County reviews five-year road program

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

The Jones County Supervisors reviewed a preliminary draft of the Secondary Road Five-year Secondary Road Construction Program. 

During their Nov. 19 meeting, County Engineer Derek Snead presented the draft, asking if the board members had any changes. The draft reads: 

FY 2021 (accomplishment year) 

• Grading of Lead Mine Road from Highway 64 to Shaw Road, $800,000 

• Grading of 75th Avenue from 500 feet south of 244th Street to 7th Avenue, $160,000 (new project) 

FY 2022 

• HMA paving of County Road E-34 from 230th Avenue to City of Anamosa, $1,250,000 

• Bridge replacement on Buffalo Road, $500,000 

• Grading on 215th Avenue from 70th Street to 90th Street, $180,000 (new project) 

FY 2023 

• PCC overlay on County Road X-64 from Cedar County to Massillon Road, $4,000,000 

• Culvert replacement on Madison Road over Barto Creek, $250,000 

FY 2024 

• HMA paving on County Road E-28 from County Road X-28 to City of Anamosa, $1,500,000 

• Grading of Violet Road from Buffalo Road to Violet Road, $100,000 (new project) 

FY 2025 

• Bridge replacement on County Road X-64 over the Wapsipinicon River, $3,500,000 (new project) 

“These are what we recommend as far as projects that we identified as a need,” explained Snead. “The only projects removed are the ones that have been completed. 

“We have the money to do these projects; we don’t have the money to do more. If we add something to this list, we have to pick something to take off.” 

While this is a tentative list, Supervisor Wayne Manternach asked to have the Violet Road project in FY 2024 moved up into FY 2021. 

Snead said there are smaller projects Secondary Roads plans to handle in-house, what don’t require public bidding like those on the five-year program. Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach encouraged Snead to highlight those smaller projects during the road hearing so the public knows money is being spent all over the county. 

“There are lots of maintenance projects on top of the five-year road program,” said Manternach. “You’re not just sitting on your hands.” 

The road hearing was approved for Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Engineer’s Office. 

In other county business: 

With Conservation Board member Rob Roman’s unexpected passing, the Conservation Board plans to advertise and accept applications to fill the seat. They will make a recommendation to the board of supervisors at a later date. 

• The board made record of the Conservation Board’s hiring of Curtis Behrens as a natural Resource Manager. This is a new position for Conservation. Behrens start date is Dec. 13, at a salary of $45,000. 

• The county’s internal safety committee met, chaired by Ranger John Klein. The committee is asking the board of supervisors to consider budgeting for the initial round of hepatitis vaccine immunizations for county employees at risk for exposure. 

• The board approved the hiring of Cindy La Rue for temporary clerical help in the Treasurer’s Office. Le Rue is currently working part-time in the Recorder’s Office. 

• Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben reported on the status of nuisances at 12450 St. Paul St. (Nathan Valentine) and 12470 St. Paul St. ( James and Freda Robinson) in Center Junction. 

After a two-week extension to clean up the nuisances, Lubben felt they were satisfactory, as long as the owners continued the effort. 

The board voted to abate the nuisances. 

• The board approved a letter written by Supervisor Manternach to oppose a request by Linn County to use regional mental health funds to assist in renovations of a building owned by Linn County to be used as a regional access center. 

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