The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday, March 18th, covering a range of topics including upcoming road construction, courthouse maintenance, ambulance services, and a resolution in the ongoing situation involving a Board of Health member living abroad. Their originally scheduled meeting on Monday, March 16th was cancelled due to the blizzard.
Libertyville Road Project and Road Updates
County Engineer DeWayne Heintz reported that snow plowing and equipment maintenance occurred with the snow that came in over the past few days. He also reported the contract rock haul is set to begin March 19th. A pre-construction conference was held with Norris Asphalt of Ottumwa for the Libertyville Road resurfacing project, which remains on schedule to begin April 6th. Access to Jefferson County Park will remain open during construction, and detour signage is being prepared. The project is anticipated to be complete in June, weather permitting.
The supervisors also addressed truck traffic on 227th Street, which could have been used as an unofficial detour. An embargo on 227th Street will take effect April 6th — coinciding with the Libertyville Road project start — and will run for 90 days. The embargo will prohibit gravel truck traffic while continuing to allow agricultural traffic. The Hemlock Avenue detour, rated for 26 to 40 tons, can accommodate most legal truck traffic.
Heintz also discussed a safety grant being coordinated through Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ office for improvements on 110th Street, including guardrail blisters. Additional safety improvements under consideration include removing a sweeping right-hand curve near Packwood Road and replacing it with a straight intersection, potentially with a dedicated right-turn lane.
The county is also pursuing a Surface Transportation Block Grant for work on Packwood Road, though Heintz acknowledged they don’t anticipate receiving it given their recent success in securing grants over the past few years. The Packwood Road project could cost up to $8 million for five miles of roadway, and most available grants cap out between $2 and $4 million. Heintz also noted he has submitted the road budget and five-year plan to the Iowa DOT, and that a monument preservation survey for 110th Street with French Reneker is in progress.
Courthouse Maintenance
Supervisors discussed several courthouse maintenance items, including weed control and door repairs. The board also discussed adding a keycard access system for employees. Additionally, Nelson Manufacturing is fabricating one of two gears needed for the courthouse clock.
Ambulance Services
Ambulance Director Josh Hemminger reported that the department received three free radios from another service that no longer needed them. A training program is next on the agenda for them. The board also approved $7,500 for Dr. Moreno’s insurance.
Maasdam Barns and Iowa Barn Foundation Tour
Tony Webb presented an update on the Maasdam Barns, which will serve as the regional hub for southeast Iowa during the Iowa Barn Foundation tour in June. The tour, scheduled for June 27th and 28th, will feature 21 barns and a Victorian carriage house across Jefferson County, along with three historic Martin Steel structures. Visitors will also be able to tour the Carnegie Museum in Fairfield. Sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and organizers are hoping to draw between 400 and 1,200 visitors.
Recent improvements at the property include new sponsored trash cans and the vintage Louden playground from last year. Webb said the county has spent approximately $5,100 on tree trimming over the past year and is looking at replacing windows and doors as a stopgap before a larger restoration project. Other ideas discussed included planting a nearby field with sunflowers to attract visitors, adding highway signage directing people to the barns when they get enough visitors, and developing a welcome center with informational kiosks. Webb noted that volunteer numbers and visitor traffic remain areas of concern, and that fundraising efforts are ongoing. If sufficient funding is not secured through the Washington Riverboat Foundation grant process, plans to paint the house may be postponed, with Iowa Tourism grants being explored as an alternative source.
Webb also presented a longer-term proposal to transform the Maasdam Barns location into a Jefferson County and Fairfield welcome center. The vision would unite six Jefferson County heritage sites — the Bonnifield Cabin, Carnegie Museum, Elm Grove School, Parsons Alumni, Maasdam Barns, and McElhinny House — under one coordinated effort, with the welcome center serving as a first stop for visitors wanting to learn about the area’s history and current attractions.
Webb noted the site’s location offers several advantages, including its position at a busy entrance from the Highway 34 bypass, its proximity to the Highway 1 corridor connecting to Van Buren County, and its shared entrance with the health center.
Webb noted the site’s location offers several advantages, including its position at a busy entrance from the Highway 34 bypass, its proximity to the Highway 1 corridor connecting to Van Buren County, and its shared entrance with the health center. The property already has accessible restrooms, bike racks, and a driveway capable of accommodating tour buses and RVs.
The center would be staffed primarily by volunteers drawn from the six heritage organizations as well as service clubs, churches, retirees, and local businesses, with the goal of keeping exhibits rotating and fresh. Operational costs for utilities could be covered through annual membership dues from participating heritage groups and promoted businesses. Webb noted that a paid volunteer coordinator position may be worth considering, pointing to Davis County’s welcome center as a model.
The proposal is in early discussion stages, with next steps including forming a core focus group, establishing a business and financial plan, and expanding conversations to key community participants.
Veterans Affairs Office Relocation
The board approved moving the Veterans Affairs office to the courthouse’s third floor. Ray Chambers, the veteran’s affairs director, cited the need for more space, better meeting accommodations, and increased privacy for veterans as reasons for the move. The relocation is expected to be completed by May 1st.
Board of Health Member Removal Moves Forward
The board took a formal step Wednesday in the process of removing Board of Health member William “Bill” Bingham, who has been living in Israel since August 2025. Following consultation with legal counsel, supervisors approved sending a resolution and order to Bingham via certified mail, as required by Iowa Code for the removal of an appointed official. They will also be sending an e-mail. The resolution and order noted that he had been “physically absent.”
The decision follows weeks of discussion about whether Bingham, who is in his second year of a three-year term and has been participating in Board of Health meetings via Zoom, meets the residency expectations for serving on a county board. The supervisors voted unanimously to approve sending the letter to Bingham. Under state law, Bingham has 30 days upon receiving the notice to request a public hearing if he chooses to contest the removal.
Photo by A.J. Roe.
