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Supervisors direct Conservation management of county quarry, address local road maintenance and hire equipment operator
Summary
The Board directed continued county ownership of the Van Buren County Quarry with Conservation management, declined to assume maintenance of select Selma alleys (allowing adjoining owners to maintain driveways), approved DOT paving of the Jersey Avenue south approach, and appointed Wayne Coffman as Equipment Operator effective June 1, 2026 at $24.92/hr.
The Van Buren County Board of Supervisors on May 11, 2026 directed continued county ownership of the Van Buren County Quarry on the east side of Ivy Trail and instructed the County Engineer and Conservation Director to work on establishing boundaries and fencing.
County Engineer Ryne Thornburg and County Conservation Director Richard Daugherty discussed options including a parcel split or sale, but the Board concluded Conservation management under continued county ownership was the preferred course and gave staff direction to define limits and fencing.
Resident Russell Ritz raised maintenance concerns about Liberty Street and two alleys in Selma and warned that winter conditions and a single northbound route (Bridge Street) could delay emergency response to the north part of town. The Board agreed the county would not take responsibility for maintenance of the specific rights-of-way in question, but said owners of adjoining lots may maintain driveways within those rights-of-way.
On infrastructure work, the Board approved Project #STP-002-9(047)-2C-89 and authorized the Chair to sign Agreement #2026-C-114, allowing the Iowa DOT to pave the south approach of Jersey Avenue at Highway 2. The motion was made by Supervisor Meek and seconded by Supervisor House; Ayes: 3.
Separately, the Board discussed a potential conflict with Section 2.6 of the Employee Handbook regarding supervisory duties for a recommended new hire. The Board waived that section for this hire and, on motion by House seconded by Meek, appointed Wayne Coffman of Douds as a full-time Equipment Operator for the Secondary Roads department effective June 1, 2026 at a wage of $24.92 per hour. Ayes: 3.
Provenance: Items summarized above appear in the official minutes in SEG 001–SEG 002.
