With a goal of having Carroll County’s Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communication System (ISICS) ready for testing by late October, work continues at five tower sites. Communications Supervisor and 911 Coordinator, Jason Hoffman, says upgrades at the tower site west of Coon Rapids were completed last Friday; going smoother than anticipated. A 10-year-old concrete shelter was brought in and lifted onto a concrete pad by crane and will house battery backups as well as the radio and network equipment. The pad has room for a propane-fueled generator to ensure continuity of service. The next steps at that site, and a Lanesboro tower location, are to complete the electrical and grounding work and to install a cable ice bridge from the shelter to the tower. Bridges will also be installed at the Manning, Carroll and Templeton towers. Next week, system installations will begin at those three sites. When asked about targeted dates for going live, Hoffman says they have their sights set on the end of 2020. “Being a rural county with many volunteers working in agriculture, training for fire and EMS personnel will be scheduled after the fall harvest,” Hoffman says. The Board of Supervisors approved the more than $4 million project to provide an integrated and reliable communication option for first responders that includes on-street portability and communication capabilities with other state agencies. A direct link can also be maintained throughout the state. Hoffman says this project has only been made possible through the cooperation and assistance of many different entities. He thanks everyone, the supervisors as well as all of the police, fire, EMS and dispatch personnel in the county for their continued support as well as for their tireless efforts in serving our residents.
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