[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6575428,"mediaKeyId","3105404-00f6147d40bae75dcce78c754df6a1d9","parentId",3105404,"title","Leavenworth County officials say Motorola radio upgrades will cost millions; commissioners consider sales-tax option","audioSeconds",582,"startMs",1319000,"endMs",1901000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105404-00f6147d40bae75dcce78c754df6a1d9&start=1319&end=1901","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105404-00f6147d40bae75dcce78c754df6a1d9/thumbnail_1319000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575428/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/Leavenworth-County-officials-say-Motorola-radio-upgrades-will-cost-millions-commissioners-consider-sales-tax-option","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575428-891252754e184abcea441d60db316fcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192462&Signature=CHZjq2TRE3L6GxU5fafgZSJt1ot3vgYMrUbASpOmrLTdajT4w-Xgio3PNO1VHeVnpYs77um6z8fyvkRRs7SnpohHFnA1itydbg6ybgIdJnssT~ChsmdNhL9EfpbDEUDZwy8OmHIAcKa9xgaz5eyDj3Hlh9jonXCnMVvfGNRg6wD6si2dCmnlwhqWLUNtqmsWja~~qOlukr47TB86GxlR6hj4Fasbk8YIcSzhyE-aEdR8ZsqeDzY63hFWdCDHZKgXEWKBqxniIqN2xX8gdW3lFQmE7TJ9ND14fslNEcTDoqsqxk5eB0rDd62rZQAuMoy10UG00mPkLlMoagnK1l~ktA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leavenworth County, KS","date","2025-04-23T23:34:52.187Z","article","Leavenworth County officials, the sheriff's office and Motorola account representatives briefed the Board of County Commissioners on an upcoming multi-stage upgrade to the county's Motorola P25 radio system and potential funding options.

County staff said the system, built after a 2005 sales-tax ballot and activated in 2008, is aging and that the county has covered rising maintenance costs in recent years (about $675,000 drawn from the general fund over the last two years, staff said). The sheriff said the system now costs \"just short of a million dollars a year to run.\" Motorola representatives described three mandatory upgrade stages with target completion years of 2029, 2030 and 2032, estimating rough costs of $700,000–$800,000 for the first stage, $850,000–$1,000,000 for the second, and about $4.2 million for the third.

Motorola account manager Kirk Moore told commissioners the upgrades are being driven by industry-wide lifecycle changes and that agencies using Motorola equipment nationwide face similar replacement needs. Staff and the sheriff explained the county is largely funding the system for all users in the county and that other users (people traveling on I‑70, nonproperty owners, Fort Leavenworth and visiting motorists) use the system without directly paying property taxes that support it.

Commissioners discussed funding options and the county administrator said a special sales tax could be the most equitable way to spread costs; that option would require state legislative action and placement on a ballot in a later cycle. County staff said any sales-tax measure should cover both capital replacement and ongoing maintenance so replacements do not repeat as future budget pressures. Staff also said that, in the short term, general-fund support will again be needed in the 2026 budget to continue operations while a longer-term funding plan is developed.

Staff noted other lifecycle costs beyond the three upgrade stages, including aging tower infrastructure (estimated replacement cost about $250,000 per tower), generator replacement (20-year lifespan; $25,000–$30,000 each), and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) replacements (roughly $35,000 per site at prime facilities). The county indicated it will develop a maintenance/replacement schedule and explore a sales-tax ordinance or other financing options.

