Pictured Rocks road project on hold

     Brad Mormann, Jones County Conservation director, was present at the May 16 Board of Supervisor meeting to discuss a road project at Pictured Rocks Park outside Monticello.

     Mormann said the road leading down into the park is in need of replacement, but the project appears to be bigger than he initially thought.

     “Water run-off is eating away at the side of the road and narrowing the shoulder,” he told the board.

     Mormann said they thought seal coating the road would be an easy fix, but more work is clearly needed.

     “It’s bigger than we want to bite off,” he said.

     Mormann said he had $15,000 in his budget for the road project, but wants to discuss it further with Iowa DNR, who owns part of the park.

     “I want to see if the DNR or the maintenance agreement has some funds that could go toward the project,” he said.

     However, Snead said the DNR is facing major budget cuts from the state right now. He also had County Engineer Derek Snead look at the road as well for a second opinion.

     Knowing the project is on hold for the time being, Mormann requested that the supervisors roll over his Fiscal Year 2017 carryover into Fiscal Year 2018. County Auditor Janine Sulzner explained the money would go back into the General Fund until the board of supervisors designated it again in the next fiscal year.

     “I think it’s more responsible this way,” commented Supervisor Ned Rohwedder,” rather than hurry and spend it just to spend the money.”

     The board approved the transfer of the funds.

In other county business:

     • Secondary Roads is working on a bridge rehabilitation project on Military Road near Monticello, planning to take the weight restriction off the structure. The road is closed to through traffic from May 18 through June 30, or until further notice.

     • The board approved liquor licenses for Teddy’s Barn and Grill and Little Bear Recreation Club, but voted to table approving the liquor license for the Stone City General Store.

     Gary Hilsinger, a resident of Stone City, was present at the meeting to object to the approval. Hilsinger, who lives across the Wapsipinicon River from the General Store, said they can hear loud music coming from the establishment at all hours of the night.

     “It’s a continuing issue, and I’m asking for something to be done,” he told the board.

     Hilsinger said it’s the outdoor bands that create the most noise. He added he’d be willing to accept the music until 10 p.m.

     He said the excessive noise really wasn’t an issue until the General Store purchased additional property for outdoor events.

     “I’m just trying to be a good neighbor and I hope they are as well,” he said.

     With the liquor license set to expire June 1, the board plans to have the owners of the General Store come in.

     • The board approved an appropriation resolution increasing the appropriation for Central Park Lake Project by $5,000, and decreasing the appropriation for Conservation Capital Projects by $5,000.

     • County Engineer Derek Snead informed the board that three of the contract rock contractors would likely be done putting rock out by the end of last week/early this week.

     “Hopefully by May 24, dust control can start going down,” he said. “That doesn’t happen very often that dust control can go down before Memorial Day.”

     • Snead reported that a landowner on Newport Road removed new contract rock from the roadway and placed it on his driveway.

     “How do you estimate how much was taken?” asked Rohwedder.

     Snead explained contract rock is roughly $9.75 a ton. He said estimated 15 tons of rock was removed, bringing the bill to about $150.

     Supervisor Wayne Manternach was for billing the landowner due to the county’s time in investigating and replacing the rock. Snead said in a similar instance north of Monticello, they instructed the owner to put the rock back on the roadway.

     Rohwedder said he would speak with the landowner on the situation.