Dubuque County supervisors to vote Monday on shared county engineer deal, flood dollars for fire departments

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in the Board Chambers on the fourth floor of the Dubuque County Courthouse, 720 Central Ave., with a Zoom option. The amended agenda drops a procurement notice to bidders and a county engineer work session, and adds a communication on the 2026 County Conservation Bond. Money items lead the action list. The board will vote on a two-year 28E sharing agreement with Clinton County under which Clinton County's engineer, Todd Kinney, is appointed Dubuque County Engineer under Iowa Code 309.19. The agreement calls for Dubuque County to reimburse Clinton County for 49.5 percent of Kinney's compensation package, which covers wages, FICA, the employer's IPERS contribution, and health insurance premiums. The board will also vote to allocate $22,893.68 in federal flood control payments received for Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025. Under the resolution, 65 percent ($14,880.89) goes to the Dubuque Community School District, 25 percent ($5,723.43) to secondary roads, and 10 percent ($2,289.36) to local fire departments: $763.12 each to the City of Dubuque Fire Department, the Key West Fire Department, and the Sherrill Fire Department. A resolution would abate delinquent property taxes on several parcels now owned by municipalities or other political subdivisions, under Iowa Code Section 445.63. County Treasurer Michael Clasen, in an Oct. 28 memo to the board, said abating the amounts eliminates uncollectible delinquencies on government-owned parcels and prevents further delinquency notices. The board will consider approval of the minutes of the Oct. 19 meeting and the Oct. 26 data center work session. The draft Oct. 19 minutes on file record the board's approval of a temporary renewable energy moratorium (Resolution 26-233) and a professional services agreement with Schneider Geospatial, LLC (Resolution 26-234), with Supervisor Ann McDonough voting nay. Two public hearing notices are set: one for the renaming of Clay Ann Lane, and one for amendments to the zoning ordinance. Four final plats await approval: Y-Camp Place No. 4, Sherrill Place No. 4, Weber Dubuque Farm No. 2, and Genesis Subdivision Plat 2. On the communications side, the Iowa Environmental Council will present "Environmental Risk Factors and Iowa's Cancer Crisis," and the board received an Oct. 29 media release in which the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announces support for the County Conservation Bond referendum. Also on the list: a corrected Oct. 14 memo on the West Campus facilities mitigation Proposal 2, a City of Peosta urban renewal plan amendment, and consultations on proposed housing urban renewal area plans for Thunder Valley, Eastgate Court, Lake Ridge Apartments, Plaza Drive, and Bies Drive. After the regular session, work sessions cover the Sunnycrest Manor transition, shooting range repayment, a request for an affidavit regarding Lovers Lane, and maintenance supervision. A proclamation of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month opens the meeting.