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On Aug. 18, the Board had authorized the architectural firm to prepare the evaluation for the Board of Health consideration comparing new building sites and the remodeling of existing County facilities. The recommendation of the Board of Health detailed the construction of a new approximately 10,000 square foot facility at the Vetter site close to the Washington central business district.
Steve Olson offered the financial perspective of the new facility stating various grant funds would provide approximately 60 percent of the estimated $2.2 million project cost. Olson referenced the availability of a long-term loan available through the USDA and presented information on the cost of five-year debt service for the county providing $400,000 towards the facility.
Auditor Bill Fredrick stated a County referendum vote would be needed for the project approval. David Patterson who assisted the Board of Health Building and Finance Committee with the study stated that the decision for the new building at the proposed site received unanimous approval from all 4 groups who have been involved in the evaluation, review and recommendations for the Public Health relocation. The Board of Supervisors will discuss the recommendation at the November 24 meeting and will clarify the procedure to allow submission of an application for a Community Development Block Grant by a Dec. 15 deadline.
The Board approved the Supplemental Agreement No. 4 with Calhoun-Burns & Associates for the final bridge design in the amount of $55,775. County Engineer David Patterson stated the design for the replacement bridge on G-38 at the west edge of Washington has been in planning since 1997 and was complicated due to difficulties with the railroad bridge consideration at the same site. The construction of the approximately $1 million bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2010. The elevation of the proposed continuous slab bridge will be lowered to provide nearly one foot of additional height clearance.
A three and a half month leave of absence request was approved by the Board for County Engineer David Patterson. Patterson plans to travel to Brazil and continue his volunteer efforts to assist in the development of a small rural community. Patterson has been involved with the Brazil project for eight years and this will be the longest annual time commitment from the end of December to April 2010. Patterson recommended that the Board appoint Assistant Engineer Jacob Thorius as interim county engineer.
The board approved a resolution for the financial support of the Kalona Downtown Revitalization Project. The motion had been approved at the Nov. 10 meeting and the resolution authorizes the two grant payments.
The Board acknowledged the personnel change request from the Sheriff's Department for the resignation of Adam Holsapple.
A work session to review the draft of the proposed Washington County Zoning Ordinance continued after the close of the regular meeting.
Several of the Board members plan to attend the fall Iowa State Association of Counties meeting in Coralville from Wednesday to Friday of this week.
