Inconsistent Gravel Roads Could Lead to Dangerous Travel
As the fall season continues and farmers across the area take to the fields for harvest, it’s important to reminder how to stay safe on area secondary roads.
Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says gravel roadways are often inconsistent.
“One mile of gravel roads could be completely packed down and the next could be completely soft, depending on the area you’re in. So yeah, slow down is always a good rule of thumb out in the county. Those shoulders will generally be a little softer, especially with all the rain we’ve had. There’s a lot of puddles, a lot of ruts, a lot of washboard road ways out there in the gravel.”
Vaughn says though the County’s secondary roads department does a good job of trying to maintain the roads, sometimes Mother Nature gets in the way.
He reminds the public that it is important to take your time and make sure you slow down, especially at uncontrolled intersections this fall.
Boxholm Man Dies in Crash on Highway 141
We now have the identity of the man killed in a single vehicle crash on Highway 141 in Dallas County Monday morning.
Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nathan Ludwig tells Raccoon Valley Radio 65 year-old Edward Nelson of Boxholm was traveling east on Highway 141 between Perry and Woodward when a medical condition caused him to lose control of his pickup truck.
Nelson’s vehicle traveled through the median, across both westbound lanes and into the north ditch near Quinlan Avenue.
Several agencies responded to the scene including the state patrol, Dallas County Sheriff’s office and Dallas County EMS.
The right lane of westbound Highway 141 was blocked for a short time during the morning commute while first responders tended to the accident.
Archery Center Grand Opening Saturday in Adel
The City of Adel is building the first municipal archery range in Dallas County and everyone is invited to come celebrate their grand opening this weekend.
The Adel Parks and Recreation Archery Center is located at the site of the former municipal wastewater treatment plant on Old Portland Road.
It includes five shooting lanes that can accommodate up to 10 archers at once time. It gives both archers and hunters a safe place to practice and prepare for upcoming competitions and hunting seasons.
The celebration is scheduled for Saturday from 8am until noon.
For more information call 993-4525.
Weekly Precipitation Update
September came to a wet end this week here in the Raccoon River Valley and October is off to a dry start.
According to the National Weather Service, Guthrie Center received another almost two inches of rain this past week for a total of 3.9 inches in September. Perry added more than one and three-quarters of an inch for a total of almost 6.9 inches last month. Jefferson saw another 1.6 inches for a total of 5.4 inches in September.
Normal monthly rainfall totals for October are 2.62 inches in Guthrie Center and 2.44 inches for both Perry and Jefferson.
Dallas County Supervisors Meeting Recap
The Dallas County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.
At the meeting, the Board approved payroll changes notices for three correctional officers in the sheriff’s office. The fifth amendment to the DeSoto Urban Renewal Plan was also approved. This extends the urban renewal area into the unincorporated portion of the City but has no tax consequences for the County as the property is owned by the City of DeSoto.
A written request from the E911 commission was then received and filed. This is for the issuance of a bond for the purchase of $5.5 million in communications equipment including a 2-way public safety radio system, dispatching equipment and a voice paging system. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for October 13th’s regular Supervisors meeting. Communications Supervisor Terry McClannahan says if a law enforcement agency in the County wants or needs additional equipment in the future, it will be up to them to supply and fund those additions, rather than them coming to the County looking for more money. He says this new system will allow the County to both run dispatch services independently and work with the state’s systems in the Des Moines metro area if needed in the future.
A vending machine placement request from the Sheriff’s Benevolent Association was then approved. This is for a beverage vending machine at the human services campus, with proceeds going to support the association’s efforts such as Shop with a Cop and the holiday food basket program.
An amendment to the fifth judicial court DECAT restorative justice contract was then approved. This increases the contract by almost $12,000 in perviously unallocated funds to $186,262 for this fiscal year and $174,300 per year through June of 2020.
Next a maintenance agreement with Marshall Wind LLC was approved. County Engineer Al Miller says the City of Perry has approved a three wind turbine project that requires the ability to haul large, heavy equipment. The agreement sets a designated haul route for the equipment on K Avenue and 150th Street. Marshall will be responsible for any damage to the roadways caused by the hauling. The turbines are expected to be erected by the end of November.
Facilities Director Eric Rose then reported that lights and doors are being installed and carpet is being laid on the new human resources campus. The targeted move in date is currently set forOctober 19th, though architect Jerry Purdy says it will likely be closer to the end of the month.
Purdy then talked about the potential of moving the communications, or dispatch, portion of the sheriff’s office to the human services campus. He says while there is room, it’s the technical and mechanical side of things that will need some additional work. Supervisor Kim Chapman asked if there would be enough parking space on campus to add the additional department. Purdy says while he hasn’t done a car count at this point, he believes there will be enough space in the current parking project layout. The Board also talked briefly about moving the emergency management department out to the campus. That discussion will continue at next week’s meeting. Purdy and Sheriff Leonard, along with their staff, will continue to look at what generator options are needed to provide adequate backup for the campus.
Veterans Affairs Director Nick Praska then talked about the advantages and disadvantages of his office moving out to the human services campus. He says he works with a variety of different departments, some of which will be out at the campus, while the others will continue to be be on the square in Adel. Regardless, Praska says there will be traveling involved between the two locations. The Board also talked about whether or not the environmental health department would be better served at the newly renovated campus.
The Supervisors stated they don’t enjoy using “bandaid approaches” to issues but sometimes that’s a necessity, as in this case until a bond issue is passed. Operations Administrator Connie Kinnard encouraged the Board to move forward with decisions on where each department would go because there are many things at a stand still and pending at this time. Rose said moving bids are due next week and asked the Board to make some decisions so they can have the project bid accordingly.
The Board discussed various options but no official action was taken as it was scheduled as a workshop item on the agenda.