Board of Supervisors holds meeting in Postville

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting Monday, September 28 at the Postville Public Library, having been invited to do so by the library’s director, Cindy Berns. The Board plans to hold meetings at the other public libraries in the County in the future, but no specific dates have been set for those upcoming visits.
The Board met with Laura Friest of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, who updated the Board on a competitive grant program that could fund scenic overlooks and highway pull-outs statewide to enhance tourism possibilities. Friest said that she plans to work with the other scenic byways in the state to identify appropriate sites for such projects, but does not expect to have a proposal ready by the October 1 deadline for this year’s round of funding.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour said that he has completed a topographic survey and site plan for a scenic overlook along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway in Allamakee County and estimated the cost of the project at $120,000. Friest said that if awarded, the grant would pay 80% of the project cost and that she would also apply for a grant from the Allamakee County Community Foundation to cover the remaining 20% of the cost. Board if Supervisors Chairman Larry Schellhammer said he thinks the project is “a great idea,” adding, “People really do appreciate what we have here.”
The Board also met with Brian Huinker of Midwest Group Benefits, who presented the Board with an alternative to the County’s current voluntary dental insurance offered to County employees. Huinker said that the voluntary plan offered by Delta Dental has better benefits and lower premiums than the County’s current provider and called the Delta plan, “the Cadillac plan with the best network.” The Board gave Huinker permission to present the option to County employees.
In other business, the Board approved the second reading of updated versions of the County’s zoning and relief ordinances and the County’s Code of Ordinances. The updates eliminate unused ordinances and consolidate amendments into existing ordinances without making any substantive changes. Though no public input has yet been received on the updates, the Board elected to wait another week before final passage and adoption of the updated ordinances.
The Board also approved final payment of $1,965,307.47 to Croell Subsidiary of New Hampton for the West Ridge Road concrete paving project; County Engineer Ridenour noted that the project was completed for approximately $28,000 less than the contracted price.

Public hearing Monday for Driftless Visitor Center
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors will meet in special session Monday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in the Board Room at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon along with the Allamakee County Conservation  Board for a public hearing regarding the proposed Driftless Visitor Center. Both boards will review proposed drawings, specifications and forms of contract for the new facility to be constructed at the Columbus Bridge property south of Lansing. The Conservation Board will also consider bids for construction of the facility, which were opened September 1. Three bid packages will be considered - the building construction contract, the site construction contract and the geothermal well contract.