The Dallas County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.
The meeting started with a public hearing in regards to the Assessor’s fiscal year 2017 budget. At the regular meeting, the Board approved payroll change notices for the veterans affairs, conservation, sheriff’s, operations and emergency medical services departments.
A child abuse prevention proclamation was then approved by the Board. Child Abuse Prevention Month will be celebrated in April. The Child Abuse Prevention Council is subcontracting with several entities to help prevent abuse from happening and strengthening relationships between children and trusted adults. For example, Iowa State University is offering several programs for families, Fareway is donating grocery bags that local children will be coloring and then using in their stores and pinwheels will be set up around the courthouse square in Adel.
An E911 and dispatch security proposal was then discussed. Todd Noah, head the the County’s information technology department, presented the proposal which was approved at a total cost of $18,141 to Consolidated Communications. A Dayton House Certified Local Government grant agreement was then approved.
Pete Malmberg with the Dallas County Conservation department shared some history of the building and his desire to do an archeological survey of the grounds and get it listed on the register of historic places. Conservation Director Mike Wallace says the house was donated to the County in 2005. The Board approved the grant in aid agreement with the State Historical Society of Iowa as presented with a County match of around $1,900.
A public hearing for a consolidated communications phone services agreement was then held. Noah said this will provide caller-ID for county offices. Veterans Affairs Director Nick Praska said this would be very beneficial for his office as many people, especially during the political season, do not pick up phone calls from unknown numbers and some phones won’t even accept such calls. This agreement with Consolidated Communications will actually save the County $20 per month. The agreement was approved as presented at a cost of $1,073.
Another public hearing in regards to the third reading of an amendment to the County code of ordinances for airports was then held. Matt Ferrier with Bolton and Menk says they’ve been looking at options for what to do with 150th Street near the airport once the runway is extended. Options presented included closing the road, redirecting it out of the runway safety area or improving 160th Street and redirecting traffic there. The Board approved the third and final reading of the ordinance amendment.
A bid for the FEMA debris removal project was then approved. Four bids were submitted and the Board approved the lowest from Batey, LTD at $249,750, or approximately $50,000 less than the Engineer’s estimate.
A wetland credit purchase of 0.5 acres to the Iowa DOT was then approved. Wallace says this leaves a balance of around 5 acres available.
John R. Green and Patti Brown were then appointed as trustees for Adams and Boone townships respectively.
Next the Board heard an update from Design Alliance architect Jerry Purdy. He says the bidding process has begun for the emergency management, conference room and kitchen portion of the human services campus. Space in the 902 Court building was also discussed. Board Chair Mark Hanson expressed potentially giving more space to the IT and county attorney’s offices now that several departments have moved out of the building. A workshop to further discuss space needs and options will take place next week.
The 12th and 13th pay applications for the human services campus renovation project were then approved in the amounts of $133,742 and $197,600 Purdy said the County is retaining $25,000 due to uncompleted items.
Tuesday evening the Board reconvened at the Dallas County Farm Bureau office for dinner and an update.