Black Hawk County receives $277,000 Thrive Iowa award, approves courthouse signage design work and schedules Washburn drainage session

Black Hawk County Public Health told supervisors on Nov. 4 that the county has been invited to serve as the backbone organization for the Thrive Iowa initiative and that an initial award of $277,000 was approved, with an expected additional $45,000 from Iowa HHS. The public health director said the award would fund hiring a community initiative coordinator and two family navigators (subject to Board of Health approval) and that the project aims to improve family stability and care coordination.

In a separate update, marketing coordinator Gabby DeWitt reported progress on an accessibility plan and presented sign and rebranding areas for the courthouse and adjacent public spaces. DeWitt asked the board to authorize design work for three targeted areas (back wall, board office windows and courthouse entry) with funds identified from a strategic-plan rollout allocation and a signage line item; supervisors agreed to move forward with design concepts and asked for final designs to return for approval.

Roads director Kathy Nicholas gave a routine roads update — blading, ditch cleanouts and seeding — and said chassis for a new dump truck has arrived and is being outfitted; she said she expects the outfitting to take several months. Nicholas also proposed a work session in early December to review the Washburn drainage district history, responsibilities and possible approaches after residents raised concerns about mowing and tree growth in the ditch district.

Board members thanked staff for the updates and asked for proposed designs and a suggested date for the Washburn work session.