[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6518475,"mediaKeyId","5391671-19df011e93172760dd69ebf66c221b7b","parentId",5391671,"title","Carroll County communications center reports nearly 106,000 push-to-talks and average 5-second 911 answer time","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1532000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391671-19df011e93172760dd69ebf66c221b7b&start=1532&end=1532","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391671-19df011e93172760dd69ebf66c221b7b/thumbnail_1532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518475/Carroll-County/Iowa/Carroll-County-communications-center-reports-nearly-106000-push-to-talks-and-average-5-second-911-answer-time","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518475-28ed2bc0530381944db38cb7ea8e9f58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437819&Signature=BOLpATMFImxn2RvDiJV49VPo6xieJJdiBeR4R1illkyZ4iuVpWidyPCiXC0-hsj57QfPOUGK4yDuDwP~A3~T35qfIZBL3kDj9Jum83Cds8Ub~EfWI-AsW1ouf5y2Fr09ephgtdnjrtxci~RwoKXJ05Ze7yPhSYmDeTC-ScLumv0OhJnJ5SFFWtBoTvcOTTYFJv~o9IxvOIw7E5PsIxWrr18dBLftEg4Iy0Bmnk7iwgrx5luX4v1ueIXt7WUhF7Y0MgmpjRpVTa16vV5p7lCR7MSpsDv2e6G--0AqiVI0cD9csG5a5Aquz-x40ELHrPU594RJRVVEbTffZkF~M2uCHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carroll County","date","2025-07-15T20:37:13Z","article","Jason, a communications-center staff member, presented a midyear operational update that covered radio and phone-system metrics, staffing and training, recent exercises and planned equipment refreshes.

Key metrics and performance
Jason reported the radio system logged about 105,000 push-to-talk transmissions for the first half of the year and roughly 9,805 minutes of talk time. The Zetron call-taking system received 2,109 911 calls during the same period; Jason said the center’s average answer time was about 5 seconds. The center met or exceeded common standards, answering 95.4% of calls within 15 seconds and 98% within 20 seconds; 99% of calls were answered within 30 seconds.

Jason flagged call-abandonment as a concern despite improvement: the abandoned-call rate fell from 14.7% in 2024 to 11.7% in the 2025 reporting period. He said the county will analyze peak periods to determine whether longer wait times at specific times of day or staffing shortfalls are driving abandoned calls.

Training, exercises and recognition
The communications center continues an active training program. Jason described recent and ongoing training: online guided call reviews, in-person training, completion of a 40-hour communications academy by a new dispatcher (Mandy Hertz), attendance at regional conferences for several staff, and a communications-training-officer course completed by Lisa Graves. Graves was recognized with a state Communications Training Officer of the Year award at a conference; Jason said Graves revamped the center’s training program and led instruction for new hires.

Jason also summarized emergency-preparedness work: the center partnered with Carroll County Emergency Management and the county healthcare coalition on a hospital radio exercise (simulating EMS-to-hospital radio communications) and conducted a tabletop with nursing homes. Jason said the exercise will produce an after-action report that could support future grant applications.

Equipment and infrastructure needs
Jason said the county’s backup radio (GAD) server is about seven or eight years old and needs refresh. He noted upcoming phone-system upgrades in Carroll that will require coordination to ensure continued integration with the communications center. Jason also mentioned planned console/furniture and electrical work tied to an eventual dispatch-area refresh; the center must maintain operations while performing upgrades.

Operational anecdotes and outcomes
Jason described recent operational successes: the county’s early and frequent requests for medical helicopters by radio and the use of the ASICS radio system to speed coordination. He cited one response where a LifeFlight helicopter landed on scene about 24 minutes after the call, which Jason called a strong outcome given rural response times. He also described instances where dispatchers slept at the courthouse during severe weather to maintain staffing and praised individual staff for overtime and shift coverage.

