Board approves $14,656.60 payout for downtown historic-inventory work pending reimbursement

Kathy Jal, chair of the county Historic Preservation Commission, asked supervisors to pre-approve payment of $14,656.60 — 70% of a contractor’s fee — for site-inventory work documenting downtown buildings in Wapello and Columbus Junction. The commission applied for and received a state preservation grant; per the grant’s reimbursement rules, the contractor’s invoice is paid up front and then the state reimburses eligible costs.

Jal told the board the inventories are substantially complete and under state review, though the state returned the reports for minor revisions. The total project budget is $20,938; local matching funds were provided by the two cities ($3,500 each) and state match noted in the grant application. The board moved and seconded to allow pre-approval of the 70% payment while staff prepares any required budget amendment so the county’s accounting reflects the reimbursement flow.

A supervisor clarified that the county does not front the full grant amount without subsequent reimbursement, and the clerk said the check would not be cut until the next claims period in April. The historic-preservation commission will provide the full report to the board when the state review is complete.

The board’s approval authorizes payment for the partial invoice now and expects staff to process any budget amendment and follow the standard reimbursement claims schedule.