Supervisors hold public hearing on paving of section of Makee Drive, set public hearing for ATV/UTV trail on County roads
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 4. A large crowd was in attendance at the meeting, some to provide public comment on a variety of issues, others to express views during the scheduled public hearing for the paving of a one-mile segment of Makee Drive, and still others in anticipation of later agenda items addressing a proposed ATV/UTV trail utilizing County roadways.
Steve Veysey, a Story County resident who enjoys the outdoor amenities of Allamakee County, opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting by introducing himself as a fisherman who has worked with a number of projects under the Clean Water Act. He stated that several sportsmen's groups are concerned about maintaining the Village Creek trout stream in light of the hog confinement recently proposed in that area. Veysey said those groups are planning a letter expressing these concerns addressed to Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Chuck Gipp. Other comments from residents in attendance concerning the proposed concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) included the environmental impact of such a facility on the county's karst topography, and the impact of the potential odor on tourism and other outdoor activities.
Switching topics during Public Comment, John Rotto, a rural mail carrier in the Dorchester area, expressed safety concerns about ATV use on County roads. He stated that allowing such activity may very well be "turning roads into a racetrack for ATVs," which presents increased safety concerns for everyone using these roads. Others in attendance also mentioned concerns that ATVs should not be allowed on County roads due to safety issues.
Also mentioned during Public Comment were concerns with no weight limits on County roads having an adverse effect on the quality and safety of those secondary roads. A concern was also expressed about the road tax funding going to its intended use.
After the Public Comments portion of the meeting, the Board gave its approval to a resolution seeking assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission with the County's Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Board also disallowed a Homestead Tax Credit for property in Allamakee County whose owners have now moved to Florida. Manure Management Plan updates were also approved by the Board and placed on file for Red Ink Ranch, Adam Grove, Herman Family and Devin Humpal.
Allamakee County Recorder Deb Winke advised the Board that Karen Mathis has been hired as a Clerk in her office at a pay rate of $17.50 per hour. Winke advised that her start date is planned for April 14.
MAKEE DRIVE PUBLIC HEARING
The Board conducted a public hearing concerning the proposed grading and paving of approximately a one-mile section of Makee Drive up to and including its intersection with Four Corners Road NE. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour began the hearing by explaining that a number of landowners have wanted to see this section of road paved for several years, but that the roadway falls about five points short of automatic inclusion on the County's five-year road plan and requires such a hearing to approve that inclusion. Ridenour further explained the improvement would require six-foot shoulders and the acquisition of right away, and offered a preliminary cost estimate of $700,000.
Several residents in attendance expressed their views on the paving of Makee Drive, most believing it would be beneficial due to the amount of semi and other heavy traffic on it making it difficult to maintain as a gravel road, in addition to safety concerns with dust at its intersection with Highway 9. Questions were raised in regard to why this road was being chosen over other County gravels, as well as where the funds will come from for such a project, with Engineer Ridenour responding that it would be a mix of road use tax and property tax that would fund the paving of Makee Drive, just like other projects listed on the five-year plan.
With those questions and objections requiring to be noted as part of any resolution to add the Makee Drive paving to the County's five-year plan, it was agreed that no action would be taken on the resolution at this meeting. The resolution will be adapted and presented at the next Supervisors meeting.
BID APPROVALS
Bids for gravel resurfacing were next on the agenda. Engineer Ridenour recommended the low bid in all four divisions of that project. Bruening Rock of Decorah was approved as low bidder in three of those four divisions at $8.999 per ton, including total costs of Division I: $282,073.65, Division II: $212,421.39 and Division III: $266,532.38. Wiltgen Construction of Calmar was approved as low bidder for Division IV with a rate of $8.899 per ton and total cost of $292,581.32.
