IOWA CITY

Conditions at the Johnson County jail have gotten so bad that a monitoring system is about to be installed around the building.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved a $27,000 professional services agreement with Axiom Consultants of Iowa City at its April 11 formal session, an agreement that clears the way for Axiom to have a monitoring system installed. The system won’t monitor prisoners; instead, it will monitor the integrity of the aging building.

“Just to be clear,” Sheriff Brad Kunkel said, “we’re not concerned of any imminent structural issues.”

Still, a plan is being put into place for prisoners to be moved to other county jails around Eastern Iowa if the building does indeed fall apart.

Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said a crack she saw during a visit had become bigger in just two weeks.

The trouble with the building’s integrity came before the Board months ago, and Kunkel came under some fire last week from Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz.

“We actually asked for this in February. It’s just frustrating to see you’re back here again,” Fixmer-Oraiz said. “I’m definitely on board for having this monitoring system in place.”

“It’s unethical at this point that we don’t have a plan,” they said.

Last August, Axiom engineers assessed the condition of the building and detailed a number of repairs needed immediately. Among those is a roof replacement, along with notable cracks and deficiencies in exterior and interior brickwork and walls.

A number of bond issues have failed for previously proposed building replacements, but the supervisors acknowledged in August that a new building and headquarters is needed for the jail and expanded sheriff’s department.

“We realize we’re in some dire straits here,” Supervisor Chair Rod Sullivan said. “I think the Board is definitely open to more conversation about this and more discussion, particularly when you talk about the staff, some of those other things.”

The jail opened in 1981 with 50 full-time employees in the sheriff’s department; that number has nearly doubled and so has the need for beds and cells.

Comp Plan

The Board approved an amendment to the 2018 Johnson County Comprehensive Plan, which includes rural economic development, and rural and agricultural tourism as key issues in Volume 3 of the Comp Plan.

“Growth, stability and resiliency of the local economy in the unincorporated areas and small towns has become a major focus within the county over the last five years,” said Nate Mueller, Assistant Director, Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability.

Growth in the county has included expanded broadband systems and several solar farms, including a large one planned for an area just west of Lone Tree and another planned for west of Hills. The Board heard from several residents who spoke in favor of solar farming.

“This is farming of another kind,” said Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass. “It is providing what we need, the whole habitat thing.”

The Comp Plan amendment passed unanimously.

Stumptown Shooters

The Board approved the annual PGI Safety Class and fireworks display put on by the Stumptown Shooters near Lone Tree.

Following the April 27 safety class, the fireworks display is set to begin at about 7 p.m. from a location on River Junction Road SE, west of Lone Tree.

“They do a pretty impressive shoot-off at night,” Green-Douglass said. “If you get a chance, bring a lawn chair.”

Naples Ave. Bridge

A bridge replacement over Crooked Creek on Naples Avenue SW drew bids from seven contractors.

Peterson Contractors of Reinbeck was the low bidder, at $325,790 for a project estimated at $400,000. The Board will vote on the bid Thursday.

Bids ranged up to $406,619.

Budget Hearing

The Board will host a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget at 5:30 p.m. April 17. The meeting will be held at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

Board Action

The Board appointed Dawn Alam as Transportation and Fleet Director.

Next meeting: The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. April 18.