County Engineer Mike Cooney told the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 3 that he is 'mutedly optimistic' that at least one of two BUILD grants related to the county’s bridge study will advance, and that draft grant materials have been circulated to supervisors.

During the engineer’s report the board moved to approve the hiring of Isaac (Isaiah) Ott for a secondary roads sign position; the motion was seconded and the board voted to approve the hire. Supervisors also moved and seconded to set public hearings on two road vacations (Locust Road and 365th/61st Street) for Jan. 12 with the precise time to be determined; supervisors directed staff to publish public notices and notify adjoining landowners.

Cooney also reported on subdivision data, Porterhill project status and that crews worked extended hours during recent operations. Supervisors discussed timing for publishing notices and who would send letters to neighboring landowners. All motions related to the hire and the hearings were recorded as passing unanimously in the meeting record.

Supervisors asked staff to fill in hearing times and to return any necessary public-notice materials to the chair for publication.