The July 21, 2026 meeting is centered on several significant capital, land use, and governance decisions. The largest item is a detailed review of the Dallas County Auditor Office renovation project, including an updated design-development budget of approximately $3.31 million, revised building plans, and the next phase of project planning.
Supervisors are also scheduled to consider multiple matters involving county infrastructure and public services, including continued work on the new Adel EMS station, annual drainage district assessments, and appointments to county boards. While several routine administrative items appear on the agenda, the packet focuses primarily on long-term capital planning and county operations.
Another important public item is a 9:30 a.m. public hearing for the first reading of Ordinance 2026-0017, identified as the Schulte rezone request. Residents interested in land-use decisions have an opportunity to observe or participate during that hearing.
The renovation proposal reflects efforts to modernize election operations, improve accessibility, expand capacity for future staffing, and better separate public voting functions from administrative work. County staff and consultants also outline several optional project enhancements that could increase overall project costs if selected.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Auditor Office Renovation Design Development
The packet includes an extensive design-development presentation for renovations to the County Auditor facilities at 100 Nile Kinnick Drive North and 210 North 10th Street in Adel. Supervisors are reviewing updated floor plans, building layouts, exterior improvements, and an updated construction budget prepared through the Construction Manager at Risk process.
Major design objectives include:
- New early voting vestibule and public circulation improvements.
- Improved accessibility through installation of a LULA elevator.
- Additional accessible restrooms.
- Better separation between election operations and daily office functions.
- Space planning designed to support approximately 20 years of organizational growth.
- Modernized finishes, technology infrastructure, meeting space, and storage.
The project also includes replacement of deteriorated exterior siding, extensive interior remodeling, asbestos-related demolition work, and upgraded election equipment storage facilities.
Capital Projects: Adel EMS Station
Supervisors are scheduled to discuss several next steps for the Adel EMS Station project, including Chapter 26A bidders, non-Chapter 26A bidders, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment #2, and comparison of the GMP with the earlier 20 percent construction document estimate.
The agenda indicates formal discussion and possible action, although detailed supporting financial documentation for these agenda items is not included in the accessible packet text.
Public Hearing: Schulte Rezone
A public hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. regarding the first reading of Ordinance 2026-0017, identified as the Schulte rezone.
The packet identifies this as a formal ordinance proceeding involving a zoning change. The accessible materials do not include the underlying rezoning application or property description, so residents should expect discussion during the public hearing before the Board considers next steps in the ordinance process.
Drainage District Assessments
Supervisors will consider annual assessment resolutions affecting six drainage districts:
- Drainage District 27
- Drainage District 32
- Drainage District 37
- Drainage District 80
- Drainage District 5
- Drainage District 8
These resolutions generally establish or approve drainage assessments used to fund maintenance and operation of county drainage infrastructure that benefits assessed properties. Property owners within affected districts are the individuals most directly impacted.
Board Appointment
The Board is scheduled to consider Resolution 2026-0091 concerning appointment of a Beaver Township Trustee.
Township trustee appointments help ensure local township governance continues when vacancies occur or appointments become necessary.
County-Owned Property Workshop
The agenda includes discussion regarding disposal of county-owned property.
Based on the accessible packet, this appears to be a workshop item intended for discussion rather than immediate disposition of a specific property. Additional details are not provided in the readable materials.
Financial Matters
The largest financial item is the Auditor Office renovation project.
Key financial figures include:
- Updated design-development estimate: $3,307,996
- Earlier preliminary project budget: approximately $2.7 million
- Earlier design-development estimate: approximately $4.043 million
- Revised estimate after value engineering: approximately $3.308 million
The estimate includes approximately:
- $2.03 million in construction divisions
- $344,928 for escalation and contingencies
- $453,960 for construction management services
- $347,051 in costs outside the construction estimate, including design fees, permits, and owner furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
Optional project alternates include:
- Brick veneer replacing stucco: $124,599
- High-density archival storage: $134,175
- Dry chemical fire suppression (210 N. 10th): $168,986
- Dry chemical fire suppression (100 Nile Kinnick): $86,521
- Generator relocation: $46,180
- Early voting vestibule addition: $119,979
- Canopy demolition: $83,738
Construction documents are expected to be issued to bidders in mid-September 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in early January 2027 and reach substantial completion in late September 2027.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance items include:
- First reading of Ordinance 2026-0017 (Schulte Rezone).
