BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA
REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024
At 9:00 am Chair Richard Young called the meeting to order in regular session, Courthouse Chambers. Items on the agenda included: Washington County Wind Ordinance; Washington County Historical Preservation Commission Report and FY25 funding request; Employee Years of Service Recognition; and Reappointment of Larry Love to a three-year term on the Crawford Township Benefited Fire District. Supervisors Jack Seward Jr., Marcus Fedler, Bob Yoder, and Stan Stoops were also present.
All motions were passed unanimously by those Supervisors in attendance unless noted otherwise.
The Board voted to approve the agenda as published.
The Board continued discussion re: a proposed Washington County Wind ordinance with such discussion focusing on minimum setback requirements for wind turbines and whether such setbacks may be waived, the process for decommissioning wind turbines, and the need for a road use agreement. The Board took no formal action.
Mike Zahs, on behalf of the Washington County Historical Preservation Commission, began his remarks by recapping the method of allocating county funding to approximately 15 various non-profit groups and organizations that have a common goal of preserving Washington County history. Such groups include Wellman Heritage Society, Kalona Historical Society, Riverside History Center, Ainsworth Community Together, Rubio Community Club, Genealogical Society, Grace Hill Church, City Of Crawfordsville, West Chester Heritage, Washington County Fair, Daughters of the American Revolution, Blair House, Washington County Historical Society, Mennonite Historical Society, and the City of Brighton. Zahs also shared that he has had the pleasure of discovering and documenting many of the rural cemeteries in Washington County whose existence was previously unknown. According to Zahs at the present time the total number of such cemeteries (not burials) is 360 but he was quick to add that he is confident that there are still more to be discovered. At the present time Zahs is engaged with a project that if successful will result in old burial grounds being included to property abstracts which will in turn protect the graves. When Zahs was asked about FY25 County funding for the Washington County Historical Preservation Commission he replied that the present level of annual funding in the amount of $4,750.00 was adequate but a higher amount would certainly be appreciated. The Board took no formal action.
While taking no formal action, the Board recognized and thanked Kent Davis for his 40 years of employment with the Washington County Secondary Roads Department.
The Board voted to reappoint Larry Love a three-year term on the Crawford Township Benefited Fire District ending December 31, 2026.
At 9:45 am the Board voted to adjourn.
ATTEST: s/DANIEL L. WIDMER,
Washington County Auditor
Published in The News, Thursday, February 22, 2024 L-86
