[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6333141,"mediaKeyId","2303564-ccdf1bf9df418d76f8773a5f94cef311","parentId",2303564,"title","Environmental health director outlines radon testing, soil‑testing program and geo‑permitting issues","audioSeconds",577,"startMs",1376000,"endMs",1953000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303564-ccdf1bf9df418d76f8773a5f94cef311&start=1376&end=1953","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303564-ccdf1bf9df418d76f8773a5f94cef311/thumbnail_1376000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6333141/Jackson-County/Iowa/Environmental-health-director-outlines-radon-testing-soiltesting-program-and-geopermitting-issues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333141-549247f3a376160946a6732f38482b30/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665491&Signature=hDppCprMJG8~j9AsSicldM67vAezgbosSL2eMUlHJZFfSyv5knzbOUtRiKPNLcfpJyMUIpdh5HjbcPUfhTQvWSEYmdnetOSYlGiXMVFnSp1kEOL6Oaf2K041lhDYRU76j-eLu-Ma1EoIR8sFf7onIr4fFcSMPlb2VOgmbSxRlNEJHxhFD-Ez51kQqZdcRo4hqAiqsuxLH9xW68LC54uSje~Hmvv-I9mFqmUMrF4B6ot602b1CxIvV46WukNpwRYTAJzv2WZiHXKk~5DrI5FS9kMq3t3bmkBlGc-NvQxODNB-5kLf0HrhfBkVix6N2Te5XIjalFjFsQOXgAIF3V8J-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson County, Iowa","date","2025-02-11T18:17:04Z","article","Jackson County environmental health staff on Feb. 11 reviewed 2024 work and detailed priorities for 2025, including radon awareness outreach, a revived soil-analysis program for septic permitting and continuing rollout problems with a new geo-permitting system.

The director said the department promoted radon awareness last month and is offering test kits to the public. Test-kit pricing is $20, with an extra $15 fee when staff set up the kit at a home. Staff plan to distribute kits and offer free water testing and radon kits through a public outreach event with the Women Landon Legacy organization in spring (date not yet set).

Soil testing and septic permitting were a major part of the report. Environmental health staff resumed a soil-analysis program that uses a contractor to dig trench profiles and prepare a soil-profile report; the county currently charges $400 for that analysis when outside contractors perform the work. The director told supervisors she expects to propose increasing that fee (she suggested $500 or $550 as examples) if the county takes on more of the service to avoid long application delays for septic permits. The board was told a state code change under consideration would require three borings per site; staff said the current method (bench trenches) would be destructive if duplicated across three borings and that buying an auger/probe would make the work more efficient. The director said she has requested a probe purchase and is checking with Secondary Roads for possible vehicle support; Secondary Roads staff (Jayden) indicated he would check on vehicle availability.

Staff also reported continuing problems with the county’s geo-permitting system. The environmental health permits have been live for about a year but still have operational bugs (lost inspections, dead application links). Zoning’s geo-permit rollout is pending; the environmental health director said the two systems must be prototyped together and undergo QA testing to create a combined workflow. IT and zoning staff were reported to be working on fixes and a QA meeting was scheduled the morning after the board meeting.

On nuisance and complaint handling, environmental health staff explained that nuisance enforcement has primarily been handled by zoning in recent years; public-health staff will be consulted when a case clearly raises a health issue. The director said she will continue coordinating with zoning and code enforcement staff when needed.

Why this matters: Radon and water testing provide public-health data and consumer services; soil-analysis changes and a required code change could materially affect septic-permit timelines and applicants’ costs; and geo-permit functionality affects multiple permitting workflows across county departments.

What’s next: Staff will follow up on the probe purchase request, coordinate with Jayden on vehicle availability, continue QA work on geo-permitting with zoning and IT, and schedule the community radon/water-testing outreach in spring. The director told supervisors she expects current grants to draw down faster than in prior years because of administrative reimbursement changes for water testing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson County Iowa Board of Supervisors Meeting 2-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","County environmental health staff told supervisors they will continue radon outreach, are expanding soil-analysis work but face a potential code change requiring three borings per septic site, and have ongoing problems integrating geo-permitting with the zoning office.","taxTitle","taxId",38127,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6333145,"Jackson County supervisors approve retirement, bridge final plans, funding agreements and chiller contract",0,1688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2303564-ccdf1bf9df418d76f8773a5f94cef311&start=1688&end=1688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2303564-ccdf1bf9df418d76f8773a5f94cef311/thumbnail_1688000.jpg","/articles/6333145/Jackson-County/Iowa/Jackson-County-supervisors-approve-retirement-bridge-final-plans-funding-agreements-and-chiller-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6333145-a612e95d64b84f5ca131defea387d2ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665491&Signature=Ie-rK0QCfCNDg9huxYrwCtVBpRrUnj~L6a4McuI028C6ekKfO7rYDCaq8VXB4yHH1DjMjlkPtCY-GgqGMhyUMDmYmLx1pvujTlh1hPx9VeTv6BUHLklVd089DLt~EVHBfQaGhFseRmKsJgpPVjaKuVKOUT~Ahp3Z1YDgkt6O-8D7bda5ND-jZ410brJyQObe1-tDkw2cA5cQmnpEcrexw3HezaMM47ChHbTEjP2UCO9R5-morJ47bNRc0kKoAF8SCJrfLA3XdCL88tBsIkKnh0S27eL3HTbGYq1t-tE69E3DdKooz9RhRe1U4N12W6L4bnv2b5Slw7AygjwWSAxv7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 approved a package of personnel and infrastructure items, including a retirement in the secondary-roads department, final plans for the Z‑15 bridge at 360 Second Avenue, a joint funding agreement to acquire a portable traffic-signal trailer shared with Cedar and Jones counties, and a courthouse chiller purchase. The board also handled routine business such as claims, minutes and several appointments.

