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36 minutes ago

Black Hawk County officials outline proposed 2026–27 levy; residents press for clearer mailer and appeal options County finance staff presented a proposed levy for the year ending June 30, 2027, saying county taxes would rise modestly if the draft holds; residents questioned a state-prepared notice, commercial revaluations and appeal options. The board received public comment and will finalize the budget in April.

Black Hawk County officials revealed a proposed property tax levy that could impact your wallet, but residents are demanding clearer explanations and better communication about the process.

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3 weeks ago

Vendor outlines $7.8 million infrastructure plan and $4.7 million radio replacement option for Black Hawk County communications system Raycom, the county's long-term radio systems vendor, told the oversight board that many P25 system components are at or nearing manufacturer end-of-life and presented two financing options: an annual payment plan or one-time purchases for radios and infrastructure, with staff asked to return with final prices and a timeline.

Black Hawk County is facing a critical decision on its $7.8 million communications system overhaul as essential radio components approach end-of-life—will they invest now to ensure reliable emergency services?

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1 month ago

Black Hawk County board advances FY2027 budget framework, approves library increase and personnel change At a Feb. 24 session, the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors set a local-option sales tax projection for FY2027, approved a 3% increase for library funding, and cleared a personnel reclassification that the board said will save roughly $44,169.

The Black Hawk County Board is shaking things up with a $4.25 million sales tax projection, a library funding boost, and a smart personnel change that saves $44,169!

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1 month ago

Northeast Iowa Food Bank asks Black Hawk County for $1 million to expand capacity Barb Prather of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank asked the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors for a $1,000,000 county commitment toward a $14 million renovation and expansion to increase refrigerated capacity, volunteer space and year-round service. Prather cited recent service spikes and rising need locally.

Northeast Iowa Food Bank is on a mission to expand its capacity by seeking a $1 million commitment from Black Hawk County to help meet the soaring demand for meals in the community.

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1 month ago

Black Hawk County staff outline levy, reserve and spending options as FY2027 work session begins County staff previewed FY2027 budget timing and options Feb. 17, telling supervisors they must upload a proposed maximum levy by March 5 and suggesting use of reserves, targeted levy adjustments and staff requests to close budget gaps. No final tax decisions were made; supervisors asked for wage and department-level detail ahead of the next session.

Black Hawk County officials are gearing up for a critical budget decision, exploring levy adjustments and reserve options that could shape the future of local spending.

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1 month ago

Black Hawk County considers accelerating sheriff’s firearms purchase; staff outline Axon financing timeline Sheriff’s office requested board approval to advance procurement of a weapons upgrade to a red-dot optic system, citing price increases and lead time; staff also reminded the board that the Axon body-camera program is funded from designated ARPA replacement funds for the first five years, with long-term funding decisions needed before fiscal 2030.

Black Hawk County's sheriff's office is set to upgrade to a cutting-edge red-dot optic system, but rising costs may push the budget to nearly $80,000—are they ready to make the leap?

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1 month ago

Black Hawk County staff present compensation study and budget priorities to supervisors County staff reviewed a Gallagher compensation study and recommended phased salary adjustments for elected officials and department heads; staff also outlined budget items including Axon body-camera financing and several departmental increases.

Black Hawk County is taking steps to align elected officials' pay with market standards, but supervisors still face significant disparities that need urgent attention.

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2 months ago

Auditor outlines elections budget, flags $1 million tabulator replacement and voter mailer options Auditor presented the FY2027 elections budget, noting higher expected turnout, a quoted $1,000,000 to replace aging tabulators/express vote machines, $16,000 to migrate records to ArcaSearch, and options to mail voter notifications about new supervisor districts (estimated $13,000–$25,000 depending on scope).

Black Hawk County is facing a pivotal decision as the auditor reveals a $1 million price tag for replacing aging voting machines ahead of a high-stakes election year.

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#BlackHawkCounty #IA #BlackHawkCountyElections #TechnologyInnovation #VoterEngagement #ElectionFunding

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2 months ago

Board draws initial term lengths for five new supervisor districts under state law Under Senate 575 requirements, Blackhawk County drew which of the five newly created supervisor districts will serve initial two‑year terms (two districts) and four‑year terms (three districts). Filing for candidates begins March 2; staff said voter registration maps are loaded to the database and that any voter mailing would require a budget amendment.

Black Hawk County has officially drawn the initial term lengths for its new supervisor districts, setting the stage for a pivotal election season!

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2 months ago

Grow Cedar Valley pitches formal county partnership as it cites billions in potential investment Grow Cedar Valley CEO Katie Sousong urged the Blackhawk County Board to consider a formal partnership to align county priorities with regional business attraction and retention work, citing $6.2 billion in potential capital and existing municipal contracts with Cedar Falls (~$70,000) and Waterloo (~$180,000). Supervisors asked for more detail on funding terms and timing before committing.

Grow Cedar Valley's CEO reveals a $6.2 billion opportunity for Blackhawk County that could transform local business and workforce development!

