County Engineer Jeremy Purvis on April 22 provided and discussed with supervisors plans and specifications for a new Hancock County maintenance shed. It would be located at the former Annex address of 120 East Street near the courthouse in Garner.
The initial plans that have not yet been approved by the board call for a 40-foot by 36-foot steel or wood frame building. It would include 16-foot clear height sidewalls, one walk-in door, and two 10-foot high by 10-foot-wide overhead doors on the south side of the building. The building is to have a painted galvanized exterior.
The plans and specs also call for perma-column or approved precast concrete footings, wall materials six-inch by six-inch treated posts on an eight-foot center or six-inch by eight-inch treated posts with 10-foot spacing to form side walls, and a west wall that’s end-wall ready to support a future building addition. No windows, but interior wall and ceiling insulation and galvanized steel siding, gutter and downspouts, and roof vents at the roof peak are planned. Construction would also include a 20-foot slot drain running between two vehicle bays.
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Purvis said the specifications presented on Monday were not yet final and would likely change, including the addition of another building option with a gambrel roof.
The hope is to find a contractor and, weather permitting, complete the project by late November, according to the draft plans and specifications.
“I’d like to see it done before the snow flies,” said Supervisor Gary Rayhons while noting that contractor work can sometimes be easier to find and less expensive during the winter. The board will revisit the new building proposal again at an upcoming meeting.
County Maintenance Supervisor Jake Schreur reported that the HVAC update project of general contractor Mechanical Air Systems is not yet finished. He said a register still needs to be installed in the treasurer’s office.
“They’re having trouble getting the brick layer here,” said Schreur, adding that with some small electrical work and lighting installations undone, the ceiling contractor is just waiting to come in and finish his work.
Schreur also noted four or five wall gaps could be filled with mortar, noting that prior ductwork was larger in some spots. Schreur said that after the final walk-through inspection and punch list, he was told work could be done by April 26 which was a week later than a prior target date.
“Anyway, it’s pretty close,” Schreur said.
During his secondary roads report, Purvis presented an Iowa DOT agreement for a $6,000 traffic safety improvement grant, which was unanimously approved by the board. It will help increase safety at 310th and Oak, which has been one of the county’s higher-risk intersections. Purvis noted there have been a few fatalities there. He estimated the total project cost, which will include installing flashing beacons, would be about $22,000. The remaining cost of the safety project will be paid out of next fiscal year’s secondary roads budget.
Purvis said the Iowa DOT funds should be available by July 1 and that the department will order equipment for the project in June. The flashing beacons will be powered by a solar energy-battery system, which Purvis says typically works well by providing at least 72 hours of energy without any sunshine.
“Once they come in, we should be able to get them up in less than a week,” Purvis said.
Purvis also informed the board that the secondary roads department is creating a sign foreman position with planned starting pay of $27.00 per hour. It will be a step up from the department’s sign maintenance position that will see the county’s fourth employee in five years leave the job.
“I’m looking for some stability in that position,” Purvis said.
“It’s a very important position,” agreed Supervisor Jerry Tlach.
Purvis noted lots of training and knowledge of requirements such as sign placement is required and that the employee in charge of signage can get called out at all hours.
“This new position will be in charge of summer help and there will be times when the summer help could help,” Purvis said.
“If it can create some more stability in that position, I think it would be great,” said Supervisor Rayhons.
Purvis said the secondary roads department is utilizing a new survey drone, which came with edit software. It is already taking a good amount of time and workload off the backs of department employees. Purvis said it can be adjusted for surveying various targets such as bridges and provide an array of photos from different angles and locations.
“If you go out there yourself, you’ll maybe get 100 or 200 shots if you’re out there all day,” said Purvis, noting that the drone goes back and forth and collects hundreds of photos much more quickly. “They’re being used a lot more whether it’s the county or the DOT.”
Finally, Purvis reported that construction is under way on the county’s phase 2 project to build its new maintenance facility in Britt. Dean Snyder Construction of Clear Lake is the general contractor for the project. Purvis said Reding's Gravel & Excavating of Algona was finishing installation of water main and sanitary sewer to the new building. Footings for the building were scheduled to begin soon.
Supervisors approved a payroll change for communications requested by Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Buffington. Andrea Porter, who was a former dispatcher with the Clear Lake Police Department, will continue to work on-call as needed for the county. Buffington said Porter has been trained twice for Hancock County dispatch work, noting she came back and does a good job.
In March, Buffington informed the board that a county dispatcher of more than two decades, Melissa Snitzer, had announced her upcoming departure. He announced on Monday that her last scheduled work day with the county is May 14. Three applicants for a full-time position with Hancock County communications were scheduled for later in the week, according to Buffington.
In other business, supervisors approved:
- Payment of $350 to Hogan Bremer Funeral Home in Clear lake for an unclaimed Hancock County decedent.
- An Affleck supplemental dental option for county employees to be listed among other possible healthcare benefits. County Auditor Michelle Eisenman noted the county does not pay for the new option, but employees can choose to pay for it.
Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. He can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette.com.