Supervisors discuss historical grants, consider permits for overweight hauling, accept bid for Mineral Creek bridge work

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Monday, August 27 with Bruce Palmborg, who was representing Lansing Main Street Matters. Palmborg requested that the Board close out a grant from 2010 by issuing a check for $11,345.14 to the consultant who was hired to identify the architectural and historical significance of the buildings in downtown Lansing. The State Historical Society, which awarded the grant, would then reimburse the County.
He also asked the Board to agree to act as the fiscal agent for a new $5,000 grant from the State Historical Society to hire a consultant to apply for nomination to the national registry of historic places, which Palmborg said would attract tourism and make tax credits available for owners of buildings in downtown Lansing. The Board agreed to both requests.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour to discuss whether or not the County should issue permits for hauling overweight loads of raw milk on County roads. A local milk hauler was recently issued a citation with a $1,400 fine by the Iowa Department of Transportation for not having a county-issued permit, though it is unclear whether such permits are required, as State law states that counties “may” issue such permits. Ridenour presented the Board with two different resolutions to consider - one to require the permits and one to accept state-issued permits as sufficient for operations on County roads.
Supervisor Sherry Strub said that she believes the state-issued permits should be sufficient. Supervisor Lennie Burke agreed, adding that it would be simpler not to require the permits. “It’s not about the road,” Burke said. “The DOT doesn’t care about the road. It’s about the $1,400 fine and the revenue.”
Ridenour said that he had spoken with County Attorney Jill Kistler, who has requested an Attorney General’s opinion on the issue. The Board agreed to wait for that opinion before taking any action.
In other business, the Board voted to accept the low bid of $97,414 from Brennan Construction for repairs to the bridge on Mineral Creek Drive. Ridenour said that construction should begin in three to four weeks and that temporary access has been arranged to properties beyond the bridge during construction.