The board of supervisors on Aug. 1 approved a lease allowing the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, on behalf of Iowa Workforce Development, to occupy office space at 330 First Avenue North.

The lease, approved by voice vote, sets rent at $1,900 per month after an initial concession. “They will pay us $1,900 a month,” Supervisor (unnamed) said during discussion. The tenant will also pay the electric bill for the current month, Supervisor (unnamed) said, and the county said the workforce office had already moved into the space.

The agreement was routed through the county attorney for review before the special Friday meeting; the county attorney returned it late the previous afternoon, prompting the expedited session. Chair (unnamed) asked for approval and for authority to sign the lease on the board’s behalf. With no questions from other board members, the chair called for the vote and the motion carried.

Board members said the space had been vacant since November and that placing a tenant would generate revenue and put the building to use. Supervisor (unnamed) said workforce development had been displaced from its previous location at a college and needed a new home quickly. “They needed a place,” Supervisor (unnamed) said.

The board corrected the property address in discussion; the lease is for 330 First Avenue North (the chair initially misstated 331 First Avenue North). The county identified the building as the DHS building during discussion.

No public comments on unrelated items were offered, and the meeting adjourned after the vote.