The Linn County Board of Supervisors on Monday accepted a revised statement of election costs for the Sept. 10 special election, approved a reallocation of previously committed American Rescue Plan Act funds to county projects and authorized construction work on two county facilities.

Staff presenting the election statement said the county changed the format to show costs being passed along to jurisdictions and will deliver an analysis to improve transparency and predictability in how jurisdictions are built for elections. “We did change the format of the statement of election costs just a little bit and that we included the costs that’s being passed along to each jurisdiction,” staff said during the meeting. The board voted to accept the statement so billing to jurisdictions can proceed.

County finance staff and ARPA coordinator Sonia Evans told supervisors the county has underruns in previously allocated ARPA projects and proposed directing about $60,000 to two county projects that already have contracts: isolation cells in the county jail and improvements at the homeless shelter. “I’m looking at about $60,000 to reallocate to those projects from other sources that came in under budget,” Evans said. Supervisors discussed keeping flexibility in how the funds are split; the motion to reallocate with that direction passed on a voice vote.

Darren Gage, director of policy administration, presented a resolution to approve a contract and required bonds for the Linn County Winter Weather Shelter Improvements Project with the contractor named in the transcript as King Canoecken Construction. Gage told the board that although the contract was approved, work will not start until mid-March or when the winter weather shelter is closed for the season. “This resolution authorizes the chair to sign a notice to proceed, but I want to point out that even though the contract is getting approved today, this work won't start until mid March or until the winter weather shelter is actually closed for the season,” Gage said. The board approved the resolution.

Gage also presented an ARPA-funded proposal with Unzig Construction Company to renovate Building 2 at 2957 Highway 13 — a project budgeted at $99,268 to build restrooms and do electrical work so the building can be used for EMA storage or sheriff’s office functions. He said the county is obligating the funds before year-end to comply with ARPA rules. Supervisors approved the contract.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved routine minutes, payroll and claims and struck a consent-agenda item authorizing a renewal service agreement with Donald Linder, DO. The board also approved a block of appointments listed on the agenda.

The supervisors did not record roll-call tallies with member names for the motions described; each action in the meeting passed by voice vote as recorded in the minutes. Next steps for the larger projects include contract administration and scheduling; the winter shelter work is expected to begin only after the shelter season ends.