Supervisors hold public hearing on amendments to Zoning Ordinance L, approve purchase of patrol vehicle for Sheriff’s Department, LP fuel bid
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 28 to address a full agenda of matters including the Public Hearing for three amendments to Zoning Ordinance L, the discussion and consideration of the purchase of a patrol vehicle for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s office, and the opening and consideration of bids for the Volney Bridge repair project. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present.
The meeting moved into Public Comment with Gary Bottorff of the American Legion Post and VFW Post in Lansing providing comments relating to the fallen flagpole in front of the County Courthouse in addition to making note of Don Peters being present relating to this issue. Bottorff questioned why the flagpole has not been replaced and whether that decision was based on cost or other reasons. Bottorff advised that only 12 of Iowa’s 99 county courthouses do not have a flagpole at the front or main entrance due to reasons including landscape or design aesthetics.
At the Monday, June 2 Supervisors meeting, the Supervisors approved to cement over the former location of the fallen and weather-damaged flagpole in front of the County Courthouse with the replacement cost noted as beyond the county’s $10,000 insurance deductible with one estimate received in the $16,000 range, and the bent and damaged flagpole to be scrapped. At the Monday, July 28 Supervisors meeting, Peters discussed the $16,000 estimate and his research in finding other contractors able to perform this replacement under that amount with costs in the $4,700 to $12,000 range. Bottorff and Peters discussed flagpole replacement options at 50-feet and below with Byrnes advising that this matter will be added to the Monday, August 4 Supervisors agenda for discussion.
Terry Welch with Welch, Inc. provided a recommendation to pave a portion of Four Corners Road to better address issues relating to a hill on that road. County Engineer Brian Ridenour made note of Welch’s past support of this project to allow the paving of Four Corners Road from Elon Drive to Makee Drive. Ridenour advised that it was believed the project would move forward but an attempt to negotiate with one of the four landowners was unsuccessful with a necessary contract unable to be agreed upon. Ridenour also made note of an option suggested by Welch to pave a portion of Four Corners Road that is agreed upon by landowners.
The meeting moved into the Public Hearing for three amendments to Zoning Ordinance L with that Public Hearing being opened. Zoning Administrator Stephanie Runkle provided an overview of Amendment #16 to Zoning Ordinance L changing the Zoning District Boundaries and changing the Zoning District of the Official Zoning Map of Allamakee County at 1252 Old Rossville Rd, Waukon, Iowa 52172 from R-1, Rural Residential District to A-1, Agricultural District. Runkle advised that this change relates to the proposed construction of a communications tower which cannot be placed in R-1 but is allowed in A-1. Runkle further advised that no opposition to this change was received by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
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