Supervisors discuss courthouse security

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, March 4 the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Sheriff Clark Mellick to discuss security issues at the courthouse. Mellick reported that panic alarms were all recently tested and function properly but asked the Board to consider the installation of a new automated system that would send a report of alarms to Sheriff’s Department portable and car radios, which would be an improvement over the current system that sounds an alarm only in the dispatch center. Mellick also recommended the installation of additional security cameras on courthouse entryways and the installation of a building entry system. The cost of the new panic alarm system would be $11,600, the additional cameras $1,455 and the building entry system $3,170. The Board thanked Mellick for his recommendations but took no immediate action.
The Board also met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour to discuss the purchase of two new motorgraders for the Secondary Roads Department. Ridenour presented quotes from Martin Equipment of Dubuque for two 2013 John Deere motorgraders for $179,000 after the trade-in of the 2007 machines being replaced and from Ziegler Equipment of Postville for two 2013 Caterpillar motorgraders for $223,000 after trade-in. Ridenour recommended the purchase of the Caterpillar machines, citing superior parts and service availability from Ziegler, the interchangeability of parts with other machines currently in use, better trade-in value, uniformity of hand controls and more efficient fuel usage. The Board accepted Ridenour’s recommendation and approved the purchase of the Caterpillar motorgraders.
In other business, the Board approved the low bid of $57,577.52 from AAA Striping of St. Michael, MN for the repainting of pavement markings on County roads,  approved County Attorney Jill Kistler’s request to advertise for a part-time legal secretary, and approved changing insurance carriers from EMC Insurance to Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America for the County public officials and employees blanket bond. The Board also met in closed session to discuss its strategy in collective bargaining negotiations with the Secondary Roads union.