County roads maps out 23 projects through 2031

With 23 secondary roads projects scheduled as far forward as 2031, Union County Supervisors were given information on these projects during Wednesday’s meeting.

Union County Engineer Christian Boehmer and Roads Superintendent Al Hysell presented the first quarterly report to the Union County, a new part of their activity reports which will show the development on roads projects as well as the states of several other incoming projects.

The first report showed winter projects in construction across the county. These include bridge replacements on 240th Street, 265th Street, Green Valley Spillway and an HMA Overlay on Adair-Union Street.

Since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2025, two bridges have been replaced on 120th Street and Squirrel Avenue, seal coat on 245th Street, a tanker placed on 120th Street, base stabilization on 240th Street and a water control structure on 150th Street.

As part of the report, a map showcasing scheduled, under construction and completed projects was presented to the board. The map proved to be charming for the supervisors. Often when discussing projects with Hysell and Boehmer, the supervisors would turn around and look at the maps on the wall behind them to pinpoint where projects take place.

Two copies of the map are now pinned to the back wall of the board of supervisors office. With the scheduled projects explicitly labeled, county supervisors will have a clearer idea of where construction is taking place and can inform constituents easier.

On the map, 23 projects are located. Some of these projects, including a bridge replacement on Redwood Avenue as it crosses the railway, is scheduled as far forward as 2031.

Secondary Roads remains an efficient department of Union County. As the department with the highest budget, Roads works year-round across the county. Boehmer said a large part of the department saving money for the county comes from in-house work rather than hiring contractors except when necessary.

Boehmer used an example of the department fabricating a unique part for one of the department’s dump trucks. The freedom to do this helps save the department funds.

“I think we can all understand, the more we can do in-house, the better, the more that stretches our dollars,” Boehmer said. “We don’t have to go to another shop to either borrow or pay a fee.”

Still, for the department’s budget in the next fiscal year, Union County Roads’ proposed budget is lower than last year, to the surprise of one county supervisor.

“I wonder where in the 99 counties [of Iowa] we fall,” Supervisor Rick Friday said. “I’ve been listening to the radio; I’ve been talking to other counties. The amount they’re increasing their roads budget is unbelievable. You are lowering your budget.”

In other Union County news...

Union County held a public hearing for the reading of the final ordinance changes, covering ordinances numbers 50-99. Changes are minimal in this final round; only one ordinance, 90.2 - agricultural area applications filing fees, is being removed completely. These changes were approved Wednesday.