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Black Hawk County approves $750,000 toward Waterloo evidence intake facility, agrees to share operating costs
Summary
The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted May 20 to approve a 2080 agreement committing $750,000 toward construction of a joint evidence intake facility in Waterloo and to a separate operating-cost agreement that ties county payments to a capped share of annual expenses over 20 years.
The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on May 20 approved a 2080-style agreement to contribute $750,000 toward a proposed evidence intake facility to be constructed, owned and maintained by the City of Waterloo and used jointly by the Waterloo Police Department and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office.
County staff said the city will build the facility and provide proof of construction costs before the county makes its $750,000 payment. "This sets up a 50‑year joint point with the City of Waterloo ... we’re going to pay them $750,000 towards the construction," said Mike, a county staff member who presented the draft agreement to the board.
The board also approved a separate operating‑expense agreement that limits the county’s annual payments to a capped share of the facility’s operating costs over a 20‑year period. The operating agreement the board approved ties county payments to 25% of operating expenses but also sets maximum dollar caps by multi‑year blocks: $10,000 per year for years 1–5, $10,500 for years 6–10, $11,000 for years 11–15 and $11,500 for years 16–20.
The county’s presentations to the board said the agreements give the county input during bid letting but leave final construction decisions to the City of Waterloo. Presenters said the agreements include an early‑termination reimbursement clause: if the project terminates in fewer than 15 years the city would refund county payments made to that point.
County and law‑enforcement speakers described expected operational benefits. An investigator provided case counts the county relied on when weighing the contribution: "We’re averaging about a hundred cases a year the last three years that we’re taking to Ankeny," said an investigator who presented usage figures. County speakers said locating lab capacity locally should reduce travel, staff hours and turnaround time for evidence processing.
Board members pressed for detail on expected volume, proportionate use, and future operating costs. Some supervisors said they favored a smaller one‑time contribution; others said a larger contribution plus a capped operating share preserved a predictable, proportionate relationship between construction and ongoing costs. County finance staff told supervisors the operating payment would be handled via a separate reimbursement agreement and would be charged to the sheriff’s operating budget as it is paid annually.
The board approved three interlocking items on the agenda: the 2080 agreement recording the county’s construction contribution, the separate operating‑expense agreement, and a joint‑use policy governing how the sheriff’s office and Waterloo Police Department will share the facility. The motions carried after roll call votes. The 2080 agreement passed with a majority of board members voting yes (several members abstained or voted no on related procedural points); the operating expense resolution also carried. The city had not given final sign‑off on the county’s draft at the time the county voted; presenters said future city acceptance, or negotiation, could alter final terms.
The county’s presenters repeatedly stressed that detailed terms remain subject to final negotiation with Waterloo and to subsequent implementing agreements; the board’s approvals authorized the county to move forward with the county’s portion of the agreements and to record them as drafted.
