Supervisors approve budget amendment, hear updates on Public Safety Center

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 7 to address a full agenda of items including a Public Hearing for a Fiscal-Year 2018 budget amendment, the hiring of a temporary part-time roadside mower operator for the Secondary Roads Department and an update and discussion of the Public Safety Center. There was no public comment.

The Public Hearing for the Fiscal-Year 2018 budget amendment was opened and closed without any written or verbal comment. Allamakee County First Deputy Auditor Chris Gavin discussed budget items that were changed indicating that the Board of Health and Substance Abuse departments each had additional revenue due to grants.

The budget amendment and the appropriations resolution were both adopted.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Secondary Roads budget amendment with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour briefly discussing some changes in revenue and expenditures, noting that some road maintenance and repair costs were moved ahead of schedule in preparation for the Des Moines Register’s Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) events held last year in Allamakee County. The Supervisors approved the Iowa DOT Secondary Roads budget amendment.

Ridenour also discussed the hiring of a temporary part-time roadside mower operator for the Secondary Roads Department, recommending Chandler Quirk for the position at a pay rate of $11 per hour, effective Tuesday, May 8. The Supervisors approved the hiring of Quirk for the temporary part-time roadside mower operator position.

Ridenour discussed that the contract and bond are in order from Vogel Traffic Services of Orange City for the painted pavement markings project on County highways. Ridenour indicated that Vogel Traffic Services was low bidder at $67,381.68 for this project involving the painting of yellow and white pavement lines. The contract and bond were approved by the Supervisors.

The Supervisors discussed setting a date and time for watershed inspections and approved Monday, June 11 at 12:30 p.m. for that purpose. The Supervisors also approved Tuesday, June 12 at 10 a.m. for the canvass of the upcoming primary election scheduled for June 5.

John Hansen with Midwest Construction Consultants provided an update on the Allamakee County Public Safety Center  project, which was completed almost a year ago. He said that he is following up on warranty items, with a total of $11,317.38 remaining in the contingency fund from the construction project.

Hansen discussed issues with the facility’s HVAC system, recommending the installation of flue extensions at a cost of $1,100 to better control airflow and to prevent the heating units from tripping next winter. Hansen recommended using the contingency funds for flue extensions and a maintenance contract to include the replacement of necessary equipment including worn belts at $5,600 per year or a two-year contract at $11,200.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick discussed the installation of a flagpole with lighting and rock by the lagoons. Hansen and Mellick discussed taking a walk-through of the Public Safety Center following the Supervisors meeting to make note of any warranty issues or problem areas. Mellick also discussed the boiler inspection and the recommended repairs.

Earlier in the meeting while awaiting the arrival of Hansen, Ridenour provided a Department Head Update discussing the significant amount of rain received in the area last week and work completed in dealing with rock slides in various locations. Ridenour discussed debris that has accumulated on bridges and provided an update on a ditch cleaning project.

Mellick discussed some recent accidents and that he is moving forward with the drone registration and insurance coverage.

Allamakee County Recorder Deb Winke and John Roe, head of maintenance at the Allamakee County Courthouse, discussed a water leak above an air conditioning unit at the County Courthouse. Roe and the Supervisors agreed to have a contractor inspect the leak and provide a recommendation.