Rural road portion could receive upgraded classification

A level B road could receive an upgrade following approval from the Union County board of supervisors.

Union County Engineer Christian Boehmer presented a resolution to turn 182 feet of 220th Street into a level A road. The portion extends east from the intersection of Hawk Avenue. The resolution presented during Wednesday’s meeting will not be approved until after a public hearing on May 14.

Classification of roads determine the level of maintenance a county will perform on it. Most level B roads typically aren’t used regularly by any residence, so the county doesn’t perform the same level of maintenance on them as they would a regularly-used level A road.

The upgrade was first discussed during the April 9 county meeting. Loretta Harvey, an attorney for Mullin, Mullin & Harvey Law, proposed the portion to be improved to a level A road. Kim Baker and Rob Engler, representatives from Iowa State Savings Bank to the Melissa Fils Supplemental Trust, were also present for the proposal.

ISSB, as the trustee, plans to build housing for Melissa Fils and requested the county upgrade the section of the road which would lead to the residence. The bank offered to split the cost between the homeowner and Union County for the upgrade and graveling. An estimate was ready by April 23’s meeting.

The total project will involves the clearing of trees and surfacing, with a total estimated project cost of $5,083.41. During Wednesday’s meeting, Harvey said the trustees could pay for the full cost of the project, despite their initial proposal to only pay for half. Harvey said this payment could help expedite the process.

The classification of the road will receive a public hearing during the May 14 Union County board of supervisors meeting.

In other Union County news...

Supervisors approved the budget for the next fiscal year effective July 1.

A public hearing on the budget was held during Wednesday’s meeting with a return visit from Mike Morris, who had in a previous meeting requested the board to be more critical of their project approvals. Morris asked for a few clarifications on certain sections of the budget and expressed some criticism of how the budget is presented.

“It’s just difficult for the average joe to look at your budget and determine where we are and how you guys balance your own budget just like how our family balances our own budget,” Morris said.