Consideration of bids was next on the agenda regarding the culvert work on County Road B38 – Cherry Valley Road. Engineer Ridenour recommended rejecting the one bid that was received since it exceeded the initial cost estimate for the project and was the only bid received. The Board agreed and approved a motion to seek additional bids, setting a deadline of 10 a.m. Monday, April 25 to receive additional bids for this project.
Approval was given by the Board to Engineer Ridenour's recommendation to use the low bid of $64,232.85 from Fahrner Asphalt Sealers of Dubuque for painting pavement markings on County roads. Although the County has not used Fahrner for previous striping projects, Ridenour said his research revealed the company is mostly based in Wisconsin and is considered reputable. Other bids received included $65,846.00 from AAA Striping Service of St. Michael, MN, $67,413.35 from Quality Striping of Des Moines, $68,139.79 from Vogel Traffic Services of Orange City, $70,833.41 from KAM Line and $96,413.79 from Iowa Plains Signing of Waterloo.
Engineer Ridenour further advised the Board of the replacement of a 2003 John Deere tractor backhoe currently operated out of the County's Dorchester maintenance shop. The Board approved Ridenour's recommendation of the bid from Martin Equipment of Dubuque for a 2016 John Deere 410 LXT priced at $108,000, less the current tractor backhoe trade-in of $26,000, leaving the final cost of $82,000. The other bid received was from Ziegler CAT of Postville priced at $127,450, less a $35,500 trade-in value, leaving a final cost of $91,950.
ATV/UTV ORDINANCE AND PUBLIC HEARING
As instructed at a previous meeting, Engineer Ridenour worked with Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler in further developing a pair of possible ordinance options for consideration in regard to ATV/UTV usage of County roadways as part of a trail system. The first ordinance was much more brief and would allow ATV use on all Secondary Roads, except Level C roads, with enforcement following Iowa Code, while the second ordinance, a two-page document, allows usage only on gravel roads (except for crossing at pavements), no level C roads, and with usage dates of June 15-November 15, sunrise to sunset.
County Attorney Kistler recommended the two-page ordinance that provided more local control. Discussion ensued regarding possible expansion of those dates when ATV use was allowed, as well as transportation of firearms on ATVs and allowable speeds on those County roads.
Board of Supervisors Chairperson Larry Schellhammer said he was not in favor of ATV usage on County paved roads. Supervisor Dennis Koenig expressed that he would like to see the usage dates get an earlier start, and Supervisor Dan Byrnes expressed his continued disapproval with the overall plan, citing that he believes it is a "safety issue" and that other counties that have approved such road usage are considerably flatter and have roadways more adapted to much safer usage than the hills and curves of Allamakee County.
After further discussion, it was agreed to modify the two-page ordinance concerning time of day, dates of usage, firearm transportation and allowable speed, with Koenig making that motion and Schellhammer seconding the motion. Schellhammer further warned trail supporters in attendance of possible backlash from the public and advised that approval of such an ordinance does not guarantee anything and that moving forward is contingent upon a public hearing necessary before making any final decisions.
A summary of that ordinance and notice of the public hearing regarding ATV/UTV road usage is slated to be published in the April 20 edition of The Standard, with that public hearing set for Monday, April 25 at 10:15 a.m.
PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER
John Hansen of Midwest Construction Consultants introduced to the Board the On-Site Coordinator for the construction of the Public Safety Center. Hansen also presented several pre-cast sample options for the facade of the building and said he will be meeting with contractors that same afternoon in hopes of initial digging getting underway at the site next week.
Concerns about the existing well and gate valves for the lagoon at the site were expressed, with suggestions of utilizing storage tanks for water use until the new well could be completed and assessing the current status of the lagoon as a whole while it is not in current use.
Following a line-by-line explanation by Hansen of up-to-date project expenditures, the Board approved a payment request for the project. A groundbreaking ceremony is also being tentatively planned for the week of April 18, depending upon weather and availability.
One final item under Department Head updates had Engineer Ridenour advise the Board that Secondary Roads Department employees are now beginning their 10-hour work days four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
