Ponderosa subdivision.

• Gary Kaiser, District 6, to replace a roof damaged by wind.

Road Department Supervisor Carla Schmidt told commissioners she is planning a four-day motor grader training session for road department employees, including two days of hands-on instruction. No action was taken.

Schmidt also reported on 562 Avenue, where commissioners are considering closing a half-mile stretch between 887 and 886 roads. She said there has been no vehicular traffic on that portion for several years and that closing it would not affect nearby landowners.

“There is actually a fence across it,” she said. Commissioners were also informed that County Government Day will be held March 18, with students from across Cedar County scheduled to attend.

Heidi Borg, representing Congressman Adrian Smith’s office, also addressed the board regarding services available to constituents.