Local News
Van Buren County supervisors seek funds for road work
KEOSAUQUA — Van Buren County Supervisors approved a resolution applying for Federal Surface Transportation funds to reconstruct County Road W30 from Iowa Highway 16 to the city limits of Stockport.
County Engineer David Barrett told supervisors he expects costs to be $1.4 million, with $300,000 coming from farm-to-market funds and the rest from Surface Transportation Program.
Barrett said Van Buren should have a balance of $1,146,263 in the Surface Transportation Program by 2013, which is the program year for the project. He expects the project to be done in 2015.
“The road was built in the early 1960s and because of the base, the concrete slabs have shifted some,” Barrett said. “What we are going to do is have an unbonded overlay of portland cement.”
There will be 1 inch of asphalt on top of the current cement and 6 inches of portland cement on top of that, Barrett said.
“Most of the cement is still in pretty good shape, and what we’re going to do is use that as the new base,” he said. “We’ll take the bad spots out before we start.”
A concrete firm provided a design for how that will work. “It’s fairly new, but it’s been tried before in Iowa.” Some ditching would have to be done, as well as tiling.
Also this week, the supervisors:
• Accepted the recommendations of the compensation board, which called for a salary freeze on elected county officials. State law doesn’t allow supervisors to raise the amount. The compensation board voted last week to recommend no salary raises.
Salaries approved for 2011 are: Supervisors, $24,855 ($842 additional for the chair); sheriff, $52,795; auditor, $46,829; treasurer, $40,730; recorder, $40,723; attorney, $39,145.
• Set Jan. 4, 2 p.m., for a public hearing on amending the current county budget.
Since the budget was published, the county has collected revenues that weren’t projected: Pass through grants for Van Buren County Hospital, grants received by the sheriff and board of health, Medicare and Medicaid revenue due to increased patient load and FEMA income on grant.
Expenditures unforeseen were: Pass through grants to the hospital, including the CDBG grant, special election expenses, courthouse/jail repairs (boiler at the jail), vehicles, Lake Sugema fencing (more than what had been budgeted), local health department budget increase due to increase in patient load and FEMA expenditures.
Increased revenues were $631,113, and increased expenditures were $686,627.
“It’s generally close to being revenue neutral,” said County Auditor Jon Finney.
• Approved a letter of support for a proposed river front trail and park that would be incorporated as an extension of the Keosauqua Loop trail and connecting to the Lacey-Keosauqua State Park trail system.
• Reappointed Dr. Tim Blair of Keosauqua county medical examiner for a two year term ending Dec. 31, 2011, with Drs. Richard Breckenridge, Matthew Manning and Ayslin Beckett appointed deputy medical examiners.
- Local News
-
-
Art lovers drawn to festival
The third annual Walk on Art Street expanded on past events with 65 booths and beautiful weather for shoppers and artists Saturday in downtown Ottumwa.
-
Candidates promote organized labor
The Southern Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO, sponsored a Labor Day picnic Sunday with the support of the Wapello County Democrats and visits from local, state and national political candidates.
-
Browsing Around: Troop 11 honors their ‘Eagles’
Troop 11 of the Boy Scouts of America now has a beautiful gift to honor its Eagle Scouts and the Boy Scouts’ 100th anniversary as an organization.
-
Council to consider dog fee ordinance
The council will consider increasing the price of a dog license at their Tuesday meeting. Members will also discuss I-JOBS improvements to City Hall.
-
Case of the missing ’82 OHS class ring
A New Mexico family contacted Ottumwa High School this week to notify them of their discovery of a 1982 OHS men’s class ring engraved with the initials GLH.
-
Trials set in three attempted murder cases
Judges have set trial dates in three attempted murder cases. Two defendants were involved in a June shooting, a third is being tried for an unrelated May stabbing.
-
Woman sentenced for V.A. pension thefts
An Ottumwa woman has been sentenced to probation and home detention for stealing V.A. pension benefits
-
E-B board reviews building designs
The Eddyville-Blakesburg School Board reviewed options for a new elementary school building in Blakesburg this week.
-
Supervisors look to replace attorney
Supervisors will meet 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the possibility of replacing the current county attorney, who is resigning.
-
Five charged in string of church burglaries
Five people have been charged in connection with at least nine church burglaries in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri.
- More Local News Headlines
-
