Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Des Moines County hires bond counsel and sets April 7 hearing for proposed $4.227 million loan
Summary
At its March 24 meeting the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved an engagement letter with Dorsey & Whitney LLP as bond counsel and set an April 7 hearing for a proposed general-obligation loan not to exceed $4,227,000 to fund sheriff parking improvements, building repairs, IT and elections equipment, insurance and other county projects.
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on March 24 approved hiring Dorsey & Whitney LLP to serve as the county's bond counsel and set a public hearing for April 7, 2026, on a proposed general-obligation county-purpose loan of up to $4,227,000.
The chair read the firm's engagement letter to the board and described the planned borrowing as two note series (2026A and 2026B) and local private placements with a local bank. The chair said the firm will prepare resolutions, notices, agreements and certifications and "We estimate that our fees and expenses for services as bond counsel will not exceed $17,000." The board voted to approve engagement of Dorsey & Whitney.
The board then read and approved Resolution 2026-8018 to set an April 7 public hearing on the loan proposal. The resolution lists intended project categories and approximate amounts: parking improvements and remodel at the sheriff's department facility, general county building repairs, approximately $633,000 for information-technology equipment, $61,000 for elections equipment, insurance for county operations, and other enumerated projects; the resolution cites Iowa Code sections governing notice and procedure and directs publication not less than four and not more than 20 days before the hearing.
Why it matters: The borrowing, if approved after the public hearing and subsequent actions, would provide the county with short-term funding for multiple capital needs across departments, including security and facility improvements at the sheriff's office and countywide IT and elections upgrades.
Board reaction and next steps: Supervisors voted to approve the engagement letter and to set the hearing date; the chair read the legal notice language and statutory citations. The board will receive public comments and take further action as needed after the April 7 hearing.
Authorities cited in the meeting included explicit references to provisions of the Iowa Code governing county borrowing and public-notice requirements. The engagement letter and resolution are on file with the county auditor's office.
