Supervisors approve 50/50 cost share for road project

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, August 12 the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour and Nick Rolling regarding a proposal to raise the portion of Paint Creek Drive that runs through the Rolling property. Ridenour said that the Rollings have requested that the portion of the road be raised by 18 inches in order to align with a bridge the Rollings intend to build across Paint Creek to replace a culvert that was washed out during flooding this spring. Rolling said that a spillway would be constructed to direct overflow from the creek onto his property, rather than onto the road, in conjunction with the bridge construction project. Ridenour said that the cost to the county to raise the road as requested would be approximately $5,000. Chairman Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Dennis Koenig expressed concerns about setting a precedent where the County funded a project primarily to benefit a private property owner. On Ridenour’s recommendation, the Board approved a 50/50 cost share with the Rollings for a maximum project cost of $5,000.
The Board also canvassed the results of the special election held last Tuesday, August 6. By a vote of 55 to 9, Lansing voters approved a public measure to extend the terms of the mayor and city council members to four years beginning with the general election this November.

In other business, the Board accepted and placed on file quarterly reports from Veterans Affairs and Planning and Zoning. The Board also scheduled its next meeting with department heads for Monday, August 19 at 12:30 p.m.