08/03/26 BOS Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026

(UNOFFICIAL)

Board members present: Keatley, Byrnes, Clark. All members voting “AYE” unless noted.

 

Meeting called to order by Clark, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

26.271-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to approve today’s agenda and minutes from July 27, 2026. Motion carried.

 

The following people were present at various times throughout the meeting in person or via Zoom: Joseph Moses – Waukon Standard, Denise Beyer – Auditor/Clerk to Supervisors, Joe Manning, Dave Mooney, Jim Pladsen, Corey Snitker, Clark Mellick, Brian Ridenour,

 

Public Comment: Supervisor Clark reported that he met someone at NACo conference who put him in touch with contacts and resources in Iowa related to the loss of employment and income for individuals in Postville.

 

Supervisor Tom Clark discussed the CivicPlus Agenda Management software and quote. Discussion was held about future budgets and the benefits of having the agenda items to view ahead of the meeting. Auditor Beyer will check the budget for funds available for this.

 

Dave Mooney presented quotes for solid waste contracts. The bids from all 3 vendors are significantly higher than budgeted. Budget is $213,172 for the hauling contract. The rural portion of all 3 bids are very high. Mooney gave alternatives/options including: 1) his department does the rural pickup themselves minus the recycling by promoting a part-time employee to full-time and purchasing a garbage truck; 2) if the Supervisors want to go with one of the bids he recommends Richards due to poor service and billing from Republic in recent past and then rebid the rural option without recycling; 3) Mooney could re-bid the Main Site only and his department do the rural sites, again no recycling option. The intent of rebidding is bidders could come down on the Main Site costs if they know they don’t have to do the rural. Current hauling contract expires November 1. Mooney will ask two low bidders to re-bid without rural site recycling.

 

Engineer Ridenour presented a request to reopen Secondary Roads union contract for wages – request of $2/hour more, and provided wage information from other counties FY27 wages. Since 4 counties have not entered FY27 wages yet, no action until all FY27 wages are available for accurate comparison.

 

Ridenour reviewed that state law increased speed limits on state roads to 60mph. Allamakee County has about 870 miles of secondary roads, about 180 miles of them being paved. Ridenour and Sheriff Mellick expressed the importance of safety with our hills and curves, siting animals, tourism, recreation vehicles, Amish, farm implements, and often ATV/UTVs on the highways as reasons to consider keeping speed limit at 55 on paved county roads in Allamakee County. Ridenour provided a map of 10-year accident history. Staying at 55mph will require adding more 55mph signs due to the transition between counties if adjacent counties change to 60mph.

 

26.272-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to approve resolution establishing a maximum 55 mph speed limit on paved concrete and asphalt secondary roads in Allamakee County. Roll call: Keatley-aye; Byrnes-aye; Clark-aye. Motion carried.

Resolution # 26.272

Establishing a Maximum 55 Mile Per Hour (MPH) Speed Limit on

Paved Concrete and Asphalt Secondary Roads

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors is empowered under authority of Iowa Code Sections 321.285 to determine and declare a reasonable and proper speed limit based on an engineering and traffic investigation, and

 

WHEREAS, Iowa Code Sections 321.255 gives authority to the Board of Supervisors to place and maintain traffic-control devices upon roads under their jurisdiction as they may deem necessary, and

 

WHEREAS, passing zones, safe speed advisories / curve signs, “stop ahead” signs, etc. were implemented with the understanding of a 55-mph speed limit, and

 

WHEREAS, an engineering and traffic investigation has been completed by the Allamakee County Engineer on paved Secondary Roads that are concrete and asphalt, and

 

WHEREAS, such investigation has determined that a 55-mph speed limit is reasonable and proper for these concrete and asphalt Secondary Roads, and

 

WHEREAS, this resolution is to establish a maximum speed limit of 55-mph and does not apply to paved road sections that are currently signed for speed limits less than

55-mph,

 

WHEREAS, to establish and enforce this 55-mph speed limit, appropriate traffic-control devices shall be installed,

 

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Engineer will continue to evaluate these roads, including but not limited to minimum sight distance for passing zones, horizontal and vertical curves, and advance warning signs,

 

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Engineer is expected to recommend in the future after further evaluation the feasibility of raising the speed limit to 60-mph on any of the paved Secondary Roads,

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY that a maximum 55-mph speed limit is hereby established for all paved Secondary Roads that are Concrete and Asphalt.

 

Dated at Allamakee County, Iowa this 3rd day of August, 2026.

 

Board of Supervisors of Allamakee County, Iowa

 

 

                                                                       

Tom Clark, Chairperson

 

________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Member                                                 ATTEST:

 

________________________________                                BY                                                      

Dennis Keatley, Member                                                                                County Auditor

SEAL

 

Department Head updates: Corey Snitker gave department and meeting updates; courthouse camera update; update on AgriStar fire in Postville; where to check for donation opportunities. Engineer Ridenour gave bridge and road project updates; August 12 open house at Ziegler in Postville. For information purposes only, Ridenour reported on the amount of utilities that are placed in right-of-way and the increased challenges in contacting them to come move them if the county ever needs to do work in the right-of-way where they are placed. Sheriff Mellick gave department update; water tower has been removed; upcoming events. Auditor Beyer gave update on property tax process.

 

Supervisors and Engineer Ridenour viewed road projects.

 

26.273-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to adjourn. Motion carried.

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________                          _______________________________________

Tom Clark, Chairperson                                           Denise Beyer, Auditor

Documents

Posted: August 4, 2026 in 2026 Board of Supervisors Minutes & Agendas

All Documents