T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY During Tuesday morning’s regular meeting, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors approved a letter of support for the city of Marshalltown’s application for $18.7 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to rebuild the Highway 14 corridor, pictured, between Anson Street and the northern city limits.

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to offer its support for the city of Marshalltown as it applies for nearly $19 million in RAISE grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to rebuild the Highway 14 corridor between Anson Street and the northern city limits during Tuesday morning’s regular meeting.

The resolution did not require a financial commitment on behalf of the county, but as Marshalltown Housing and Community Development Director Michelle Spohnheimer explained over Zoom, every bit of support can make a difference when the federal government is determining which communities will receive the grants. This is the third time in the last three years Marshalltown has applied for them.

The complete project, which would cost around $28 million, would include street reconstruction, utility work for new water mains, sanitary sewers and storm sewers, sidewalk improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant crossings, a four-lane to three-lane conversion and beautification. According to Spohnheimer, the federal DOT would provide about $18.7 million if the grant is successful, and the Iowa DOT has committed $1.4 million. Locally, Marshalltown Water Works has committed $2.5 million, and the Marshalltown city council recently approved a resolution “somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million.”

“It’s a very big project for us that we’re hopeful to be able to secure,” Spohnheimer said.

The application is due on Thursday, and Spohnheimer said it is “extremely competitive.” Nonetheless, she felt the city has a strong application and has also received the backing of politicians like U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Sen. Joni Ernst.

“We hope it comes together. We’re happy to do this. I know the city has worked with us hand in hand on other things. When we received the grant for us to get the $1 million to do the Center Street bridge project, the city was instrumental in helping us there,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Dave Thompson said. “We’re more than happy to help you on this issue.”

A motion to approve the letter carried unanimously.

Earlier in the meeting, buildings and grounds director Lucas Baedke presented a proposal from OPN Architects to complete the designs for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) approved upgrades at the jail complex and sheriff’s office at a total cost of $54,945. As Baedke explained, OPN would complete a study to identify the most pressing needs and determine what is feasible.

“We’re just trying to really move this project forward, and this is the first step,” Baedke said. “We’re actually making it better for the jail staff so they don’t have to move inmates through a good portion of the building.”

A motion to move forward with the agreement carried unanimously.

County Engineer Paul Geilenfeldt was scheduled to discuss the secondary roads DOT budget and construction program, but due to the state’s website crashing last Friday, he felt he did not have the necessary information to proceed. Budgets are generally expected to be submitted to the state by April 15.

“The DOT understands that this website issue is outside of our control, so there are not going to be any repercussions for missing the April 15 deadline,” Geilenfeldt said. “I’ve been using this website for 12 years, and I’ve never seen this happening.”

Ultimately, the board tentatively agreed to hold a special meeting within the next few weeks to further discuss the matters once the website is again functioning.

Marshall County Emergency Management Director Kim Elder provided an update on the federal grant application process for the siren project, informing the board that it had been submitted last Sunday with a total request of around $826,000.

Because the grant involves the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Elder warned that it could take as long as two to three years to find out whether the application has been approved.

“There’s a lot of moving parts and pieces. It could move quick and it could move slow, but that’s FEMA,” Elder said.

The board did not take any official action on the matter.

In other business, the board:

• Approved an engagement letter with Ahlers and Cooney.

• Approved a modification of understanding with CICS regarding employee salary allocations for Lisa Soder and Kelly Gerke.

• Approved the hiring of Rachel King as a universal clerk in the treasurer’s office at a starting rate of $17.05 per hour.

• Approved the consent agenda as listed.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.