[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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",6080896,"mediaKeyId","2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a","parentId",2945145,"title","Board approves proclamations, contract changes, personnel requisitions and schedules public hearings","audioSeconds",497,"startMs",61000,"endMs",558298,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a&start=61&end=558","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a/thumbnail_61000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6080896/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Board-approves-proclamations-contract-changes-personnel-requisitions-and-schedules-public-hearings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080896-128d6df32575a1436b8312cd7518c9d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812653&Signature=VTrB3NxbjoY4qacMo6KiC8U-sYwhHa~EGL6PAm~UozvH1ZWm9HY6xqBX0zEwd8MPV-X1pPCTjg2q1Y51-6tGa7sAA7madyBigAIrOOBHEIr1QbQytf9SSCMNWBC~RLJ9oqpR8Gf1rB5XVCL4IS4U1KmTzMN6rNpIGcEURkx9VFJ8OpEO-qu58PJ2ie5B7lBLjfVamw9XXNbgEhV-V7HYrJTP9JGzB7gLkRpDjU8miGNxcvJT5tOYXKWZNd2pnVy3n1DRUMW~lZv3ONCbVPe~180TZxPDdLi0cJU6b9BViIkOc8dkblrr765U6wWVkzDUZCZU-tWEnnhOpxQ8x98PMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Black Hawk County, Iowa","date","2025-04-10T13:51:00.483Z","article","The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on April 8 approved a package of routine claims and several contracts, set a public hearing on a rezoning request and approved multiple personnel requisitions and administrative items.

The board adopted a proclamation recognizing National Public Health Week (April 7–13, 2025). The board approved a resolution authorizing the county auditor to issue payments for approved claims; the clerk reported total bill payments of $710,759.52, including a payment to Young Plumbing tied to an ARPA HVAC project and a payment to TABES Contracting for the Washburn Lagoon fencing project.

Supervisors approved change order No. 1, for $2,500, to Taves Construction Contracting Services LLC for the 2024 Washburn Sewer Lagoon Fence Project as recommended by AECOM and county staff. The board also approved a $44,000 contract with Envision (Waterloo) for a facility space-needs assessment for a planned maintenance facility (Longfellow) for the county road department.

The board authorized submittal of the secondary roads five-year construction plan and FY2026 budget information to the Iowa Department of Transportation as required for funding and planning. Supervisors approved personnel requisitions: a full-time financial accounting specialist in the sheriff’s office (estimated May 19–27 start), and an engineering technician for the roads department (estimated May 5 start) to allow overlap training with retiring staff.

Other actions approved included: a tax-sale certificate assignment and a related $500 compromise offer for a vacant lot parcel in Waterloo (certificate and parcel identifiers recorded in minutes), authorization for county staff to attend the Iowa Technology & Geospatial conference (estimated cost $2,192), and direction to publish a public hearing notice for a rezoning request (0.69 acres, 10162 South Hudson Road) to be heard April 22 in the county boardroom.

A bid opening for furniture for the Pinecrest campus veterans affairs facility (VA center, “Phase A”) produced multiple bids; the board voted to receive the bids and place them on file to allow time for staff review. Facility staff read bid amounts into the record during the hearing.

Motions were moved and seconded for each item; routine roll calls or voice votes followed and the chair announced that motions carried. Where roll-call votes were recorded in the meeting transcript, the board recorded affirmatives consistent with the motions carried.

Votes at a glance
- Proclamation: National Public Health Week (April 7–13, 2025) — approved (motion carried).
- Claims/payments resolution (total $710,759.52) — approved (motion carried). Major line items noted: Young Plumbing (ARPA HVAC), Cedar Valley Nature Trail payment, TABES Contracting (Washburn Lagoon fencing).
- Change order No. 1, Taves Construction — $2,500 — approved (motion carried).
- Contract: Envision, Waterloo — $44,000 space needs/facility assessment for Road Department — approved (motion carried).
- Submission of FY2026 Iowa DOT five-year road plan and budget — authorized (motion carried).
- Personnel requisitions: Financial accounting specialist (Sheriff’s Office); Engineering technician (Roads Department) — approved (motion carried).
- Tax-sale certificate assignment and $500 compromise offer for specified parcel — approved (motion carried).
- IT/geospatial conference travel for named staff (estimated $2,192) — approved (motion carried).
- Public hearing advertisement: proposed ordinance to rezone 0.69 acres at 10162 S. Hudson Road for a commercial kennel — direction given to publish notice (motion carried).
- Bid opening for Pinecrest/VA furniture — bids received and placed on file for review (motion carried).

