Bridge projects top Supervisors agenda
Supervisors tour bridge projects ... The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors toured a pair of bridge projects within the county with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour Monday, November 27. The first stop on the tour was the bridge on North Fork Hollow Road pictured above, which replaced a sub-standard narrow steel pony truss bridge at a cost of $444,000. That project is expected to be completed within the next two to three weeks. The group also visited the bridge replacement project on Ferris Mill Road at the border between Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, a shared project between the two Counties. That new bridge, pictured below, replaces the previous structure that had a posted three-ton weight limit and was nearing closure. The bridge replacement cost was $290,000, with the project anticipated to be completed within the next one to two weeks, depending upon the weather. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 27 to address agenda items including the agreement between the City of Waukon and Allamakee County for construction of the Green Valley Road Bridge replacement project, plat requests and discussion regarding employer of record and insurance. There was no Public Comment.
The Supervisors moved into the review of two plat requests with Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake presenting information regarding a request from Andrew K. and Shannon Bentien. Blake indicated that the Bentiens are dividing off a section of land for a possible sale. The second plat request was from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for sections of land near the former Camp Tahigwa. Blake indicated that the plat changes were requested as part of the process involved in the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) potential purchase of these sections of property east of the stream that runs through the property. Both requests were individually reviewed and approved.
The Supervisors and Jane Regan with Upper Iowa Insurance Services discussed issues involving automobile liability insurance coverage and employer of record relating to an employee working for County Social Services (CSS) with Allamakee County as the employer of record with work-related travel visiting clients in Howard County. Regan discussed options including an automobile lease agreement with Howard County or having Allamakee County provide a vehicle for this employee, both of which would allow automobile liability coverage through Allamakee County's insurance provider.
The Supervisors agreed the best short-term answer would be to provide an Allamakee County vehicle for work-related travel for this employee. Supervisor Dan Byrnes discussed concerns with Workers' Compensation relating to Allamakee County being the employer of record with the employee following assignments and scheduling from CSS, indicating this employee should have CSS as their employer of record. Supervisor Dennis Koenig will be following up on the automobile liability issue and other concerns discussed that have resulted from the restructuring of CSS at the next CSS meeting.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed the agreement between the City of Waukon and Allamakee County for construction of the Green Valley Road Bridge replacement project, indicating the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has directed that the County letting procedure be followed in this situation. Ridenour discussed the joint jurisdiction between Waukon and Allamakee County with each accepting 10% of the project cost and State of Iowa funding being used for 80% of the project cost. Ridenour discussed that the City of Waukon has approved the agreement at its November 20 City Council meeting. The Supervisors also approved the Green Valley Bridge agreement.
The Supervisors moved into a closed session to discuss strategy relating to upcoming collective bargaining negotiations between Allamakee County and the Secondary Roads Unit and Sheriff's Department Unit.
Following the closed session, Ridenour traveled with the Supervisors and Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer to visit the bridge replacement project at North Fork Hollow Road, which is nearing completion, and the county-line bridge replacement project, a cooperative effort with Winneshiek County.
