Board approves series of bond resolutions, weed-control notice and routine payments

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on April 1 approved a package of procedural resolutions to begin issuance proceedings for several general obligation capital loan note programs, authorized routine county payments and adopted the county's annual noxious-weed notice.

The board also directed the finance director to advertise a public hearing on the county's proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget for 10 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boardroom 201 of the Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo.

Why it matters: The resolutions begin the formal steps to borrow for public buildings, conservation projects and other county capital needs; advertising the budget hearing starts the required public notice timeline for budget adoption.

The board voted to authorize payment of outstanding claims totaling $737,279.49. The auditor's report submitted at the meeting noted higher-than-normal disbursements this week to catch up two months of payments to NapCare (about $410,000) and a construction payment to Don Gardner Construction for $69,967.50, along with approximately $80,160 in playground-related payments.

The board adopted its annual noxious-weed resolution notifying owners and occupants of unincorporated Black Hawk County that they must spray, cut, burn or otherwise destroy listed noxious weeds so they do not bloom or come to maturity. The resolution referenced the code sections named in the meeting materials (identified in the meeting as chapters 317.1a and 21 and subsection 58.4) and gave a compliance date of June 1, 2025.

Several separate resolutions instituting proceedings were adopted to start the issuance process for general obligation capital loan notes. Those items included (as listed on the meeting agenda): - Not to exceed $1,560,000 for essential county/public building purposes (ECP-1). - Not to exceed $1,560,000 for general county purposes including courthouse equipment and remodeling related to IT relocations and other building projects (E72 on the agenda). - Not to exceed $400,000 for acquisition and development of lands and improvements to be managed by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board (multiple GCP items listed on the agenda, several at $400,000 and one at $400,500 for erosion control at the Hartman Reserve).

The board also approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation capital loan indebtedness, series 2025, to provide funds for the approved purposes and moved to set the sale date for the bond issue in late May, with the clerk asking members whether May 27 or May 29 would work for a follow-up meeting to award the sale.

Other routine business approved included a personnel requisition for a full-time office specialist (a replacement) and placement of the minutes from the March 25 meeting on file.

The meeting record indicates the board closed the required public hearings on the bond notices after receiving no oral or written comments and proceeded with roll-call approvals on the resolutions.

Votes at a glance (as recorded on the agenda and during roll calls): - Authorization of claims and payments: approved (motion and second; roll call taken) - Advertisement for FY2025-26 budget public hearing (April 21, 2025, 10 a.m., Boardroom 201): approved (motion and second) - Annual noxious-weed resolution (compliance required by 06/01/2025): approved (motion and second) - Personnel requisition for office specialist (full-time replacement): approved (motion and second) - Multiple resolutions instituting proceedings for general obligation capital loan notes (amounts and purposes listed above): each motion to receive, place on file and institute proceedings was approved by the board on roll call - Resolution authorizing issuance of general obligation capital loan indebtedness, series 2025: approved (motion and second; roll call taken)

No individual yes/no tallies with full member-by-member breakdown were provided in the meeting transcript beyond routine roll-call confirmations of 'yes' during each vote. The meeting record shows the motions carried after roll-call votes and 'all in favor' procedures for items on the consent and bond-agenda sections.

The board scheduled a follow-up meeting in late May to award the sale and noted that the first year's principal repayment on the proposed debt service was currently modeled at $580,000; that figure may be adjusted before sale.

The board adjourned following a short work session on the FY2026 budget and related topics.

Ending: The procedural approvals move the county closer to selling bonds for courthouse and conservation projects and set the public budget process in motion; the board will reconvene in late May to award the sale and continues preparation for the April 21 budget hearing.