The Dallas County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.

At the meeting, the board approved payroll notices for the sheriff’s office, emergency medical services and secondary roads department.  The annual weed notice resolution was approved as presented.

A temporary road closure for F31 between Minburn and R22 was then approved.  Engineer Al Miller says construction is expected to start around the 23rd of May and Manatt’s Inc. will be working on the project for around four months.  Another temporary road closure for R16 south of Highway 6 was also approved.  Miller says this 2.2 mile project is expected to take around three months to complete.

A letter of support for the City of Perry’s application for a rural development grant from the USDA for the trail connector project was then approved.  Perry is hoping to receive a $13,000 planning grant.  Former Perry City Administrator Butch Niebuhr says they have received letters of support from all communities that will be impacted by the project.

The Supervisors then approved a resolution in regards to necessary annexation in drainage district 13.  This also appoints McClure Engineering as the engineer for the project.

Courthouse and north campus landscape plans were then further reviewed.  A landscape architect presented plans and recommendations to the Board and plans to move forward with the upgrades and design.

An updated space use plan for the 902 Court Street building was then shared.  Architect Dana Wernimont with Design Alliance shared some revisions they’ve made to the renovation plans for the project.  The Board is looking to best utilize the space that is available now that several departments have moved their offices out to the north campus.  One concern that was discussed was that of lobby sound interrupting various offices. Wernimont also noted that the emergency management project continues to move forward with the demolition process going full speed ahead and is on schedule.

The Board then discussed the future of the county issuing driver’s licenses.  Treasurer Mitch Hambleton shared some numbers with the Board, stating for example that his office issues more driver’s licenses than half a dozen Department of Transportation run offices in the state.  He also talked about space needs and congestion in his office due to the large number of people who come to Adel from Dallas and other counties to get their various motor vehicle licenses.

Finally, the Board discussed the open meetings law.  Supervisor Kim Chapman asked for the item to be on the agenda in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling, especially after comments have been received from area Mayors stating concerns with the three member Board.  Chapman suggested the Supervisors work with the Ahlers and Cooney law firm to set up a workshop to discuss the issue.  An evening meeting will likely be scheduled in the near future.