County Road Employees in Favor of Changing Work Hours for Summer

Franklin County Secondary Roads Engineer Jay Waddingham gave an update on his department during the Franklin County Board of Supervisors' Feb. 17 meeting.

Waddingham said they've been busy, especially with the preparation of their five-year plan, which includes applying for different grants to help cover the costs of shoulder road work around the county.

"I think that will really benefit our edge rut and our safety," he said.

Supervisor Gary McVicker told him they do a great job of keeping rock on top of the blacktop of their county roads but that it "just doesn't stay there."

Waddingham replied that it is hard to keep the rock in place with so much semi-traffic passing through in certain areas.

Waddingham reported that the employees with the department also took an informal vote on how many hours a day they would like to work throughout the summer, and the employees were in favor of working four 10-hour days each week.

"It was 17-13 for the 10-hour days," he said. "That is for consideration."

It was pointed out that they have done this for the last couple of years and that their summer work usually begins in April.

"I think it is up to them," said Supervisor Chris Vanness.

(After the meeting, Waddingham told the Chronicle that they have secured one million dollars in federal aid funds and that they use their farm to market funds for the 2029 resurfacing project of Mallard Avenue (S41), from Hardin Road to Hwy. 3

"But we are looking for safety improvement grant opportunities for the paved shoulder widening and some other safety improvements," he said.)

The supervisors approved the following during the meeting: the allowance of 65 Family Farm Applications and the disallowance of 16 Family Farm Applications for Assessment Year 2025 per Iowa Code 425A, as recommended by the Franklin County Assessor; the Franklin County ditch and roadway weed and shrub control contract; the payment in lieu of taxes from the North Iowa Regional Housing Authority; and a resolution approving a construction contract and bond for the county electrical services upgrade.

During board updates, County Supervisor Dick Lukensmeyer shared that he attended meetings for the Board of Health, County Tourism and Early Childhood/D-CAT/Together 4 Families. McVicker said he attended a meeting for Northeast Iowa Workforce Development and Vanness reported that he attended a meeting for the Conservation Board. McVicker also mentioned the certificate that the county had recently received for being a new member of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. He and Lukensmeyer attended the chamber's recent annual appreciation celebration, where they accepted the certificate on behalf of the county.

Franklin County Auditor Katy Flint also informed the supervisors of the upcoming proposed property tax public hearing on March 24 at 1 p.m.

Nobody spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting and the supervisors approved the minutes from their Feb. 3 regular meeting and their Feb. 6 special meeting.