The July 14, 2026 Dallas County Board of Supervisors meeting is centered on a major county facilities investment: the proposed renovation of the County Auditor's offices and election facilities. Supervisors will review the design development presentation and a detailed construction budget estimate of approximately $3.31 million, substantially higher than the original preliminary planning estimate because of expanded project scope, asbestos-related work, and updated construction costs.
The renovation is intended to modernize election administration, improve accessibility, expand space for future staffing and election equipment, create dedicated early voting areas, improve public circulation, and renovate both the Auditor's primary office at 100 Nile Kinnick Drive and election support facilities at 210 N. 10th Street. Construction planning anticipates bidding later in 2026, work beginning in early 2027, and completion during 2027.
The agenda also includes a public hearing on a managed technology services contract with IP Pathways, consideration of amended official depositories, a bridge grant agreement for Secondary Roads, payroll and staffing actions, employee recognition, Recorder's Office updates, and hiring interviews for a receptionist position.
While many consent items are routine, the capital project decisions, technology contract, transportation grant action, and staffing matters have the greatest long-term operational and financial significance for county residents and taxpayers.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Auditor's Office Renovation Design Development
The largest item before the Board is review of the design development package for the County Auditor renovation. The project redesigns county election and administrative space to support long-term operations, improve public accessibility, and accommodate future growth.
Plans include:
- A redesigned public lobby and early voting vestibule.
- Accessible restrooms.
- A LULA elevator connecting building levels.
- Improved separation between election operations and administrative offices.
- Space planned for growth from approximately 12 current staff positions to capacity for 17 employees.
- Updated meeting, workroom, ballot security, and archive spaces.
- Exterior siding replacement and building improvements.
The project also renovates election storage facilities at 210 N. 10th Street with expanded storage for voting tabulators, laptops, printers, and election equipment while improving public circulation and maintaining existing HVAC systems.
Board discussion is expected to focus on balancing operational improvements with project costs before final construction documents are completed.
Design Development Budget Review
Supervisors will receive Turner Construction's 100% Design Development estimate totaling $3,307,996.
The estimate reflects significant cost reductions through value engineering after an earlier design estimate reached approximately $4.04 million, although it remains above the preliminary planning budget of roughly $2.7 million.
Project cost increases are attributed to:
- Expanded floor plan redesign.
- Additional asbestos-related demolition and reconstruction.
- Increased furniture allowances.
- Updated specialty, HVAC, and electrical costs.
- Current construction market pricing.
Several optional project alternates remain available, including brick veneer, high-density archival storage, fire suppression systems, generator relocation, demolition of the existing banking canopy, and construction of the early voting vestibule.
Public Hearing on IP Pathways Managed Technology Services
A public hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. regarding a managed technology services contract with IP Pathways.
Following the hearing, supervisors are expected to consider approval of the agreement. The packet does not provide detailed contract terms, but the item represents an opportunity for public comment before Board action on county technology services.
Secondary Roads Bridge Grant Agreement
The Board will consider a Joint County Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) letter of support together with Resolution 2026-0090 approving the related grant agreement.
The action supports Secondary Roads infrastructure planning and positions Dallas County to receive state transportation funding for future bridge improvements.
Payroll Changes and Staffing Actions
Several personnel actions are presented for Board approval.
Sheriff's Office payroll changes primarily reflect shift assignments, schedule changes, longevity pay, and shift differential adjustments rather than promotions.
The packet also documents:
- Resignation of a Corrections Officer effective July 20, 2026, with recruitment authorized to refill the position.
- Voluntary resignation of a part-time EMT with authorization to recruit a replacement.
- Receptionist candidate interviews scheduled for the afternoon, with possible closed sessions permitted under Iowa law for evaluation of applicants.
Employee Recognition
The Board will recognize employees reaching service milestones ranging from five to thirty years.
Departments represented include the Treasurer's Office, Sheriff's Office, EMS, Secondary Roads, and Information Services, recognizing long-term public service across county government.
Financial Matters
The most significant financial item is the $3,307,996 design development estimate for the Auditor Office renovation project.
Major components include:
- Approximately $2.96 million in construction costs.
- $229,864 for architectural and engineering services.
- $17,187 in permits and plan review fees.
- $100,000 for owner furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
The estimate also includes contingencies, insurance, construction management services, escalation allowances, and owner design refinement allowances.
Optional project alternates include:
- Brick veneer: $124,599
- High-density ballot/archive storage: $134,175
- Fire suppression at 210 N. 10th Street: $168,986
- Fire suppression at 100 Nile Kinnick: $86,521
- Generator relocation: $46,180
- Early voting vestibule: $119,979
- Banking canopy demolition: $83,738
Additional financial actions include routine payroll approvals, disbursements, amended official depositories, and consideration of transportation grant funding through the CHBP agreement.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance items include:
- Resolution 2026-003 amending official county depositories.
