County looks to work on Old Cass Rd.

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     County Engineer Derek Snead presented an opportunity to the Board of Supervisors during their April 4 meeting to improve a county roadway.

     He said the City of Anamosa is planning an overlay asphalt project on Holt Street in the northern part of the city. That road turns into the county’s Old Cass Road.

     “We actually just reduced the speed limit on that road,” said Snead.

     The 1,100-foot stretch, which is shared between Anamosa and the county, would cost about $28,500 for the overlay project.

     “They are requesting Jones County’s cooperation in working with them,” said Snead. “It makes sense; that road’s in pretty rough shape. It’s been on our radar, but not on our road plan.”

     Snead said they would evaluate and work on a plan to overlay the remaining 1,800 feet of Old Cass Road.

     Snead said the only factor that might change the project would be the Anamosa adding an intersection into the plans.

     “They need to do it while they have a contractor here,” he advised.

     He said there is no hard timeframe for when the project would be done, but most likely this June or July.

     “It would be in our interest to go along with them in this project,” urged Snead.

     The board will make a formal decision during their April 11 board meeting.

In other county business:

     • The board approved an appropriation resolution increasing the departmental appropriation for Mental Health Case Management by $50,000 and decreasing Mental Services by $50,000 to pay the Fiscal Year 2015 Case Management rate reconciliation reimbursement.

     The resolution also decreases the departmental appropriation for the Sheriff by $10,000 and increases it for Medical Examiner by $10,000. County Auditor Janine Sulzner said the bills for medical exams in the county have been higher lately than in the past.

     The board approved the establishment of a fund to deposit the county attorney’s fees for the collections of delinquent court debt.

     Sulzner explained that after County Attorney Phil Parsons took office, he made an agreement with the Clerk’s Office to collect delinquent court fees. The county receives 28 percent of what is collected; the state gets 72 percent. Once those fees hit the $50,000 mark, an additional 5 percent is added on. Sulzner said Parsons recently hit that mark.

     “That way the balance stays there and builds up,” explained Sulzner of the new fund. “That money could be used for anything for the county attorney’s office.”

     Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach reported that the ECICOG board approved the agreement with Jones County to move forward with the JETS facility. The next step is to ask for RFQs (Request for Qualifications).

     Jenna Lovaas, Public Health, met with the board to discuss a funding opportunity from the Iowa Department of Public Health for substance abuse programs.

     Lovaas said the county’s health improvement plan includes substance abuse as a priority. She said currently, she contracts with ASAC, and used a local public health grant for funding. In the next fiscal year, Lovaas plans to use county funds to help support the mission of ASAC and the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition.

     Sulzner reminded the board that the county, separate from Public Health, also gives money to the Coalition on a yearly basis.

     Lovaas also asked for approval from the board to work on a grant for additional funding. (That will be approved during the April 11 meeting.)

     The board approved an acquisition contract with Tom Stingley for just over an acre of land for the bridge replacement project on 105th Avenue. The contract amount is for $9,462.

     The board approved a bid from KAM Line for county pavement markings, in the amount of $57,742.45. Snead said they received seven bids, and KAM Line was the lowest bid.

     “They were all very good bids,” he said. “We had a lot of competition.” Snead said he planned for additional miles this year than in the past, plus pavement markings in the cities of Monticello and Anamosa. Those cities will reimburse the county.

Category:

Subscriber Login