Snead to be county’s temporary ADA coordinator

   County Engineer Derek Snead followed up his discussion during the Nov. 19 Jones County Supervisors meeting regarding the county's ADA transition plan with action on appointing an ADA coordinator, which was on the board's Nov. 26 agenda.

   "We’ve been talking about our Title VI policies and assurances," noted Snead.

   While he hasn't reached out to smaller counties in Iowa, similar to Jones County, as to how they handle ADA compliance, he said larger counties have actual departments for this type of work.

   "We’re kind of in that medium area as far as counties go," he said.

   The ADA transition plan, Snead said, would help to "identify any types of efficiencies or things that we can improve better in and around our facilities" as well as the county's goals moving forward in terms of tackling these projects.

   "We are required to identify somebody to oversee that implementation," continued Snead. "So if we do have a project, we need to have somebody who is essentially the coordinator."

   While it’s not a requirement to have an ADA coordinator, Snead suggested it might be a smart move.

   In the coming months, Snead's department will be meeting with the Iowa DOT's civil rights department.

   "Something that will come out of that would very likely be a little more access to Title VI documents and policies," he said.

   One easy way to accomplish that would be to make these items available to the public via the county's website.

   "Have and location for Title IV info that lists out our policies, agreements, assurances, procedures, etc., and our plan as far as what we’d like to do, in the future what we’d like to make improvements on, essentially that ADA transition plan. And it would have a place for contact information."

   County Auditor Whitney Hein said there is a planned meeting with the website developers in the near future; she would include this in the discussion.

   Supervisor John Schlarman asked if the task of ADA coordinator was something the county's safety committee could tackle, led by Conservation Resource Manager John Klein. Snead said it could certainly be a component of the committee.

   But with how much work, thus far, he's put into the start of the transition plan, Snead offered to temporarily take the ADA coordinator role on.

In other county business:

   • County Treasurer Amy Picray shared that courthouse custodian Stu Siebels was recently cleaning in her office when he came across two $50 bills a customer accidentally left behind. Siebels put the cash on Picray's desk, with a note.

   After reviewing security camera footage, Picray said they were able to figure out that a customer from Black Hawk County left the money behind.

   The Treasurer's Office staff then used money from their "jean fund" to buy a gift certificate for Siebels, thanking him for his act of kindness.

   "A good deed that was done by a county employee who I felt deserved to be recognized," Picray noted.

   • The board received two bids for snow removal at the courthouse and Broadway Place Annex: Ground Line Company, Onslow; and Merrill Mowing & Snow Removal, LLC, Anamosa.

   The board voted to table approval of a bid.

   Hein noted that this year's bids are twice what the county paid last year.

   • The board held a public hearing on a nuisance located at 10363 and 10644 Main St., Center Junction. Owner Pamela Leytem was present.

   Land Use Administrator Whitney Amos was out viewing the property the Friday before the board meeting. She said nothing had changed.

   Leytem said their burn pile, which she described as "out in the middle of the whole block," isn't hurting anyone. She argued that because Center Junction is no longer incorporated, why is the county on her and her husband, David, to clean things up.

   "It's more than just a brush pile," said Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach.

   "We've really made some improvements in Center Junction and we want to keep going," added Supervisor Ned Rohwedder.

   The board will take action on the nuisance during the Dec. 3 meeting.

   • The board held a public hearing to vacate and close segments of platted but undeveloped streets in the unincorporated town of Fairview.

   County Engineer Derek Snead said in 1856, a number of roads on the north end of Fairview were platted, but never developed. There is just one property owner surrounding the plated streets that would absorb all of the ground.

   The board will take action to vacate during their next meeting.

   • The board approved the rehiring of Lauren Bader as temporary seasonal help for Secondary Roads, effective Dec. 2, at $17 an hour.

   • The board approved the final voucher to B&J Hauling & Excavation for slide and slope repairs on Old Cass Road. The original project estimate was $41,000. The total project cost was $38,000.

   • The board filed tax liens on two properties in Fairview for delinquent sewer bills associated with the Fairview sanitary sewer system.

   The board filed tax liens on six properties in Center Junction for delinquent sewer bills associated with the Center Junction water and sanitary sewer systems.

   • The board appointed Roberta Rupp as a rural representative on the Wyoming Public Library Board.

   • The board approved applications, recommended by Assessor Sarah Benter, for Family Farm Property Tax Credits.