Iowa County debates payment options for EMS communications

MARENGO — After looking at four options, Iowa County Supervisors decided on a plan to finance a new communications contract for emergency management last week.

Supervisors deferred a final decision until Friday, Dec. 12 so they can talk to Heidi Kuhl, of Northland Securities, who prepared the four options.

Two of the plans stretched the bond out to 15 years, but Supervisors agreed they’d rather pay off the contract in 10 years. The Board of Supervisors financed emergency management communications in 2016 through 15 years, but the contract is up after 10, so the county will be paying another five years for a contract that will no longer be in service. They want to avoid putting future boards in that situation, they said.

Supervisors also said they would rather not have the additional five years of interest. The previous contract was for $4 million, and the county still owes $2 million in principal after 10 years of payments.

“I like the 10-year level better,” said Supervisor Kevin Heitshusen. That leaves money in case something comes up in the future.

“We’re putting the future board in a better situation than we’re in,” said Supervisor Jon Degen.

The 10-year level plan Supervisors favor would raise the debt service levy to 83 cents for the first six years and drop it to 57 cents for the last four years, according to figures provided by the Board.

That amount includes the cost of paying off the last five years of the previous contract, said Maas.

The county’s debt service dropped this year to 31 cents from 60 cents two years ago when another bond was paid off. “Our service levy is not maxed out by any means,” said Supervisor Abby Maas.