Board adds to list of ARPA projects

     With the public hearing regarding the county’s expenditure of its ARPA funds set for May 17, the Jones County Supervisors continued their discussion at their May 10 board meeting concerning the list of possible projects.

   County Auditor Whitney Hein urged the board to have a list in place to present to the public at the hearing, indicating their intentions on the potential use of the funding (roughly $4 million).

   The initial list of projects, which was presented to the board on April 19, included the following:

   • Automatic door operator for the west entrance of the courthouse

   • Remodel the courthouse first-floor bathrooms in accordance with ADA standards

   • Proxy card access for county buildings

   • Construction of a Jones County justice center and renovation of the courthouse

   At the recent board meeting, Supervisor Joe Oswald inquired about storage room for Emergency Management as part of the “justice center” concept. Hein felt that additional storage space, or even a separate facility, could be included with the concept of a justice center. Public Health, she said, could also benefit from additional storage space.

   Construction of a storage facility was also added to the list of potential projects.

   Supervisor John Schlarmann also asked about spending the funds on improvements at Central Park.

   Both Schlarmann and Supervisor Jeff Swisher felt the county should offer additional financial support to other communities in the county who wish to apply for (and are approved) the Main Street Iowa designation.

   Both Central Park and Main Street Iowa support were also added to the list.

   “We need to keep the county moving forward,” commented Swisher.

   Sheriff Greg Graver, who served on the county’s ARPA Committee, offered some comments on the wish-list of projects.

   “The committee invested a lot of time and forethought as to what projects would be best to utilize this money,” he said. “We looked at what other counties are doing.”

   Graver said they considered several factors such as how much each project would cost, the long-term benefits, and who is going to benefit from the project (an individual, a small group of citizens, or the taxpayers as a whole).

   “It’s best to utilize the money to benefit more people,” added Graver. “The courthouse is the most important facility the county has. We need to enhance safety usability of the building; improve and enhance what we have so it’s safer for visitors.”

   With the county in need of a new, larger jail facility, Graver said that is a project that would impact and cost every taxpayer.

   “Any money you would put toward that will save everybody else,” he said. “It’ll show the taxpayers for years to come how you reasonably spent money in their best interest.”

   Graver shared that any discussion on the county renovating the old hospital in Anamosa for a jail has been put to rest.

   “The old hospital has been eliminated as a possible option. The space is not enough for our jail capacity and our future needs.”

   He added that the cost for expansion wouldn’t be feasibly compared to building new.

   Referencing a combined jail/EMA facility, Graver said a project like that could always be done in phases.

   “You need to purchase land. You could put up a storage area. Those would save us money with a referendum if we do it in stages.”

   The board approved the amended list of potential ARPA funding projects, including the three additional projects mentioned.

   The list is available on the county’s website under the board of supervisors’ page. Copies will also be available during the public hearing.