No binding decision was made during the work session; staff will return with funding numbers and options for next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Work Session for April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County leaders heard estimates for mandatory Motorola system upgrades through 2032, heard annual operating costs near $900,000, and discussed a potential special sales tax to fund replacement and ongoing maintenance; short-term general-fund support will be required before any ballot measure.","taxTitle","Leavenworth County, Kansas","taxId",53898,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6575433,"Leavenworth County staff recommend adopting regional hazard mitigation plan; commissioners raise changes and funding questions",2032,408000,2440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105404-00f6147d40bae75dcce78c754df6a1d9&start=408&end=2440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105404-00f6147d40bae75dcce78c754df6a1d9/thumbnail_408000.jpg","/articles/6575433/Leavenworth-County/Kansas/Leavenworth-County-staff-recommend-adopting-regional-hazard-mitigation-plan-commissioners-raise-changes-and-funding-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575433-4498634e701df6714ca3ed9e80db5930/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192462&Signature=Gy1PyFkH~rNVdHbQ3x1vEh~KBoaMqUu5hAd2SXzax9epiIfi0gMRjqoEZiwLk6zdsWOLz8JwiHeXKMJMH6gXqspmzzY3ri-5QT2u8cYkaQRd3XAIzmJLlv5quAO8vqMtpqaddoFN03ypA~U3CsetqWu5fFUK4OZqaNz-qBn~0C12g1QXQSbix1gH1srt5jsRvE8ZD9YAJuKN2zrkmvaoWl6Ac9ioVQNR~MAXtJBVCVQazEVfBnH~vYQFjLWcURVPoS9msXszOJqIL9cpQ86J26dq06Nl2CYfkzIhmuMhSAhHlrwxvIIT8mwK6VeqZ7ynO2Vr4yTLapVeTGrFLONqVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leavenworth County emergency management presented the Mid-America Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan and asked the Board of County Commissioners to bring the plan back for formal approval at a regular meeting.

The plan is a five-year regional document that covers Johnson and Leavenworth counties and includes a county-specific goals and objectives section. \"The entire plan is 380 something,\" the presenter said, adding that Leavenworth County's entry lists about \"50 goals.\" The presenter (identified in the meeting as Chuck, emergency management) said the county-level goals are the portions the county can change; the main body of the regional document was prepared by state and federal partners.

County staff emphasized that adoption matters for grant eligibility. The presenter said the hazard mitigation grant program is generally split about 75% federal and 25% local contribution, and described how a portion of public-assistance funding (about 2% of disaster public assistance dollars, per the presenter) is pooled at the state level to prioritize mitigation projects. He advised that if the county does not adopt a mitigation plan, local projects would not be eligible for those hazard mitigation funds.

Commissioners questioned several parts of the draft. One commissioner said climate-change language throughout the document was unacceptable to them and that the county should not be forced to adopt federal or regional “agendas.” The presenter and county staff replied that the climate-change language is included statewide and regionally and cannot be removed from the main body; county-specific goals and objectives can be modified. Commissioners pressed on whether removing sections would block grant eligibility, and staff replied that removing sections of the main body could jeopardize eligibility but changing county goals and objectives is permitted.

Staff gave examples of projects listed in the plan that could be eligible for mitigation funding, including installing backup generators at county facilities, cleaning and maintenance of Stranger Creek (a drainage district need last done in the 1990s), and past mitigation buyout efforts that were denied at the federal level. The presenter noted the plan is updated annually and the next full planning period is due in 2029.

County staff said cities, school districts and water districts within the region were invited to participate and some have already adopted goals; staff will continue outreach to agencies (the presenter cited a recent session with the Leavenworth School District). Commissioners and staff also discussed sheltering and liability, with staff explaining that FEMA standards (cited in the meeting as FEMA 361) set construction and design requirements for shelters to avoid local liability when facilities serve as official shelters.

The board indicated agreement to have staff place the plan on a future regular agenda for formal approval. No final adoption vote was taken during the work session.

Next steps include county staff refining the county goals and objectives and returning the plan for the board's formal approval on a regular agenda.","County emergency management reviewed a five-year Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan covering Johnson and Leavenworth counties, explaining grant eligibility, project examples and goals; commissioners asked about edits, climate-change language and funding implications. Staff will return the plan on a regular agenda for formal approval.","actionData","errors"]

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Leavenworth County officials say Motorola radio upgrades will cost millions; commissioners consider sales-tax option

Leavenworth County staff recommend adopting regional hazard mitigation plan; commissioners raise changes and funding questions