Keokuk County Board of Supervisors

Keokuk County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Monday, February 1, 2021. The highway department came to discuss the shape of the roads after the snowstorm last Monday into Tuesday. The head of the department, Engineer Andrew McGuire, told the supervisors, “The wind and the weather have been brutal on the roads. We decided not to run the graders yesterday, because it was still snowing and we were going to have to run extended hours this week anyway.”

Running the graders, he said, would have been a futile effort because of the snow and wind. He then emphasized the ordinance of snow removal. 

“According to our snow policy, our ordinance, which is the document that covers the whole thing, it’s really based on the idea of a clean up operation,” Mr. McGuire said. “It isn’t a ‘fight the fire while it’s burning’, it’s a ‘let the fire burn out then clean it up;’ that’s honestly what our policy looks like.”

Supervisor Snakenburg inquired about medical emergencies. Mr. McGuire said if you have an emergency, (medical/fire/sheriff) the emergency authorities would contact the dispatcher who would contact the drivers to plow the roads.

“If it comes to a point that we are actually putting the operators at risk, we’ll pull them off until the conditions become more favorable,” McGuire continued. The county is not out 24/7 during the snowstorms. “There are some places that are drifted shut, and if that happens, the best thing to do is stay home and stay safe. The county will get to your road.”

Chairman Hadley remarked, “That is a tough call to call. I’ve been there; both sides.”

Mr. McGuire then spoke about the annual DOT grant to help with signs for the county. Ten thousand dollars is usually granted for counties to purchase warning signs: yellow signs, white and black signs, etc. The only stipulation is that the county sends in an invoice to show what was purchased with the grant money.

 The motion was approved to apply for the grant.

Discussion of the reclassifying of 193rd street in section 21, township 76N, rang 12 West. The board agreed that no action would be taken to reclassify the road at this time.

The next item was the highway department personnel report. Mr. McGuire brought forth the only qualified applicant for Engineering Technician 1, Nathaniel Sieren, for hiring consideration. The board approved.

The board moved on to the termination/resignation for Angel Shafer, full-time dispatcher/jailer. Date was agreed upon and approved.

The board discussed Keokuk County Bowl Class C liquor license. With unanimous consent the license was approved.

Chairman Hadley adjourned the meeting at 9:45am.