Bike trail project between Columbus Junction and Columbus City makes headway

WAPELLO — An effort to construct a bike trail between Columbus Junction and Columbus City is continuing to move forward at the county level, following Tuesday's approval of the project’s plans and specifications during the Louisa County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.

County engineer Adam Shutt presented the request, reminding the board it would be the second go-around for the project, after officials nixed the first proposal in 2019 after bids came in about $90,000 higher than anticipated.

Since that earlier decision was made, Shutt said the city of Columbus Junction has agreed to provide $100,000 in funding assistance, which combined with a previously-awarded $133,000 Transportation Alternative Program grant, should meet Shutt’s $233,000 estimated cost for the work.

According to earlier discussions, the project will involve hard-surfacing a shoulder on Springer/145th Street and County Road X17 between Columbus Junction and Columbus City.

Shutt told the board during its meeting on Tuesday that he is hopeful construction companies that will be in the county this year on other road surfacing work will be able to provide competitive bids on the trail project.

Columbus Junction officials earlier indicated they plan to use revenue from the city’s Roundy Fund to cover the city’s share of the expenses.

The supervisors also finalized a $247,000 transfer from the county’s Local Option Sales Tax Fund to the General Basic fund to replace money spent earlier on courthouse wiring, vehicle for the Louisa County Public Health Service and other expenses.

A Class C Liquor License for the Cedar Crest Golf & Country Club was approved by the board, pending Dram.

The board also reviewed and signed an agreement regarding training expense reimbursements for Mark Spitznogle, who recently was hired as a deputy with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

The agreement covers reimbursement of Iowa Law Enforcement Academy training expenses if Spitznogle does not stay with the department.

In other action involved in the LCSO, the board approved a $16,969 retirement payout for former Chief Deputy Sheriff Josh Helscher. The payout would cover vacation, comp time, unused sick leave and other time off, which Helscher had not used prior to his official retirement a few weeks ago.

In a resignation payout, the board approved a $1,213 payout to Ryland Crawford.

The supervisors acknowledged the difference between the two payouts, pointing out that was the expected difference between a long-time employee and one who had only been on the LCSO’s staff for about one year.

In final action, the board:

  • Reviewed a letter from Schweitzer & Barjric confirming the annexation of the Katydid Subdivision to the city of Columbus Junction;

  • Received the 2021 wage report for Louisa County employees;

  • Reviewed monthly ambulance reports from Morning Sun and Wapello.

CDC data shows higher positivity rate than state's last posting

Roxanne Smith, administrator for the LCPHS, also provided her monthly department update to the board, including the final COVID-19 numbers from a website being shut down by the state.

The shutdown is expected this week, following a decision by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to end the state’s emergency declaration for the pandemic, Smith reported.

“It’s a miracle,” supervisor Brad Quigley remarked sarcastically in an apparent inference to the governor’s action and current status of the pandemic in the state.

According to Smith, the latest figures put the county’s positivity rate at about 11%. A federal CDC COVID tracking website listed the positivity rate in the county around Jan. 17 as over 40%.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Louisa County Board of Supervisors OKs Columbus Junction trail plans