Supervisors discuss Secondary Roads Department items, LOSST election

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Tuesday, April 22 the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour for the opening of bids for the repaving of Prairie Drive. Croell and Subsidiary's bid of $1,026,296.80 was the only bid received for the project. Ridenour said that he would review the bid and make a recommendation to the Board during its next meeting. He also noted that Croell submitted the low bid for the paving of West Ridge Drive through Iowa Department of Transportation bidding.
Ridenour also presented the Board with price quotes for the replacement of a motor grader for the Secondary Roads Department. He recommended accepting the quote from Ziegler Equipment of Postville of $113,500 after trade-in for a CAT motor grader, though that quote was $3,000 higher than a quote from Martin Equipment of Dubuque for a comparable John Deere motor grader. Ridenour said that having Ziegler close, combined with the interchangeability of parts, the ease of operation and the better fuel consumption of the CAT justified the higher price. The Board accepted Ridenour's recommendation and approved the purchase of the CAT motor grader.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer for a discussion about the upcoming election for the extension of the local option sales and service (LOSST) tax in unincorporated areas. Beyer said that the Board has the option of changing the percentages used to distribute the funds and whether or not to include a "sunset date" on the tax. She said that if the Board decides not to include a sunset date, the distribution percentages could still be changed by election.
Supervisor Sherry Strub said that she does not think it would be wise to change the distribution percentages because of the risk that the renewal would not be approved by voters if the percentages are changed. Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he would like clarification on how E-911 is funded, noting that a portion of the County's local option sales tax revenues goes to E-911, while Lansing and Waukon use 100% of local option sales tax funds for street repairs. Schellhammer  also asked Ridenour if local option sales tax funds would help with the budget for Secondary Roads and Ridenour replied that those funds would not be significant enough to make a big difference, adding that a ten-cent increase in the state fuel tax would result in $700,000 in additional funds for road projects.
Beyer also presented the Board with a 28E agreement to join the Iowa Precinct Atlas Consortium, which she said provides laptop computers and software used in elections. She said that by joining the Consortium, the County would be able to provide input regarding changes to the software. The Board approved the agreement.
In other business, the Board accepted and placed on file a resolution from the community of Waterville requesting a local option sales tax election and the Recorder's quarterly report.