Board approves utility undergrounding permit; 9-1-1 radio system now fully functional and public hearings set Feb. 11

The Louisa County Board approved an application from Eastern Iowa Light & Power to replace an overhead power line with an underground installation along 0 Avenue between 101 and 25th (motion introduced by Speaker 1 and approved by voice vote). "I'll make a motion to approve," Speaker 1 said when presenting the permit request, and the motion was seconded and approved. The board signed the permit paperwork.

Separately, Speaker 3 reported the county-wide radio upgrade intended to improve communications is now online: "We've kinda been online, essentially, since last Wednesday or Thursday... As of yesterday, fully functional," Speaker 3 said. County staff confirmed the radio purchase for the Wapuille Fire Department was approved at the 9-1-1 budget meeting and that the system rollout is complete.

Speaker 3 also reminded the board that public hearings on EMA and E-911 budgets are scheduled for Feb. 11 (EMA at 5 p.m., E-911 at 6 p.m.). The county is awaiting an EMPG grant award of approximately $21,000 that staff said was still pending from the federal program; staff will incorporate any grant receipts into the next budget cycle if awarded.

Board members discussed coordination with the Iowa Department of Transportation on a separate road/bridge project and urged staff to mitigate prolonged local road closures where possible to accommodate heavy agricultural and commercial traffic.