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Local News

Barry County Transit expansion proposal put off, will be discussed again

Now is the time to add garage space to get all the Barry County Transit vehicles under cover and remodel the office to make more room for crowded staff and dispatchers to do their work, director of the transit Bill Voigt told Barry County Commissioners Tuesday.

 

However, Voigt asked right after the commission committed to preliminary planning of steps necessary to replace the county jail, which sits directly behind the transit on the western edge of the City of Hastings.

 

Voigt’s plans, developed with Bob Vanputten of Landmark Design Group will be on the commission’s agenda next week when they expect to have more information on the value of the property the two units of county government occupy (see related article).

 

The service now has 16 vehicles and the staff works in crowded, cramped conditions that interfere with a smooth operation, Voigt said.

“We need a facility that suits the future…we’ve just outgrown it.” The traffic control location is perfect and renovation and expansion will get “the best bang for our buck,” he added.

 

Plans call for adding 2,950 square feet to the south side of the facility for bus storage and maintenance, 1,160 square feet to the dispatch center and renovation of the existing office space to expand the dispatch enter at a cost of $1.50 to $1.75 a square foot. The $1 million total cost will come from transit funds, Voigt said. //

 

In other business, the committee of the whole recommended:

 

* written policies for receiving and documenting federal funds. Administrator Michael Brown said the county has always conformed to the rules, but the federal government now requires written policies.

 

* verifying the re-appointment of Patti Richardson to the Animal Shelter Advisory Board for a one-year term as Barry County Humane Society representative.

 

* approval of an amended contract for City of Hastings Barry County Airport Director Mark Noteboom, verifying that he is an independent contractor, not an employee.  As part of a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA), the Hastings City Council also votes on the changes.

 

* a contract for $14, 015.28 to Rose Construction, the low bidder, to replace ceiling tiles in District Courtroom.

 

* an application for state grants for fiscal year 2019 by the Office of Community Corrections.

 

* appointment of Douglas C. Klein to the Parks & Recreation Board to a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2018 and Karen Ferrier to the Community Corrections Advisory Board for a three-year- term representing the business community.

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