Supervisors discuss E911 signage responsibility, hear update on Public Safety Center construction

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 20. There were no comments during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Allamakee County E911 Director Chris Fee discussed the distribution of local option sales tax and changes that have been suggested by the E911 Board concerning the responsibility of 911 and street signage and the possible involvement of the Secondary Roads Department. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour further discussed the history and funding of the project dating back to the late 1990s with an estimated 4,900 signs for intersections and house numbers installed and maintained throughout the County.

Ridenour advised that this is a preliminary discussion of the Secondary Roads Department taking over responsibility for this project and further advised that these signs typically have a 10-year life span with a 30 percent nighttime reflective loss due to sun damage after a decade of use. Ridenour further discussed that considering their current age, not all of the signage is bad but should be evaluated for replacement. Ridenour and Fee will be looking into the issue and will be coming back to the Supervisors with recommendations.

Marcia Rush presented the Allamakee County Historic Preservation Commission Annual Report to the Supervisors and discussed some plans that include a tour of historic homes and the creation of a webpage to increase awareness of the organization. Rush provided an update on the Board and volunteers, with the Supervisors accepting and placing the Annual Report on file.

Supervisor Dan Byrnes individually opened and read aloud bids for granular resurfacing on Secondary Roads for 118,238 tons in total, grouped into four categories including Division 1 (25,545 tons), Division 2 (39,573 tons), Division 3 (29,110 tons) and Division 4 (24,010 tons) to cover over 400 miles of gravel roads in Allamakee County. Following the reading of the bids, Ridenour verified the bid amounts and provided his recommendations later in the meeting, with Bruening Rock Products, as low bidder in all divisions, approved by the Supervisors.

The Supervisors approved the appointment of Dr. David Schwartz as Allamakee County Medical Examiner. Deputy Allamakee County Medical Examiners will be Dr. Steve Perkins, Dr. Benjamin Nesseim, Dr. Andrea Venteicher, Dr. Benjamin Ross and Dr. Nicole Barbee, and Jeff Mitchell will serve as Allamakee County Medical Examiner Investigator.

The Supervisors discussed setting meeting dates at County libraries for the first Monday of the month or alternate day due to a holiday, starting in June 2017. The Board agreed upon June 5 - New Albin, July 5 - Lansing, August 7 - Harpers Ferry, September 5 - Waterville, October 2 - Postville and November 6 - Waukon.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick discussed the part-time Transport Officer position that will include some Corrections Officer responsibilities on an as-needed basis. Mellick recommended Jackie Burns for the vacancy, which the Supervisors approved at the Union contract salary.

Jeremy Oden and John Hansen with Midwest Construction Consultants provided an update on the Allamakee County Public Safety Center project. Oden indicated that the well house is close to completion, the water tower will be functional likely the middle of next week and that drywall work is finished except for the Information Technology area. Oden advised that painting in the Administration area is roughly 80% complete and painting in the jail is underway. He also said masonry work has been completed and in early April locks and ceilings will be installed in the expansion. Grid work in the detention area ceiling is completed with grid work being installed in the corridors, booking and administration areas to take place next.

Hansen advised that he will be meeting with E911 later this week and plans to meet with the various service providers for fiber optic and telephone to help coordinate their efforts to finalize work on this project. Hansen advised that a date for an open house will be established later this week and some preliminary plans for the grand opening have been discussed. Mellick suggested May 23 as being likely for the 911 switch-over, allowing for necessary permits to be in place.

Hansen presented change orders for several items, including $3,150 for ten gas pressure switches from Winona Controls, $1,531 for an additional intercom master at the sit-to-stand dispatch station from See Electric, $2,491 for stainless steel fire sprinkler enclosure from Winona Controls, $20,597 for an engineer-recommended booster pump for the domestic water and water tower, and $88,521.65 for the general population expansion materials and enclosed Information Technology area. The pay request as of March 1 was approved, with $45,749.20 remaining in contingency funds for the project.

Under Department Head Updates, Sheriff Mellick advised that St. Patrick's Day went well and EARL Transit was helpful in safely transporting individuals across town. Allamakee County Coordinator of Disability Services Kim Waters provided a brief preview of the March 22 CSS meeting agenda.