Linn County commissioners approve courthouse sound fixes, accept leases and personnel moves; defer Tanglewood clubhouse decision

Linn County commissioners on Tuesday approved $2,200 for immediate acoustic upgrades to the judicial center jury room and courtrooms and approved a string of routine actions including a one-year farm-lease award, personnel changes and assistance to a local cemetery. Commissioners also asked planning staff to provide full written materials on a conditional-use permit for a proposed 2,160-square-foot clubhouse at Tanglewood Lakes before the board takes a final vote.

The board’s $2,200 approval covers ceiling and sound-attenuation panels, door sweeps and related materials in the jury room and courtrooms; county maintenance staff and the sheriff’s office agreed to assist with installation where possible. Commissioners said they want to start the smaller, time-sensitive fixes while the county prepares a larger plan for roof, floor and other courthouse repairs that will require state review and possible preservation funding.

Judges and courthouse staff had raised concerns about audible crossover between the jury room and courtrooms. County staff described a staged approach: submit an application to the state for the clerk’s office flooring repairs, ask maintenance to reinstall an existing heat-shield in the courthouse basement this week, and pursue a separate, more detailed state review for roof and other historic-structure work.

Votes at a glance

- Courtroom acoustic upgrades: motion to approve up to $2,200 for ceiling/insulation, door sweeps and sound testing — approved (voice vote). - Land lease, 9310 Thomas Road: accepted high bid of $18,500 from Kenny Baugh for a one-year lease — approved (voice vote). - Hire for Mound City fire station: motion to hire Tom Paulbaker to Station 910 — approved (voice vote). - Resignation accepted: Curtis Brown, Public Works, resignation accepted — approved (voice vote). - Refunds/abatements: approved refunds totaling $19,468.70 — approved (voice vote). - Assistance application, Mount Carmel Cemetery: accepted request for blading and possible rock haul and spreading — approved (voice vote). - Township appointments: appointed Karen Springer as Sheridan Township treasurer and Karen German as Sheridan Township trustee — approved (voice vote).

Several other routine claims and motions were approved, including claims totaling $616,969.56.

What commissioners said and why it matters

Commissioners and courthouse staff described the $2,200 package as a targeted, short-term step intended to reduce noise during upcoming jury trials while the county develops a larger preservation and repair plan for the courthouse. County staff said they will submit the flooring work as a separate application to the state for approval; if approved, that work would proceed while roof and structural work are planned with State Historic Preservation review and any available grant or tax-credit opportunities.

County maintenance staff reported they already have a heat-shield piece sitting in the courthouse basement; commissioners asked maintenance to reinstall it immediately to reduce moisture/heat transfer that has been linked to flooring damage. Staff said some work (attaching insulation and hanging acoustic panels) could be completed by maintenance and the sheriff’s staff without adding labor costs if the county provides materials.

Roads and public works

Roads and Bridge operations director Jesse Walden told commissioners the department is preparing a chip-and-seal plan for this year and will request bids for striping as weather allows, aiming for work in April or May. The department reported recent culvert replacements, pothole and washboard repairs and equipment maintenance; commissioners asked staff to publish closure notices and use mobile signage to notify residents when major culvert replacements will require detours of up to about two days per culvert. The board also heard that Bettis Paving plans to open a hot-mix plant on the county’s north end, which staff said could reduce trucking distances for asphalt patches.

Public safety, detention and ambulance reports

Sheriff James Hanks reported progress lining up juvenile-detention placements on call with Douglas and Johnson counties and said those counties can provide placement on a per-diem basis; he told the board the county will need to sign memorandum-style paperwork and have the county attorney review it before formalizing participation. The board did not take a final action during the meeting.

Dawn Brooks of AMR provided weekly ambulance totals: the service reported 24 calls and 14 transports across Linn County communities for the most recent week.

Planning and zoning: Tanglewood Lakes CUP

Planning staff presented Conditional Use Permit CUP-25-01, a request for a 2,160-square-foot clubhouse at Tanglewood Lakes (commonly addressed as 173 Luan Drive). Staff reported required public notices were published and recommended approval with conditions tied to Linn County building and sanitation codes and standard CUP findings. The applicant asked the board for approval at the meeting but commissioners said they had not received the planning packet in advance and requested the full staff report, site maps and documentation be provided and placed on the Feb. 18 agenda so commissioners can review before making a decision.

Other business

- The board accepted a one-year farm lease bid of $18,500 for county-owned property at 9310 Thomas Road and said the contract documents will be circulated for signatures. - The board accepted the resignation of a Public Works employee and approved a hire for Mound City fire station staff to bring that station’s roster closer to capacity. - Commissioners approved a county response to an assistance request from Mount Carmel Cemetery to haul and spread rock, with the cemetery board covering material costs. - The board moved its next regular meeting to Feb. 18 because Feb. 17 falls on a holiday.

Executive sessions and public comment

The board held multiple executive sessions for non-elected personnel; no final action was taken during or immediately after those sessions. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

What’s next

Planning staff will return with the full CUP packet for Tanglewood Lakes and commissioners will consider it at the Feb. 18 meeting. County staff said they will begin the state application for courthouse flooring and will proceed with the limited acoustic work immediately after purchase of materials.

(For details of motions and where they appear in the meeting transcript, see the Votes at a glance list above.)