Jefferson County supervisors approve road projects

JEFFERSON COUNTY – At the table with the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Monday, Aug. 19, was Jefferson County Engineer Scott Cline.

Cline advised two bridges completed and opened to all through traffic are the Germanville Road Bridge and the Elm Avenue Bridge between 250th and 255th streets. The board accepted the 227th Street paving and Highway 1 turn-lane projects.

In the interest of meeting Iowa Department of Transportation timeline dates for Iowa Department of Transportation fall reviews and acceptances before January bid-letting, Cline and Matt Walker of French-Reneker-Associates submitted, and the board accepted, two engineering services agreements. The first was for $16,500 to design Vetch Boulevard, a 2.2-mile resurfacing project wherein 1-2 inches will be milled away and a fresh 3 inches of asphalt will be added to the roadway. The second design for $34,500 encompasses the Pleasant Plain Road resurfacing project.

Supervisor Daryn Hamilton advised the board he and Cline met with Fairfield City Administrator Aaron Kooiker and Fairfield Streets Superintendent Darrel Bisgard to resolve the safety issues at the intersection of West Gear Avenue and North 18th Street. Advanced warning signs will be posted and the speed limit east and west through the intersection will be lowered to 45 miles per hour, and the speed limit north and south will be 25 miles per hour.

Supervisor Lee Dimmitt advised the same type of answer has come back to the Southeast Iowa governance meeting in response to the letter sent concerning unfunded mandates for Department of Mental Health Services and the letter to Department of Human Services concerning NCO's hiring out of state transport drivers. In both responses, no attempt was made to say what the state would do or where the funding will come from to provide the necessary mandated services. Supervisor Dee Sandquist said the situation will soon necessitate prioritizing some services over others.