The votes covered items the board described as routine but operationally consequential: replacing a roadside chiller used by county facilities, progressing a bridge project through the state letting schedule, and completing grant paperwork required to accept and manage a shared traffic-signal trailer.

Votes at a glance: The following motions were made and approved during the Feb. 11 meeting.
- Approve the retirement of Ronald (Ron) Schmidt, Springbrook truck driver, effective Feb. 21, 2025. Motion: NIN; second: Mike. Outcome: approved.
- Approve final plans for the Z‑15 bridge replacement at 360 Second Avenue for submittal to the state Department of Transportation (May letting). Motion: (mover identified as NIN); second: Mike. Outcome: approved. Supervisors noted the May letting schedule likely pushes construction start into late summer or next year and discussed a proposed late-start request for March 2026; the board included a detour plan and a contractor requirement to dust-control a roughly 3‑mile gravel shortcut (370 Fifth Avenue) likely to see local cut-through traffic.
- Approve the PSEP/TSIP funding agreement for a portable traffic-signal trailer (county was lead applicant, sharing equipment with Cedar and Jones counties). Motion: Nintz (as spoken); second: Mike. Outcome: approved. Clarifying details from the meeting: the DOT-awarded grant covers up to $50,000; vendor quote presented to the board was about $60,000, which would leave a local share; meeting discussion indicated the local partners would divide remaining costs and maintenance responsibilities per a 28e agreement.
- Approve a 28e intergovernmental agreement among Jackson, Cedar and Jones counties for the shared portable traffic-signal trailer and authorize signatures as needed. Motion: Mike; second: (as spoken). Outcome: approved.
- Approve the payment of claims and authorize issuance of warrants and publication of the claims listing in the amount of $224,467.45. Motion: Mike; second: Nen. Outcome: approved. The auditor noted roughly $37,000–$38,000 in the list was for brush cutting and some rock work.
- Approve minutes of the Feb. 4, 2025 board proceedings and the Feb. 6, 2025 work session and authorize publication. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Set a public hearing on a budget amendment for March 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Approve moving the regular Feb. 25 supervisors meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to accommodate a board member’s out-of-office schedule and to allow time for a planned employee review that day. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Accept the resignation submitted by John (transcript includes both “Benson” and later “Manson”) from the zoning commission effective immediately and extend appreciation for his service. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: accepted. (Transcript contains inconsistent surname spellings; record below flags that discrepancy.)
- Approve reappointments to the eminent-domain commission and appoint Troy Teague to fill a vacancy. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Reappoint Jeanne Collins as the county weed commissioner with a term to expire Feb. 28, 2026. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Approve the 2025 noxious-weed resolution (resolution number read in the meeting but recorded inconsistently in the transcript). Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Approve proceeding with a nuisance-violation enforcement process for a property in Cheney Addition (complaints described as abandoned/inoperable and unregistered vehicles, onsite junk and burning); supervisors directed staff to begin with a courtesy notice and follow up if needed. Motion and second as recorded. Outcome: approved.
- Award the chiller contract (initial vendor bid plus two add-on options: a rotating-start relay option and coil/fin protective screens) for a total contract price of $97,989.58 and set a target completion date (vendor indicated May 31). Motion: (mover recorded as Nance); second: Mike. Outcome: approved. The board noted they will need a concrete pad at the installation site and that pad/placement are additional costs to be handled separately.

Why this matters: The votes move several capital or near-capital items forward (a bridge plan submittal, grant paperwork for a shared traffic asset, a facilities chiller replacement) and complete routine fiscal housekeeping (claims, minutes, appointments) that keep county operations compliant and funded. Bridge timing questions and shared-equipment insurance/maintenance arrangements will affect local schedules and budgets.

What’s next: The board scheduled the next regular meeting for Feb. 18, 2025, and a rescheduled Feb. 25 meeting at 4:30 p.m.; staff were directed to complete follow-up tasks (finalize the 28e agreement language with the partner counties, confirm insurance arrangements for the portable signal trailer, prepare the concrete pad for the chiller installation, post the internal job notice for the truck-driver vacancy).","On Feb. 11 the Jackson County Board of Supervisors approved the retirement of a secondary-roads truck driver, final bridge plans for Z‑15 (360 Second Avenue), a joint funding agreement for a portable traffic-signal trailer and a $97,989.58 chiller contract, along with routine minutes, claims and board appointments.","actionData","errors"]

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Environmental health director outlines radon testing, soil‑testing program and geo‑permitting issues

Jackson County supervisors approve retirement, bridge final plans, funding agreements and chiller contract