Proposed use as a jail/dispatch center among the Supervisors' discussions about Makee Manor

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, April 29 the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Sheriff Clark Mellick, who presented a preliminary proposal to use a portion of the recently closed Makee Manor to house a new jail and dispatch center.
Mellick said that the current jail at the courthouse is likely to be ordered closed by the State at some point and that the most recent addition to the Makee Manor building could provide adequate square footage for a jail and dispatch center on the third floor and administrative offices on the second floor. He said that the renovations necessary for a jail would be extensive, but would nevertheless be less expensive than construction of a new building, adding that very few renovations would be necessary on the second floor for the administrative offices. Board chairman Larry Schellhammer said that the proposal is worth researching.
Also with regard to Makee Manor, Dave Schmelzer presented the Board with a proposal to mow the lawn at that facility for $85 per mow on a weekly basis, if needed. Chairman Schellhammer said that he would speak with Makee Manor Administrator Jan Ellingson regarding the expense.
Head Custodian Mike Gallagher reported that former custodian of the Makee Manor facility, Randy Dehli, has agreed to the Board’s offer of $360 to spend six hours a week for the next month training Gallagher and Emergency Management Director Chris Dahlstrom to handle routine maintenance tasks, but that Ellingson has been unwilling to allow Dehli into the building. After some discussion about the County’s responsibility for maintaining the facility until it takes possession July 1, Chairman Schellhammer agreed to address the issues with Ellingson.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour for the opening of bids for resurfacing of County gravel roads. Bruening Rock Products was the only bidder for all five divisions with a per ton rate for crushed rock ranging from $7.449 (Division IV) to $7.659 (Divisions III and V). Wiltgen Construction of Monona was the only other bidder, entering a bid for only Division IV of $7.64 per ton. Ridenour said that he would review the bids and make a recommendation to the Board next week, noting that the bids were higher than his estimate of $7.00 per ton for all divisions.
Ridenour also presented the Board with a service agreement with IIW Engineering of Dubuque for construction engineering for the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) project between Harpers Ferry and Highway 76. Ridenour reminded the Board that 80 percent of the project cost, including the approximately $125,000 construction engineering cost, would be paid from a federal earmark. The Board approved the service agreement.
The Board also approved hiring Don Bresnahan as a full-time maintainer operator starting May 6 at $16.21 per hour, approved the use of County roads for a detour for the Dairy Days Parade in Waukon, and signed a license agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the dredge sand area east of Black Hawk Bridge.
In other business, the Board approved a variance for David Lien to construct a 20-foot wide driveway off Village Creek Drive where a 22-foot wide driveway is required under the County’s 911 ordinance, noting that engineer Roger Mohn formally attested to the fact that the proposed driveway would provide safe access to the property.
The Board also met in closed session with Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler and Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse regarding ongoing litigation related to unpaid property taxes for the Agristar meat packing facility in Postville.