Atkins tree-planting project nears completion

VINTON — Alyssa Comer, planner and environmental specialist of the East Central Iowa Council of Government, summarized a project in the Atkins Roundhouse Area for the Benton County Board of Supervisors Oct. 21.

A Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Tree Replanting contract in the amount of $750,000 was awarded to Benton County from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the removal of stumps and replanting of trees in the Atkins Roundhouse Area, according to Comer’s report.

A release of funds was issued April 22, 2024. A pre-construction meeting was held Nov. 18, 2024 for the removal of stumps. Work began Jan. 28 and was completed by March 27.

A pre-construction meeting for planting trees was held Aug. 25, and planting began Oct. 8.

As of Oct. 20, $33,441.25 had been invoiced and paid for project delivery service and newspaper publications, and $237,203.85 in project costs had been invoiced and paid, all using CDBG funds.

Work remaining on the project is weekly watering, maintenance of land to support tree growth, hand planting along the property line of the Atkins Roundhouse Area and monitoring and site visits conducted by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

The project is on schedule to be completed before September 2026.

Comer said 255 trees were planted.

The Board of Supervisors approved a utility permit for USA Communications for work in Iowa Township for a new fiber line in the north corporate limits of Belle Plaine.

The board approved the temporary closure of 32nd Avenue Drive in Florence Township 52nd Street in Polk Township for bridge replacement.

Engineer Myron Parizek also gave an update regarding the Van Horne/Highway 30 intersection. He’s planning to fill rumble strips and is seeking a quote for asphalt, he said.

The county is also working on the “stop ahead” signs. The new rumble strips will be closer to the stop sign and farther from the farm residence.

Parizek hoped work would be completed by Oct. 24.

A land use change hearing was held for Scott Schulte for an acre of land in Section 17, Florence Township north of Norway for a single family dwelling. The area has a Corn Suitability Rating of 40, which is low. A new septic system is required. The applicant plans to use rural water.

Supervisors approved the change request.

Mike Elwick discussed the former dog pound property water line with supervisors. In a statement, Elwick said that he had been under the impression that a water line on the Janet Elwick Trust property in Vinton went to the county-owned dog pound.

According to the legal information supplied at the public hearing Oct. 14, the water line to the dog pound would have been installed some time after April 22, 2002, the date of the easement with Merchants and the City of Vinton, the statement said.

The water line Elwick had been referring to was installed in 2001. Therefore, he must have been talking about two separate lines.

Elwick said he plans to work with the City of Vinton to abandon this unknown water line this fall before the ground freezes.

In addition, to help clarify the dog pound property boundaries prior to disposal by the county, Elwick will begin harvesting the trees adjacent to the dog pound that are clearly on his property according to the survey presented by the Assistant County Attorney at the same public hearing.