IOWA CITY

Construction may soon begin on a culvert that shut down a portion of Sharon Center Road SW more than a month ago.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will vote Thursday on a bidding process that would award the project to Boomerang Corp., a construction firm from Anamosa.

The project drew bids from five contractors. Boomerang was the low bidder at $284,380, which was more than $5,000 under the engineering estimate for the project. Other bidders, including Iowa Bridge and Culvert of Washington, had bids ranging from $298,183 to over $420,000.

Once a bid is awarded by the Board on Thursday, Johnson County road officials expect work to begin quickly so that the failed culvert on Sharon Center Road can be replaced and the road is opened up again to traffic.

The road begins at Highway 1 west of Iowa City and cuts through the middle of Sharon Township and down to Kalona, and is a frequently used route for motorists, farmers and others. The closure is just north of the Welsh Congregational Church of Christ and about half a mile south of the road’s intersection with Highway 1 in southwest rural Johnson County.

GuideLink Plans

The GuideLink Center, a mental health and substance abuse facility which is located in Iowa City and operated by Johnson County, is moving toward opening up its contractual agreements in the next year.

AbbeHealth Services, Community & Health Resources (CFR) and CommUnity currently have contracts to provide services, and have played key roles in the establishment of GuideLink, but the county plans on going through a formal bidding process for future service contracts. The current contracts expire at the end of the year.

“There are external folks that are interested in coming in,” said Dave VanCompernolle, assistant Johnson County Attorney. “There are internal folks that are interested in having more pieces or all of the pieces of the pie.”

Since the GuideLink Center has opened, more than 5,500 patients have been treated.

“All the people I’ve talked to really feel like the GuideLink Center has been a model for the whole state,” Supervisor Chair Rod Sullivan said. “I really feel like this is cutting edge and has performed really well.”

Rising costs have led to discussions about cutting back some services, while also leading to a competitive bidding process.

Supervisor Jon Green is being tasked with drafting the Request for Proposal agreements, which would be issued during the summer months.

JoCo Grants

The Board approved more than $2.4 million in grants during its formal session June 6.

Among them were more than $1.9 million in social services block grants, including $724,424 to the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County and $135,000 to CommUnity Crisis Services & Food Bank; more than $350,000 for a number of Juvenile Justice and Youth Development program agreements, including $74,615 to Big Brothers Big Sisters for mentoring; $100,000 in Emergency Hunger Relief funding combined for CommUnity Crisis Services & Food Bank, and food pantries in Coralville and North Liberty; and more than $90,000 for a number of Social Services Hunger Relief grant programs.

Board Actions

The Board approved a $15,000 crisis child care agreement with 4Cs of Johnson County.

The Board approved a $33,000 agreement with Youth Empowered to Serve (YES!).

The Board approved an FY25 agreement with Linn County for juvenile detention services.

The Board approved $8,823 in change orders with Tricon Construction Group for the Johnson County Courthouse remodel.

The Board issued proclamations in honor of Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 7, and Pride Month.

Next meeting: The Board’s next formal session is at 5:30 p.m. June 13. The Board’s monthly meeting will include a number of public hearings for zoning and platting applications.