Supervisors agree to make no change in dust control policy, give approval to $40,000 revolving loan for Aveka, Inc.

by Bob Beach

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met last Tuesday, September 6 and returned to its regular meeting schedule Monday, September 12. During its meeting last Tuesday, the Board met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour to discuss the County’s policy on dust control when gravel roads are used as detours around road construction projects. Ridenour said that it has not been the County’s policy in the past to pay for dust control when traffic is detoured from one gravel road onto another, as is the case with the detour onto Ellingson Bridge Drive during the Bear Creek Drive project.
Ridenour said a guidance document by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources suggests dust control on gravel roads used by 30 or more vehicles per hour and that traffic on Ellingson Bridge Drive consists of only 150 vehicles per day. “We don’t want to spend money on dust control unless it’s warranted,” he said. Chairman Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Sherry Strub agreed that there is no reason to change the County’s policy on dust control.
In other business last Tuesday, the Board signed a subcontract with Helping Services for the hiring of a Strategic Prevention Initiative Coordinator. The Board also signed a proclamation declaring September 11 Patriot Day in Allamakee County.

During its regular meeting Monday, September 12, the Board met with Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Laura Olson to discuss a Revolving Loan Fund application from Aveka, Inc. Olson said that Aveka has purchased the Foremost Farms facility in Waukon and will bring over 30 jobs to the county. Olson added that Aveka has “very strong financials” and has been approved for a $400,000 revolving loan from the State of Iowa and a $150,000 revolving loan from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. On Olson’s recommendation, the Board approved the maximum amount of $40,000 from Allamakee County’s Revolving Loan Fund at 1.3% interest.
The Board also met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who presented the Board with a petition signed by 55 residents requesting improvements to Cottage Road in the southeast corner of the county near Waukon Junction. Ridenour said that fresh gravel is added to the road every year, with special attention paid to several “low areas” in the road, which is all in the flood plain.
He added that he would investigate the need to widen the road in certain areas and to lower the speed limit but that the petitioners are “not really asking for more than what we’re doing.” The Board accepted the petition and directed Ridenour to respond with a letter explaining the County’s current and future plans for the road. Ridenour also presented the Board with the Secondary Roads annual report for the past fiscal year.
In other business, the Board set Monday, September 26 at 9:30 a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing regarding construction of a new animal confinement feeding operation by W&M Ag, LLC on Wilder Drive near Dorchester. The Board also signed an agreement with the City of Waukon regarding voting precinct changes.