Supervisors approve five-year road plan, upgrade of telephone system

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, March 19, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who presented the Secondary Roads budget for the coming fiscal year and five-year plan for construction projects for submittal to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). The $5.8 million Secondary Roads budget for the coming fiscal year, which was approved by the Board last week, includes $1.5 million from property taxes and $2.5 million from road use taxes.
Projects scheduled for the coming fiscal year include shoulder-widening projects on Great River Road (County Road X52) from Lansing to Power Plant Drive and from Harpers Ferry to Highway 76, all part of the Mississippi River Bike Trail (MRT) project; and the resurfacing of Waterville Road. Bridges scheduled for replacement in the coming fiscal year include Bear Creek Drive over Bear Creek, Brady Drive over Paint Creek, Makee Drive over Village Creek, Mineral Creek Drive over Mineral Creek and Irish Hollow Road over the Upper Iowa River.
Major projects tentatively scheduled for construction over the next four years include the paving of Bear Creek Drive, paving of Old Stage Road and West Ridge Road, paving of Cherry Valley Drive and paving of Ion Road and paving of Forest Mills Road and Yellow River Drive. The Board approved the budget and five-year plan as presented for submission to the IDOT.
The Board also met with Roger Balk of Northeast Iowa Telephone, who recommended an upgrade of the phone system at the courthouse. County Auditor Pam Benjegerdes said that $15,000 had been budgeted for the upgrade and the Board approved a package deal that includes installation of the new system for $10,672.50. Balk said that while the phones currently used in the courthouse will still work with the new system, new phones are available for approximately $240 each. The Board agreed that departments that would like to purchase new phones may do so out of their own operating budgets.
In other business, the Board met with Jan Ellingson of Makee Manor, who asked for the Board’s approval of an Eagle Scout project to improve the patio at Makee Manor. Ellingson also asked the Board for approval to replace the roof over the patio. The Board approved the Eagle Scout project and the bid of $2,900 from Ashbacher Building Supplies of Waukon for replacement of the roof.
The Board also agreed to pledge $10,000 to the Regional Housing Trust Fund and approved a memorandum of understanding with the Iowa Department of Public Heath for use of the SharePoint computer system for communications with the State.