In a unanimous vote on August 9, the supervisors approved the resolution joining the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT), adding the county to approximately 1,200 participants in 77 Iowa counties in an effort to end human trafficking in Iowa.  The request had come at last week’s meeting but was tabled to allow a review of IBAT.

The board also was unanimous in accepting the low bid of $76,760 from Iowa Bridge and Culvert, Washington, for the bridge abutment project on Dogwood Avenue, spanning Smith Creek, west of Wellman.  The bid was lower than the estimated $85,000 for the work. The highest bid for the work was $118,880.

The board also approved a resolution to seek federal Transportation Safety Improvement Program (TSIP) funds in the amount of $500,000 to install paved four-foot shoulders and shoulder rumble strips along 3.3 miles of G36 (220th Street).   The total cost is $789,254, with work to be completed in 2023.  Planning began in 2021.  It is part of an agreement with the IDOT.  The board received a detailed plan regarding the safety issues.

Also approved was the resolution to apply for a grant from Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), part of a new federal transportation bill that provides up to $1 billion for roadway initiatives nationwide.  The Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA) is seeking a grant to aid all 99 counties in a long-range plan that would not cost the counties and would be done in the years 2030 and 2050.

In other business, the board tabled agreement with the City of Kalona for the use of space at 2285 133rd Street pending review by the county attorney.  The agreement would go into effect July 1, 2023.  They also received information about planned city improvements to the site, estimated at $60,000, for which the city would pay the major cost.  The agreement likely will be on next week’s agenda.