County engineer asks pause on 60 mph default; board sets temporary 55 mph and opens bridge steel bids

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on June 30 approved a temporary 55 mph speed limit on paved secondary county roads while the county conducts engineering and traffic investigations to set an appropriate local speed limit.

County Engineer Catherine Nicholas asked the board to briefly pause implementing a recently approved state law that would raise county road speed limits to 60 mph effective July 1, and the supervisors voted to retain 55 mph on paved secondary county roads pending the county’s determinations under Iowa Code §§ 321.285 and 321.288. Board members were recorded voting aye: Justin Brandt, Ritch Kurtenbach, Chris Schwartz and Chair Linda Laylin; Supervisor Tavis Hall was absent.

At 10:25 a.m. the board held a public hearing on the proposed purchase of steel for Project L-3031, Ansborough Avenue Bridge #74445, and immediately opened sealed bids. The meeting record lists the estimated steel purchase at $71,451 and shows a bid from Oden Enterprises of Wahoo, Nebraska for $96,595.28.

County Engineer Nicholas recommended the board receive and place the bids on file to allow time for review; the Board did so. No award was made at the meeting; the bids will be reviewed and evaluated as part of the county’s procurement process.

What’s next: the county will complete its engineering and traffic studies to set permanent speed limits for affected roads, and county staff will review the bridge steel bids and return with recommendations for award or rejection.