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

The Board approved a resolution for a national initiative called “Stepping Up” to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. Heart of Iowa Regional Mental Health CEO Darcy Alt said this initiative works with the Dallas County jail diversion program and wanted to include Guthrie and Audubon counties as well. Additionally, the Board gave conditional approval for a road use agreement with the development of the Heartland Divide II Wind Project, with the agreement to become permanent once the performance bonds are issued.

The Board heard an update with County Attorney Brenna Bird. She spoke with the renovations to the county courtroom with installing cameras, speakers and a microphone system. She also told the Board that her office has collected $29,000 for the current fiscal year. This is from criminal convicts through payment plans and the figure is better than last fiscal year when the county collected $15,000. 

The Board heard an update from Alt, mostly concerning the shift in mental health funding to be with the state general fund instead of property taxes. The shift will become permanent in the next two years. The Board also heard from County Engineer Josh Sebern about the current and upcoming road and bridge projects.

Then, the Board approved a joint drainage district project with Greene County as the controlling county for assessment of taxes from the project, as presented. Finally, the Board approved the liquor license for The Port, the seventh pay estimate of $525,000 for the law enforcement center project and an invoice for Shive-Hattery as presented.