Why it matters: The motions enacted routine and project-level authorizations that affect county capital projects, facility planning and staffing. Approvals advance road and facility projects (space needs study, Washburn sewer fence) and preserve the county’s procedural deadlines (Iowa DOT five-year plan, public hearing notice).

What’s next: Staff will finalize vendor contracts and return any required signature documents to the chair where authorized, review the furniture bids for the Pinecrest VA center and report back, and hold the advertised rezoning hearing on April 22 as scheduled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors Meeting - 04-08-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on April 8 approved a bundle of routine and project actions — from a proclamation for National Public Health Week to contract and personnel approvals — and placed multiple vendor bids and a zoning public hearing on the record.","taxTitle","taxId",3693,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6080887,"Board approves 5% employer health-insurance premium reduction; sheriff staffing and courthouse security remain in discussion",554,3342000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a&start=3342&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a/thumbnail_3342000.jpg","/articles/6080887/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Board-approves-5-employer-health-insurance-premium-reduction-sheriff-staffing-and-courthouse-security-remain-in-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080887-ba4e19db5df20d6f0e60f704bf03a5a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812653&Signature=S~uqsDYOHqrJUbYXBONkl7gbkqCIxshin-~s1JX1TtH-khIaVClLhdzU1SIPKYHFfXxPBuwNGzEcCjz2zuavdyxAZ92NqoY4BD0BkfevZTZTeCGUH83MoenZpOtp6m0tNphmNgNi5ctbn6An8pEiG3YShv40mZ-uieWC6GwNnaMiFenVI7lxgIVOaaV4U8~baoA1bA~K8i4BOoxZ6EMRlha2plPNiXZdIqkNDcvglnpI1GMEQd3L-bvxgGdypU5JkvKoE7OVddu97g8UT2QS71B~J-2LqWvHt3laaFmnbhfWGJSEZrFvZp9HdqanvMvFUu3YnDw4k4pNpunObLLytw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Black Hawk County supervisors in a work session on April 8 approved a 5 percent reduction in the county’s employer health insurance premium contribution for FY2026, a move county staff said will reduce the county’s property tax asking and is not intended to change employee coverage.

Michelle Wiedner (finance director) briefed the board and said she, Tim Jamieson and Amanda Fezenmeyer had reviewed plan performance and felt comfortable reducing the employer premium by 5 percent without changing benefits. County staff presented estimated fiscal effects: the premium change would lower employer costs by approximately $342,083 and reduce the county’s overall tax-collection increase from about 5 percent to about 4.1 percent. Staff noted fund balance and plan performance remain considerations and cautioned this is not a lever to use every year.

Board members questioned whether coverage or employees would be affected. County staff stated there would be no change in plan coverage or employee-level benefits tied to this employer-cost adjustment; supervisors approved the recommendation.

The budget work session also included extended discussion of staffing in the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Nate (surname in transcript) explained that multiple retirements have created vacancies and increased overtime costs, that he has previously reduced positions and restructured ranks, and that replacing or adding a chief-deputy position affects overtime, coverage and longer-term staffing costs. Several supervisors suggested deferring creation of a new high-level position (the previously proposed chief deputy/fourth captain) and instead using existing vacancy funding or a lower-level position if needed; the sheriff said he would prefer to retain the position but acknowledged vacancies and overtime realities. No formal action was taken to remove or add the chief-deputy position in the FY2026 budget; the board requested further review and noted that adding courthouse security coverage would require funding that cannot be supported by the county’s existing property-tax levy cap.

