Black Hawk County approves claims, data-recovery contract and Pinecrest change order

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors approved multiple fiscal and project actions Oct. 28, including claims payments, a data-recovery services contract and a change order on the Pinecrest renovation project.

County staff reported total bill payments of $504,553.88 and highlighted individual items: payment to North Iowa juvenile detention of $44,066.48; expenditures toward Puff panel upgrades of $8,965; and a consulting payment to Baker Tilly of $750. The auditor’s report also referenced recent road department equipment purchases (numbers recorded in the meeting record as $988,096.05 and $986,805.52 for heavy equipment purchases). The board approved the claims resolution by roll call.

The board approved a contract with DriveSavers for professional data-recovery services at a stated cost of $34,000 after staff said the previously retained vendor could not meet the county’s needs. The contract was approved by roll call.

Facilities Director Rory Gilliam presented Change Order No. 3 for the Pinecrest renovation, totaling $22,057.50. Gilliam said the amount will be covered partly by bid allowances and project contingencies; the change order includes deducts (for demolition/garage slab and certain casework) and additions including electrical work (an outlet in a conference room driven by code requirements) and a fire-rated corridor ceiling required after a fire marshal inspection. Gilliam also reported the elevator shaft installation is complete and that additional work (an added restroom proposal, egress/stair recertification and future concrete repairs) may come before the board later. The board approved the change order by roll call.

The board extended its contract with Messingham Snow Removal of Waterloo, Iowa, for snow-hauling services and approved the contractor’s new hourly rates as presented; the meeting transcript states the awarded amount in the record in an unclear numeric format, which is not specified here. The facilities director said the vendor has performed well in prior years and compared current rates to earlier bids.

Other approvals included a personnel requisition to post a full-time Technology Support Specialist position in the IT department and acceptance of the 2025 Weed Commissioner’s report by Griffin Kobolka. The board approved a minor plat and rezoning to allow a single-family house north of 6124 West Mount Vernon Road, and rescheduled the Nov. 11 meeting to Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.

All motions noted above were approved by roll call votes during the meeting.