Supervisors begin to align professional assistance for jail and public safety center bond referendum

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Tuesday, September 2, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed proposals from three financing companies who have offered to assist the County with the upcoming bond referendum to fund the proposed construction of a new jail and public safety center. After some discussion, the Board voted unanimously to hire Northland Securities as the financial advisor and underwriter for the bond sale.
However, the Board learned later in the week that the same company could not serve as both financial advisor and underwriter simultaneously, so that vote is expected to be revisited during the Board's September 9 meeting. The Board also signed a resolution appointing Bob Josten of Dorsey and Whitney as the County's bond attorney for the project and later met with Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, John Hansen of Midwest Construction Consultants and architect Rick Weidner to review and visit possible construction sites.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Director Heather Homewood, who recommended the appointment of Don Peters of Lansing to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Homewood said there were many well-qualified applicants for the position and that Peters had been selected to provide geographically equal representation on the Commission and because of his commitment to veterans and veterans' issues. The Board unanimously agreed to appoint Peters to serve out the remainder of the term previously being served by the late Bob Peters, which ends July 1, 2015.