Why it matters: The health-insurance adjustment reduces the county’s employer-paid cost and slightly lowers the proposed tax-collection increase, while the unresolved sheriff staffing and courthouse-security funding questions could require additional budget decisions that affect public safety operations and future tax asks.

What’s next: The health-insurance employer-cost reduction will be incorporated into the FY2026 budget work papers. The board and county staff will continue discussions about sheriff staffing levels and courthouse security funding options, including whether to fund additional positions from vacancies, fund balance or an adjusted tax ask; supervisors were warned that the general-tax levy is at a limit and that other trade-offs would likely be required.","Black Hawk County supervisors voted to reduce the employer share of health insurance premiums by 5 percent for FY2026 to lower the property-tax ask; the meeting’s budget discussion also included extended debate about a proposed new chief deputy position in the sheriff’s office and options for courthouse security funding.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6080891,"Veterans Affairs reports increase in retro pays as Pinecrest VA furniture bids received for review",2272,841000,3113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a&start=841&end=3113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2945145-0152bfd5f7badbc5ba18d1d01534fe1a/thumbnail_841000.jpg","/articles/6080891/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Veterans-Affairs-reports-increase-in-retro-pays-as-Pinecrest-VA-furniture-bids-received-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080891-bb950eb7043bf501d1029dfb18bfa639/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812653&Signature=GZcB3Acywvua~6TD6g8pctq-~Kpto7wqSIRYXGQZLn50xfbttQDUmT4BKXJAiAYnq9mZz467j-ZF3DDAmAmwAgBoWZP0xptEY5RvcWyu6bpFXiCzbkYPj~Rx63Mz9n9EadQLMagwUTRYW4T-u-g4bhbE5GvcE4-~nd4q47Kscqi0ZTcvhny-8SCclsxU0eyb7z37PQO79I1nk0Fxmhee5J25ddx4HLnISpXIA1qQflFUw9ggauI9HUiUGNGCWMZE5nce5edygH3QRTa7V6QNEz0EglbTgLDn26vDWybo3lJeU2t1qfn-l01v4fGh0NqxNSvO-DNNmpz-b-qvUQ24cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Yolando Loveless, director of Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs, briefed the Board of Supervisors on the department’s remodel at the Pinecrest campus, outreach activities to care facilities and an increase in retroactive benefit payments tied to processing delays.

Loveless told supervisors that windows and roofing work at the remodeled Veterans Affairs facility are largely complete and that staff plan continued outreach to veterans and surviving spouses at care facilities throughout the year. He reported that claims processing time has lengthened — from roughly 90–120 days previously to about five to six months for some claims — producing larger retroactive payments when benefits are approved, and increasing monthly retro pay totals that the department is monitoring.

On facilities, Roy Gillen, facilities director, opened bids for furniture for the VA center (Phase A of the Pinecrest renovations). Bids were read into the record and staff asked the board to receive the bids and place them on file while staff review them and return with a recommendation. Bidders and amounts read into the record during the hearing included Office Concepts and other firms; the record was corrected during the meeting to ensure all bids were captured for review. The board voted to receive proofs of publication and the bids and to place them on file.

Why it matters: The VA office’s rising retroactive payments reflect a processing lag that affects county-managed veteran supports and department budgeting; the furniture procurement is a step in finishing the remodeled VA center and will determine outfitting costs for that facility.

What’s next: Facilities staff will review bids for the Pinecrest VA center and bring a recommendation to the board. Veterans Affairs staff will continue outreach to care facilities and monitor claims retro pay trends for budgeting and outreach adjustments.","The county’s Veterans Affairs director updated supervisors on facility remodel progress and rising retroactive benefit payments; the board also held a bid opening for furniture for the Pinecrest campus VA center and placed bids on file for staff review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves proclamations, contract changes, personnel requisitions and schedules public hearings

Board approves 5% employer health-insurance premium reduction; sheriff staffing and courthouse security remain in discussion

Veterans Affairs reports increase in retro pays as Pinecrest VA furniture bids received for review