- Resolution 2026-0090 authorizing the CHBP grant agreement for Secondary Roads.
- Public hearing procedures for the managed technology services contract.
- Possible closed sessions for receptionist interviews under Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i).
These actions primarily concern county financial administration, grant authorization, procurement, and personnel procedures.
The Auditor renovation presentation provides extensive planning information, including proposed building layouts, construction sequencing, site logistics, project schedules, and cost estimates.
The Board will also receive:
- A Recorder's Office operational update.
- Design development progress from Farnsworth Group.
- Construction estimating and scheduling updates from Turner Construction.
Current planning anticipates:
- Bid documents issued in September 2026.
- Construction beginning January 2027.
- Phase 1 occupancy around June 2027.
- Final completion approximately September 2027.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel matters include:
- Sheriff's Office payroll adjustments related to work schedules and shift differentials.
- Resignation of Corrections Officer Blake Peabody and authorization to recruit a replacement.
- Resignation of part-time EMT Macieo Pritchard and authorization to recruit a replacement.
- Receptionist candidate interviews with possible closed sessions.
- Recognition of employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 years of county service.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The Auditor renovation project represents a comprehensive modernization of election administration facilities.
Operational improvements include:
- Better public access and accessibility.
- Expanded election equipment storage.
- Secure ballot storage.
- Dedicated early voting circulation.
- New finishes and furnishings.
- Improved office organization.
- Updated electrical, communications, security, plumbing, HVAC, and accessibility systems.
- Exterior siding replacement and parking modifications.
The project is designed to support county operations for approximately the next twenty years.
Residents may participate through:
- Open Forum near the beginning of the meeting.
- The 9:30 a.m. public hearing regarding the IP Pathways managed technology services contract.
- Attendance at the Board meeting held at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 800 Court Street, Adel.
Residents may experience improved access to county election and Auditor services through redesigned public spaces and enhanced accessibility.
Voters could benefit from more efficient early voting operations, better queue management, expanded election equipment capacity, and improved ballot security.
Taxpayers should expect continued Board review of project costs as design advances toward construction.
County employees working in the Auditor's Office and election operations would receive updated workspaces designed for future staffing growth and improved operational efficiency.
Transportation users may benefit if the Secondary Roads bridge grant agreement results in future infrastructure improvements.
- What project elements caused the largest increase from the preliminary budget?
- Which optional alternates does the Board expect to include or exclude?
- How will construction affect public access to Auditor and election services?
- What measures will minimize disruption during early voting and elections?
- How much asbestos abatement remains outside the current estimate?
- What long-term operational savings are expected from the renovation?
- What services are included in the proposed IP Pathways contract?
- How will CHBP grant funding affect future bridge priorities?
- When will final construction costs return to the Board for approval?
- What contingency plans exist if bids exceed current estimates?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 14, 2026: Design development presentation, budget review, public hearing, grant actions, and personnel matters.
- Mid-September 2026: Planned issuance of construction bidding documents.
- Fall 2026: Bid evaluation and Guaranteed Maximum Price development.
- Early January 2027: Expected construction start.
- June 2027: Planned Phase 1 occupancy.
- Late September 2027: Anticipated substantial completion of the renovation project.
Key Takeaways
- Auditor Office renovation is the meeting's primary topic.
- Current project estimate totals approximately $3.31 million.
- Earlier value engineering reduced costs from more than $4 million.
- Renovations focus heavily on election operations and public accessibility.
- Construction is expected to begin in January 2027.
- Completion is anticipated during September 2027.
- A public hearing will be held on the IP Pathways technology services contract.
- Supervisors will consider bridge grant agreements for Secondary Roads.
- Sheriff and EMS staffing changes include resignations and replacement recruitment.
- Multiple county employees will be recognized for long-term service.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Dallas County, Iowa
- Organization type: county
- Government body: county-boards
- Location: Not available, iowa
- County: Dallas
- Provider: agendacenter
Keywords
Dallas County, Board of Supervisors, July 14 2026, Auditor Office renovation, 100 Nile Kinnick Drive, 210 North 10th Street, Turner Construction, Farnsworth Group, design development, capital projects, early voting, election administration, secure ballots, LULA elevator, accessibility, IP Pathways, managed technology services, CHBP grant, Secondary Roads, official depositories, payroll changes, Sheriff's Office, EMS, Recorder's Office, Sweet Corn Festival, public hearing, construction budget, value engineering, Adel Iowa
