Meeting on Monday, Feb. 24, Tama County Supervisors decided to to set a public hearing date next week to hear comments on the issuance of $4,735,167 in general obligation bonds to pay for a new emergency and law enforcement communication system. Total price of the new equipment and installation is set at $6,635,000. The board supervisors approved the first payment last year totaling $$995,392 from general fund reserves. On Jan. 31 a like payment of the same amount was approved. It included $200,000 from local option sales tax money and the $795,393 balance from Emergency Management and E911 reserve money according to the Tama County Auditor’s Office. Marshalltown radio communications company RACOM has the contract to replace the system. The current radio set up is over 20 years old and is said to be “failing at an alarming rate” by E911 and Emergency Management Coordinator Mindy Benson. Planned are four new radio towers around the county and new base and mobile radio equipment. The communications center in the Tama County Courthouse in Toledo serves 12 fire departments, seven ambulance services, three first responder units, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office and Tama, Toledo, Meskwaki Nation and Dysart police departments. The current annual budge for Emergency Management is $804,661 and the E911 budget totals $304,450 according to the Auditor’s Office. Supervisors said Monday it is expected the work will be completed with the system up and running in the fall of this year. In action during the regular meeting Monday the supervisors: •approved use of the Tama County Courthouse lawn on April 11 for the annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the 1st Presbyterian Church in Toledo. •approved weekly claims totaling $104,516.