With approval of four agreements involving the county, Premier I Supplies and the Iowa Department of Transportation, a $2.25 million road project should get underway this spring and be done within three years.

Officially a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) project, it involves extensive road reconstruction on 300th Street, Kiwi Avenue and 290th Street to Highway 1. 

It is an integral part of the Premier I Supplies expansion and includes the company funding 50% of the cost up to $1 million, paid at $100,000 annually for 10 years. 

Additionally, the county received a $350,000 RISE grant (11% of the total project estimated cost) through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The agreements, approved at Tuesday’s meeting, note that the project and the Premier expansion is expected to add $1 million to the company’s revenue and see an addition of 25 employees. 

In addition to Premier, the county and the state, WEDG also has been partner in the plan, noted Board Chairman Jack Seward Jr. 

Supervisors also received an update and funding request from the Washington County Fair Board in which no increase in funds was sought from the county. Fair representatives outlined plans for this year’s fair in July, which will include having the 9/11 traveling memorial and helicopter rides. 

After hearing about the improvements made and the scope of the organization’s programs, Seward told them, “You are doing a pretty good job.” 

The board also was told that there will be a Mike Orris Scholarship named in honor of the former long-time fair manager with the first recipient named this year.

In other business, the board:

• Received and approved the county recycling center update showing landfill tons in 2019 totaled 895.72, an increase of 13.13 from 2018 for an additional landfill fee charge of $656.50. Recycling total was up 9.43% since September.

• Learned that the application for the Nation Provider Identifier (NPI) number for Public Health is still in progress.