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2 months ago

Black Hawk County budget presenters flag jail revenue drops and $85,000 subsidy need for security fund County staff outlined the FY2027 budget and warned of revenue pressures: declining room-and-board and uncertain commissary revenue could require an $85,000 subsidy to maintain courthouse security and sheriff services; the sheriff also flagged large juvenile‑housing and jail food cost corrections.

Black Hawk County officials are sounding the alarm as dwindling jail revenues and rising costs may force an $85,000 property tax subsidy to maintain crucial security services.

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2 months ago

Black Hawk County adopts construction evaluation resolution to weigh in on DNR feedlot permits; supervisors note limits of local power The board adopted a construction evaluation resolution under Iowa Code 459.304(3) allowing the county to submit recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources on confinement feed operation permits; supervisors underscored that final approval rests with the state.

Black Hawk County has taken a bold step to influence feedlot permits, but will their local voice be enough against state authority?

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2 months ago

Black Hawk County supervisors elect Leland chair, name Brennan chair pro tem and approve 2026 committees and routine authorizations At a Jan. 4 organizational session, Black Hawk County supervisors elected Supervisor Leland as chair and Justin Brennan as chair pro tem, approved standing committees and made a series of routine administrative authorizations for 2026 including auditor authorities, newspaper designations and road directives.

Black Hawk County's supervisors have officially set the stage for 2026 by electing new leadership and establishing crucial committees—find out what this means for the community!

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2 months ago

Black Hawk County accepts Dubuque Road culvert replacement, approves $1.11M in claims including ARPA-funded projects The Board accepted the completed Dubuque Road box culvert replacement, authorized a final payment of $15,150.35 to the contractor and approved a claims resolution totaling $1,111,597.11 that included ARPA-funded payments for server room work and HVAC upgrades.

The Black Hawk County Board has officially completed the crucial Dubuque Road culvert replacement, ensuring a robust infrastructure for the next 75 years while approving over $1.1 million in essential claims for various projects.

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3 months ago

Black Hawk County examines Washburn Drainage District; staff estimates $370,000 replacement cost County staff told supervisors the Washburn Drainage District — covering roughly 405 parcels — needs inspection and maintenance; a 2024 estimate puts full replacement at about $370,000, with tree-removal and annual mowing costs outlined as part of options for funding and assessment.

Black Hawk County's Washburn Drainage District, established in 1969, faces a daunting $370,000 replacement cost and urgent maintenance needs—could this be the tipping point for local infrastructure?

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3 months ago

County engineer details bridge, resurfacing projects; board approves town‑halls and advances two rezoning requests County Engineer Catherine Nicholas reviewed 2025 roads and bridge work — including a completed 4.5‑mile resurfacing under budget and a box‑culvert project nearing $500,000 — and the board awarded multiple construction contracts. Supervisors approved county‑supported property‑assessment town halls and moved two rezoning ordinances forward for notice/public hearing.

County Engineer Catherine Nicholas unveiled exciting plans for 2025, including a major road resurfacing project and significant bridge repairs that will transform our infrastructure!

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3 months ago

County finance outlines levy impacts, equipment funding limits and capital options ahead of FY‑27 budget Finance staff told supervisors Dec. 9 that state rollback changes and recent legislation have reduced levy capacity and that counties can no longer finance equipment with general obligation bonds, prompting discussion of fund balance use and prioritization for capital needs.

Black Hawk County's finance team reveals how new state laws are reshaping funding for essential services and equipment, leaving supervisors searching for solutions!

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3 months ago

Black Hawk County supervisors approve state-drawn redistricting maps amid debate over rural representation The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted to accept Legislative Services Agency maps required under Senate File 75, after debate over whether the plan dilutes rural representation and while litigation over the statute is pending.

The Black Hawk County Board just approved controversial redistricting maps that some say undermine rural representation—sparking heated debates and potential legal battles ahead!

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4 months ago

Board issues notices of intent to award opioid settlement funds for recovery cafe, Momentum classes and jail MAT; contracts to follow Supervisors voted to issue notices of intent to award opioid settlement funds to community providers for a recovery cafe and Momentum workforce program and to support jail-based medication‑assisted treatment (MAT); presenters described program results and requested multi‑month contracts starting Jan. 2026.

Black Hawk County is set to transform its approach to opioid recovery with new funding for innovative community programs and jail-based treatment options.

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4 months ago

Waterloo Regional Airport officials report passenger recovery, explore additional carriers and TSA precheck event Airport board members told supervisors the airport has recovered to 2019 passenger levels, is served by two daily American Airlines regional flights and is pursuing strategies (community use, occasional upgauging, outreach to carriers) to attract more routes; a TSA precheck event is planned for Feb. 10–13.

Waterloo Regional Airport is bouncing back with a new larger aircraft and aims to attract more flights—could this be the boost local travelers have been waiting for?