Board response
Supervisors commended the communications center and Jason’s presentation. The transcript records several supervisors expressing appreciation and calling the center’s performance \"phenomenal.\" No board action on funding or staffing was taken during this presentation; Jason said additional analysis would follow regarding abandoned-call causes and that equipment refresh planning is underway.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Carroll County Board of Supervisors Meeting 07/14/2025 09:00 CST","oneSentenceSummary","Communications staff reported Jan–June system use of almost 106,000 push-to-talk transmissions, a 5-second average 911 answer time and ongoing staff training and equipment refresh needs; abandoned-call rates improved from 14.7% in 2024 to 11.7% in 2025.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Iowa","taxId",69003,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6518480,"Carroll County supervisors approve settlement authorization, $604,318 in payables, fiber permit and surplus-radio sale",122,392000,514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391671-19df011e93172760dd69ebf66c221b7b&start=392&end=514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391671-19df011e93172760dd69ebf66c221b7b/thumbnail_392000.jpg","/articles/6518480/Carroll-County/Iowa/Carroll-County-supervisors-approve-settlement-authorization-604318-in-payables-fiber-permit-and-surplus-radio-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518480-22196e993fb9f91de6c14b754763892c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437819&Signature=Q5Z5HLKgzYDWiWpZZE5A9wnkwUlBV3Xsn7EO7CNjTVjsN6F8zvfpIwZbBY6Igzd3jeD3OLSjJ8bXi9~w7V~D3YKhp4zAvbxGCR-3WAxgqS-nKue0PQ1n51l5RYzstwavnmMKF7GdwdRHjetw-O8Zta1KF6TecKurkxnfmNsNUCrHHLX0lxmRZDFnEtJVuuir6vpJ7tiW3K~0yrXqm7AK1oD9FtUMZxeFG7MsmLQkzieWgydDWPrRkHJxhFbEXZd7IXecX8TflrCB-0FRxDN8qjueR3a5AD0uAOrJ9BLsTGerPuZ~qpahjO509n-Y8TsNACFHNNtKI7cJeNP6WG~rSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved a series of routine financial and infrastructure actions during a regular meeting, including authorization for a settlement, approval of $604,317.88 in payables, a utility permit for fiber installation, a drain repair authorization and a resolution to sell surplus radio equipment to Emmet County.

The board authorized the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP) to act on behalf of Carroll County to settle a closed-session claim with Carroll County responsible for a $3,000 deductible. The motion passed by voice vote; the meeting record states \"Motion carries.\" No individual roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript for that motion.

Supervisors then approved payables totaling $604,317.88. A supervisor asked whether a listed cost for \"sheriff's annual maintenance\" should be charged to the sheriff's budget; staff replied it historically has come out of the courthouse budget because the charge is for the elevator/locks in that facility. After that clarification the board voted to approve the payables; the transcript records a voice vote and \"Motion carries.\"

On secondary-roads business the board approved a utility permit for fiber installation by KC/Casey Mutual Telephone (identified in the packet as KC Mutual Telephone / Casey Mutual Telephone Company) to install fiber in Union Sections 15 and 22, including plowing and boring across intersections. The motion passed by voice vote.

The board approved work on a drainage tile listed as Drain 45 in Jasper Township, Section 9, to investigate and remove a suspected blockage (staff said the problem may be tree roots and that locating the failure will require digging). Supervisors approved the work on a voice vote.

A plat requested by Craig Nielsen, on property owned by Virginia Strouve on Birch Avenue south of Manning, was approved by motion and voice vote.

Finally, the board passed Resolution 2025-017 to sell four surplus in-vehicle radio repeaters to Emmet County for $2,500 each. That resolution was approved by roll call: Rossman — yes; Johnson — yes; Miners — yes; McCray — yes. The resolution description in the meeting states these are the last four units remaining from a previous project and that prior project paperwork showed the rest were not shipped or were used elsewhere.

Votes at a glance
• Motion to allow ICAP to settle a closed-session claim with Carroll County liable for a $3,000 deductible — outcome: approved (voice vote; transcript: \"Motion carries\").
• Approve payables, $604,317.88 — outcome: approved (voice vote; transcript: \"Motion carries\").
• Utility permit: fiber installation by KC/Casey Mutual Telephone (Union Sections 15 & 22) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
• Drain work: Drain 45, Jasper Township Section 9 (investigate/repair blocked/crushed tile) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
• Plat approval: request by Craig Nielsen; property owned by Virginia Strouve, Birch Avenue south of Manning — outcome: approved (voice vote).
• Resolution 2025-017: sale of 4 surplus in-vehicle repeaters to Emmet County, $2,500 each — outcome: approved (roll call: Rossman, Johnson, Miners, McCray — yes).

What the record shows and what it does not
The transcript records motions, seconds and voice votes for several items; only Resolution 2025-017 was taken by roll call with named yes votes. Where the transcript records only a voice vote, individual tallies were not recorded. When a supervisor asked whether a maintenance charge should come from the sheriff's budget, staff clarified the cost relates to courthouse elevator/lock maintenance and historically has been charged to the courthouse budget.

Next steps and follow-up
Staff indicated the drain repair will require field work to locate the blockage and possibly replacement of a tile section; dates were not finalized. The surplus-radio sale will proceed per the resolution paperwork. The utility permit work described includes plowing and boring and is an extension of an existing system; a length estimate was described informally as \"roughly a thousand feet\" but no exact distance was recorded in the transcript.","The Carroll County Board of Supervisors voted to allow ICAP to settle a closed-session claim with a $3,000 county deductible, approved $604,317.88 in payables, authorized a fiber utility permit and approved sale of four surplus in-vehicle radio repeaters to Emmet County for $2,500 each.","actionData","errors"]

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Carroll County communications center reports nearly 106,000 push-to-talks and average 5-second 911 answer time

Carroll County supervisors approve settlement authorization, $604,318 in payables, fiber permit and surplus-radio sale