|
County contracts with Iowa firm to clean up ‘meth house’ in Eitzen
|
|
|
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Landmark Environmental Services of Davenport, Iowa was hired by Houston County to clean up a “meth house” located in Eitzen. Area law enforcement officials discovered a meth lab in the Eitzen house more than three years ago, in the fall of 2005.
The county declared the house a public nuisance in late 2005, and it has been unoccupied ever since.
County Finance Director Casey Bradley brought the issue to the Feb. 24 county board meeting. Bradley explained that the property owner, who had rented the house out to other individuals when the meth lab was discovered, does not have the money to conduct the expensive clean-up. Bradley noted the county has the authority to hire a company to conduct the clean-up procedures and then add the cost of the clean-up project to the property taxes.
“We will be getting an estimate for the clean-up and also for conducting an assessment for asbestos removal too, since the two go hand in hand in this type of clean-up project,” Bradley told the board. Bradley added if the cost of the clean-up is 75 percent or more of the appraised value of the home, the county will demolish it, and pass that cost on to the property owner.
This is the first time Houston County has had to deal with this type of issue, according to Bradley.
In other board action:
Meyer Building bids
Viking Electric of Spring Grove submitted the low bid for the wiring project on the county’s office building (the Meyer Building). The low bid was $69,046.05.
“The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and plumbing bids were much higher than anticipated,” according to Bradley. He felt part of the issue was that the architect used on the project didn’t have the plans and specifications written up the way the building committee wanted them.
“We’re not real happy with the architect,” Commissioner Dave Corcoran said. “He’s very slow and has made many mistakes. Now, because of this, the county has to ask the contractors to rebid the job. It makes the county look bad. There will certainly be feedback once the project has been completed. But we really can’t hire a different architect right now. That would even push this project back farther than it already is.”
Bradley said the plans and specs have been revised and were sent to the various contractors for re-bids, which were to be submitted by March 3.
Highway Department hiring
The candidate the county board had approved to be hired for the engineering supervisor position decided not to take the job, according to County Personnel Director Tim Comstock.
“The Highway Department also has a need for an additional technician to assist in the design and inspection of various road and bridge projects,” Comstock stated in a memo. “Therefore, I am requesting board approval to re-advertise for the engineering supervisor vacancy and for a technician.”
The board gave unanimous approval of Comstock’s request.
County Attorney’s office
The board approved a request made by Assistant County Attorney Jamie Hammell to have her employment status changed from full-time to 3/4’s time for the next 30 days.
Drug/alcohol testing
Comstock is currently working with department heads and county commissioners to develop a drug and alcohol testing program, which is hoped to be implemented by July 1, 2009.
Winnebago Watershed
Houston County will be submitting an application to the Department of Homeland Security in connection with the Winnebago Watershed project.
The county hopes to obtain enough money from the federal government to install between seven and nine flood control structures in the watershed to reduce peak flows. In conjunction with water retention facilities, riparian buffers will be established in select key areas to reduce future cropland losses, improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat and improve fish habitat.
|