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4 months ago

Votes at a glance: Black Hawk County Board actions, Nov. 28 At its Nov. 28 meeting the Black Hawk County Board approved a $50,000 food-bank contract, adopted ordinance 77-301 to rezone 0.63 acres at 9801 Byrd Avenue, authorized a $42,654 pickup purchase, approved a $25,000 contingency change to add a staff restroom at the new clinic, directed a Dec. 9 bid opening for Washburn Road bridge repairs, and approved closing county operations on Christmas Eve with regular pay.

The Black Hawk County Board made significant strides on Nov. 28, approving a $50,000 contract for emergency pantry services and adopting a key rezoning ordinance to transform a church into residential space.

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4 months ago

Local building trades and labor advocates press Black Hawk County on post-bid quality-assurance questionnaire Union and building-trades representatives urged Black Hawk County supervisors to adopt post-bid quality-assurance requirements that would require contractors to disclose subcontractors, work-comp coverage and other red flags to reduce wage theft and tax fraud. The board asked staff for further education and legal review before considering an ordinance or policy.

Local building trades are pushing for a post-bid quality-assurance questionnaire to safeguard taxpayer projects from wage theft and fraud, calling for transparency in contractor practices.

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4 months ago

Supervisors discuss $750,000 proposal for opioid-settlement spending, ask key applicants to present The opioid-settlement committee recommended using $750,000 over 18 months; four applications were received including a $415,000 sheriff's office request; supervisors asked City United and the sheriff's office to present at the next meeting so the board can address questions before awarding funds, noting a state grant application deadline next week.

Supervisors are weighing a $750,000 opioid-settlement fund proposal but have questions about a hefty $415,000 request from the sheriff's office—who will be in the hot seat next meeting?

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4 months ago

County staff recommend accessibility contract to meet DOJ deadline; board delays final approval pending contract review County staff recommended contracting with Accessible LLC for site audits, end-user testing and staff training to meet a Department of Justice Title II technical standard by April 2026; staff asked counsel to review a two‑payment scope of work and will return the item for formal action next week.

Black Hawk County is taking a significant step toward digital accessibility by considering a contract with Accessible LLC to ensure compliance with DOJ standards by April 2026!

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4 months ago

Black Hawk County certifies Nov. 4 election results after staff handle phone outage and tout new electronic pull book The board certified combined city and school election outcomes from Nov. 4 after elections staff described a phone outage on election day, the improvised Google-number workaround, and the benefits of a new electronic pull-book system that reduced prep time from roughly 40 hours to under 10.

Black Hawk County's election staff overcame a major phone outage on election day, successfully implementing a new electronic pull-book system that slashed prep time from 40 hours to under 10!

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4 months ago

Black Hawk County weighs one-time boost to Northeast Iowa Food Bank as SNAP interruption raises demand Northeast Iowa Food Bank representatives told the board that pantry visits surged after SNAP benefits were interrupted; supervisors discussed a possible county contribution (chair suggested up to $100,000) and will meet with area mayors before formal action next week.

As food pantry demand skyrockets by 36% in Black Hawk County, local leaders are stepping up to explore a $100,000 boost to support those in need.

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4 months ago

Black Hawk County receives $277,000 Thrive Iowa award, approves courthouse signage design work and schedules Washburn drainage session Public health reported a $277,000 Thrive Iowa award and hiring plans for a coordinator and navigators; the board authorized signage design concepts for the courthouse and agreed to a December work session on Washburn drainage and right-of-way questions.

Black Hawk County has just secured a $277,000 Thrive Iowa award to enhance family stability and is taking bold steps towards improving community accessibility!

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4 months ago

Black Hawk County hears plan for behavioral health 'disability access point' and optional 28E governance An interim CEO for the reorganized regional behavioral health system told the Black Hawk County Board on Nov. 4 that new Disability Access Points will focus on navigation and short-term supports while Iowa HHS controls funding; counties may choose optional 28E membership for oversight and input.

Exciting changes are coming to Black Hawk County's behavioral health services with the new Disability Access Points designed to streamline support for individuals in need!

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4 months ago

Board approves $1,000 contribution to ISAC amicus brief in pipeline setback case, citing home-rule concerns After attorneys and supervisors outlined an appellate decision that voided local pipeline setback ordinances under the Federal Pipeline Safety Act, the Black Hawk County Board voted to contribute $1,000 to an ISAC fund to support an amicus brief seeking Supreme Court review.

Black Hawk County is stepping up to challenge a key legal decision that could redefine local zoning authority over pipeline safety—are we on the brink of a Supreme Court showdown?

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5 months ago

Black Hawk County board hears $20 million estimate for radio-system replacement; subcommittee to study financing and schedule County officials heard presentations on replacing the countywide radio system, were briefed on possible costs of about $20 million, and agreed to have a subcommittee and future presentations study financing, timing and facility needs.

Black Hawk County is facing a $20 million decision on replacing its aging public-safety radio system—could this upgrade impact emergency services in your area?

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