(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, received a presentation on ISICS (The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System). During a nearly 2-hour Q&A session, ISICS Interoperability Coordinator Chris Maiers explained the difference between a VHF “legacy” system and a “trunked” radio communications system like ISICS. The latter utilizes the 700 megahertz, digital frequency, while the old system is analog.

VHF, he says, may have channels that are idle 90-percent of the time, while the trunked radio system can be configured to support the entire county. The problem is the County has signal “drop-out” zones, or “dead spots.” Cass County has bent over backwards over the years to prepare for communication upgrades, including purchasing a new console for the Cass County Communications Center, along with mobile radios, to name a few of the improvements. But the dead spots in signal reception remain, due to the county’s topography. Supervisor Steve Green said Cass and other Counties were caught between a rock and a hard space when ISICS came out.

Green said the County has been negotiating with Motorola for a tower and related enhancements for a tower site, to complete ISICS connectivity.

The latest proposal calls for the construction of a communications tower to handle ISICS. It’s estimated the cost will be approximately $3-million. Installing a pad for the tower, erecting the tower and other facets of the it, could take anywhere from nine-to 18-months.

Steve Green said before the County takes any action, he wants to see the City Council’s for each city in the county, to discuss with their citizens the advantages of the system, how much it would cost, and if bonding for the project is a viable option.

In other news, the Supervisors, Tuesday, approved a request for grant matching funds from the Cass County Fire Association which received a Department of Homeland Security grant for the purchase of mobile radios. The 5-percent local match totals $17,699.62. The Supervisors also approved the fiscal year 2020-2021 Urban Renewal Report.