Supervisors approve agreement for courthouse assessment

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday morning, November 26, addressing an agenda that listed just three main items but involved much more. The least involved of the three was the last agenda item and resulted in the approval of subdivision plats for Sandra Koehring and James Peter McCormick based on recommendations by the Allamakee County Plat Committee.
The Board heard from Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour on three separate items under his agenda slot, the first seeking approval of an agreement through the Technical Assistance Network (TAN) for an overall assessment of the Allamakee County Courthouse from an architectural, structural and maintenance perspective through the Iowa Historical Society. The agreement would be for 24 hours worth of services from architect Douglas Steinmetz of Cedar Rapids, who specializes in historical preservation assessments.
The cost of Steinmetz's services will be covered through TAN grant funding, with the exception of mileage and other reimbursable expenses that Ridenour reported to total approximately $170. Steinmetz will meet with Ridenour, Supervisor Larry Schellhammer and Allamakee County Courthouse Head Custodian Mike Gallagher to tour the courthouse, with his visit ultimately resulting in a report addressing any short-term or long-term needs noted during his assessment, as well as possible grant or other funding sources to help cover costs associated with addressing those needs.
Ridenour also agreed to contact all department heads within the courthouse prior to the assessment visit to gather any specific thoughts or concerns they may have in regard to their own offices or the overall courthouse structure. Ridenour said he was advised that the ensuing report would be available within four to six weeks of the assessment, and the Board approved entering into the agreement.
Ridenour then advised the Board of announcement by Assistant to the Allamakee County Engineer, Al Rissman, of his retirement from that position, effective February 5, 2013. Rissman has served the County in that capacity for 41 years, and the Board accepted his notice of retirement.
The final item addressed by Ridenour was the signing of three title sheets for road/bridge projects scheduled for 2013 within the county. Those projects include the Irish Hollow Bridge five miles southwest of New Albin that had bids come in well over anticipated cost more than three years ago and is being presented again for replacement. Also among those projects was a deck rehabilitation for a small driveway bridge serving Ash Acres subdivision south of Lansing, as well as the 6.3-mile portion of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) project that runs from Harpers Ferry to State Highway 76 via Highway 364. Ridenour explained that this "Harpers Ferry portion" of the MRT is a $6.5 million project that will involve just $139,000 in "local money".
The only other agenda item for the meeting involved salary consideration for Becky Hawes, who was hired in July of this year as an assistant in the Allamakee County Relief Office with the understanding that she would assume the position of Relief Director upon the retirement of current director Linda Kruse in December. With Hawes initially being hired at a salary of $27,300, but no adjustment in compensation being considered at that time in regard to her advancement into the Relief Director role, the item was tabled until next week's meeting to gain a better understanding of how such compensation matters have been handled in the past within County positions.
As the meeting came to the end of its agenda items, prior to adjournment, Supervisor Lennie Burke offered an apology to his fellow Board members for his abrupt departure from last Monday's meeting following his verbal exchange with the County's Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Central Point of Coordination (CPC) Administrator Jan Heikes in regard to crisis mental health services within the county. Burke further explained to his fellow Board members about his continuing frustration with the way such issues as emergency mental health committals and other crisis situations have been handled at the county level, citing examples from other area counties as to CPC involvement in such crisis situations in comparison to Allamakee County.
Burke further advised his fellow Supervisors that mental health situations will continue to be a problem, and that his main concern as a Supervisor in regard to that matter (and a concern he says will remain for him as a citizen after his Supervisors term is expired at the end of this year because of the far-reaching impact of the issue) is that "the best interest of Allamakee County and its citizens be a priority."