Des Moines County supervisors approve contracts, tax suspension, personnel and technology purchases

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 approved a package of contracts, a local tax suspension and several personnel and technology items during a regular meeting at the county administration building.

The board approved liquor licensing for 34 Raceway; a suspension of real estate taxes under Iowa Code 427.9 for a qualifying owner; a secondary-roads services agreement with AFT (name in transcript); a three‑year local‑health services agreement that raises the first year by 5% and the next two years by 3%; a design contract for a bridge preliminary design and environmental review ($27,670); resolution to apply for SDBG (Small Bridge/Grant) funding for Pleasant Grove Road; county IT and data center purchases paid from fund balance; and routine personnel step and anniversary increases including correctional officers and a part‑time cook. The board also approved a compensation schedule for elected officials amid extended discussion of comparable pay.

Why it matters: the votes advance capital projects, staffing and county operations and commit money from the county fund balance for technology upgrades. The approvals also commit the county to pursue state and federal bridge funding.

Details of the votes and formal actions

- Liquor license: motion to approve passed. Roll call in transcript: Shane (recorded as “Shane DeCampo / McCandless” in roll-call lines) — yes; Tom Brogan — yes; Jim Carey — yes. The application will be forwarded to the state as required.

- Suspension of real estate taxes (Iowa Code 427.9): motion to approve passed. The transcript records roll-call votes approving the suspension for a qualifying owner; the board noted the suspension remains in place while the recipient owns the property and becomes due if the property is sold or transferred.

- Secondary roads agreement with AFT (contract for secondary roads staff/equipment): motion to approve passed on unanimous roll call recorded in the transcript.

- Local health department contract (three‑year agreement): motion to approve passed with roll-call votes recorded as yes by supervisors present; the contract carries a 5% increase in year one and 3% increases in years two and three.

- Bridge preliminary design contract (structural consultant): motion to approve passed. The contract amount recorded in the meeting is $27,670 and the consultant work covers preliminary design and environmental tasks (bats, wetlands, other studies). The board noted final design would be a separate supplemental contract.

- Resolution to pursue SDBG/other bridge grant funding for Pleasant Grove Road: motion to approve passed. The board will submit the application and scheduling details to regional planning as requested; any award would arrive on a multiyear timeline and funding amounts are estimates.

- IT/data center and equipment purchases: motion to approve a package of hardware, backups and software funded by $355,000 from the county general fund balance; the auditor noted the fund balance would remain near $2 million after the expenditures.

- Personnel matters: the board approved multiple step/anniversary pay adjustments in the correctional center and other departments. The board also approved a set of elected‑official salary increases recommended by staff (see separate article on compensation).

- Minutes and routine reports: the board approved minutes of the Feb. 4 meeting and accepted departmental fee reports for January.

What the board did not decide

No formal action was taken at the meeting on the county’s radio-system upgrade, the Burlington franchise-fee question, or the public complaint about a regional housing repair program; those were discussed or raised but are subject to follow-up elsewhere.

Ending: The approvals clear work to proceed on routine county business, bridge design and grant pursuit, and a set of personnel and technology updates expected to affect budgets in the coming year.