IOWA CITY

Johnson County is moving ahead with additional investigation and design work for its current jail and sheriff’s offices.

A building stabilization project will include the replacement of the roof and other structure repairs. The additional work is meant to increase interior ventilation.

“Unless we do this investigation, we don’t know the need and don’t know the cost,” Supervisor Rod Sullivan during the Board of Supervisors work session June 11. “I think we have to go the step just so we can actually make a decision.”

The investigative and design work will add $12,820 to a construction project that will top $3.5 million.

The Board of Supervisors approved the additional work at its formal session last week.

“This is important to me and the staff, as well,” Sheriff Brad Kunkel told the Board. “We’re gonna have the roof off. Now is the time to look at this one way or another.”

A new jail is expected to cost around $80 million.

Housing Proposal

An official from the City of Iowa City appeared in front of the Board to propose a joint project with Johnson County and Veterans Affairs to turn a county-owned property on Hollywood Boulevard into affordable housing for veterans.

The property would have 15 rental units and would become Iowa’s first HUD-VASH housing project, a federally funded voucher program meant to help homeless veterans.

Vets would pay 30% of income toward the rental with utilities fully covered.

“Every veteran and every person deserves long-term safe affordable housing,” Supervisor Mandi Remington said. “Regardless of household composition, we have a high need for housing in the community.”

Johnson County bought the property at 1102 Hollywood on the south side of the city to help with the local housing crisis.

“I think the veterans in Johnson County not only need it, but deserve it,” Sullivan said.

Job Talk

Sheriff Brad Kunkel was among department heads appearing in front of the Board to fill jobs and questioned it.

When vacancies for existing positions come up, the current board has adopted a policy of discussing all job openings during work sessions, partly because of a tightening county budget.

“When we’re hiring existing budgeted positions that are also in the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Kunkel said, “it doesn’t make sense to me why there’s this process. … More of a ceremonial approve.”

“We do not want to slow down the process,” Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz said.

Board Action

The Board awarded a Maier Avenue SW  bridge replacement project to low bidder Peterson Contractors, of Reinbeck, at a bid of $409,028. The bridge will be a timber structure replacing a bridge over Picayune Creek.

The Board approved a number of Johnson County Social Services Block Grant agreements totaling more than $2 million, including $775,000 to the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. June 26. Work sessions will  be held June 18 and 25.