The extreme cold and frequent wind in the last ten days have been a major challenge for the county’s Secondary Roads Department the board was told Tuesday.
“It just will not let …
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The extreme cold and frequent wind in the last ten days have been a major challenge for the county’s Secondary Roads Department the board was told Tuesday.
“It just will not let up,” said County Engineer Jacob Thorius. “The wind has not been our friend.” He explained that the crews have been out consistently opening roads, but within a short period of time, the wind has blown back snow,
“We just have to do it over and over and over.”
Despite the hours and the cold, he said the crews will keep working. However it was noted the weather forecast indicates temperatures in the 30s (above) by the weekend.
The board approved having Thorius arrange and sign a contract for a consulting engineer to design the new bridge over the Skunk River at McKain’s Acess. The project was approved at the February 2 meeting. The contract is with the Iowa County Engineers Association with cost of services estimated t $108,000. The project cost is estimated at $6.5 million with the county seeking a competitive $5 million grant from the federal BUILD program.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a wage increase for Skyler Juhl as regular part-time for the Washington County Conservation Board as a returning summer employee from $11 to $15 per hour;
• Set the public hearing related to the proposed county ordinance for special valuation of wind energy conversion property for 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 17 at the Conservation Education Center, Marr Park, Ainsworth. The board stressed it is neither a forum nor a debate, but an information session. Sign-up will be set up prior to the session; and
• Received a COVID-19 update, starting with the February 11 vaccination clinic that had 350 vaccines given at the Wellman Parkside Center and an additional 130 given by Washington County Hospital to frontline personnel the next day. The next clinic is February 22 with the appointment done only by calling 319-653-3030 from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski said that the county will receive its full regular vaccine doses Friday, after the site reversed its decision about cutting this week’s allocation to five counties, including Washington.