- Six drainage district assessment resolutions.
- Resolution 2026-0091 appointing a Beaver Township Trustee.
- Approval of payroll change notices.
- Approval of prior meeting minutes.
- Consent agenda including expense claims and drainage claims.
These items represent the Board's regular legislative, administrative, and oversight responsibilities.
The primary presentation is the Auditor Office renovation design-development report prepared by Farnsworth Group with construction estimating by Turner Construction Company.
The presentation explains:
- Updated building programming.
- Long-term staffing projections.
- Election operations improvements.
- Accessibility enhancements.
- Exterior repairs.
- Budget revisions.
- Value-engineering efforts used to reduce projected costs while maintaining project goals.
The presentation also explains how revised layouts, asbestos work, and additional furnishings affected overall project cost compared with the preliminary budget.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel-related agenda items include:
- Payroll change notices.
- Appointment of a Beaver Township Trustee.
- Long-range planning for Auditor Office staffing, with office layouts designed to accommodate projected future growth over approximately twenty years.
The renovation also reorganizes workspaces for elections, accounting, GIS, property tax administration, and public service functions.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Major operational improvements proposed include:
- Expanded election administration space.
- Dedicated secure ballot storage.
- Improved public voting circulation.
- Accessible entrances and restrooms.
- Elevator installation.
- New meeting room configuration.
- Modernized technology and communications infrastructure.
- Exterior siding replacement.
- Parking modifications.
- Generator relocation option.
- Interior demolition and reconstruction.
- HVAC, electrical, plumbing, security, communications, and accessibility upgrades.
Project logistics plans are intended to maintain access to county services, including Wells Fargo ATM access and election facilities during construction whenever possible.
Residents have an opportunity to participate in:
- 9:30 a.m. public hearing on July 21, 2026 regarding the first reading of Ordinance 2026-0017 (Schulte Rezone).
- Open Forum near the beginning of the meeting.
- Public Board of Supervisors meeting held at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 800 Court Street, Adel, Iowa.
The packet suggests several practical impacts:
- Residents who vote in person may benefit from improved election facilities and public circulation.
- County employees would receive updated, more functional workspaces.
- Taxpayers should monitor future construction approvals because project costs exceed the original preliminary planning estimate.
- Property owners within the listed drainage districts may be affected by annual assessment resolutions.
- Individuals interested in land-use decisions have an opportunity to comment during the Schulte rezone hearing.
- Emergency services planning continues through ongoing work on the Adel EMS Station project.
- What factors increased the Auditor renovation cost beyond the original $2.7 million estimate?
- Which optional project alternates are expected to be recommended?
- How will construction affect public access to election services?
- How will county operations continue during renovation?
- What benefits justify the long-term investment in the remodeled facilities?
- What is the timeline for awarding construction packages?
- What is proposed in the Schulte rezoning request?
- How are drainage assessment amounts determined for affected landowners?
- What work remains before construction begins in January 2027?
- How does the Adel EMS Station GMP compare with earlier project estimates?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 21, 2026 — Board of Supervisors meeting.
- July 21, 2026, 9:30 a.m. — Public hearing and first reading of Ordinance 2026-0017.
- Mid-September 2026 — Planned issuance of Auditor renovation bidding documents.
- Early January 2027 — Anticipated construction start for Auditor renovation.
- Late September 2027 — Expected substantial completion of the renovation project.
Key Takeaways
- Auditor Office renovation is the meeting's largest project.
- Updated project estimate is approximately $3.31 million.
- Renovation emphasizes accessibility, elections, and long-term operational improvements.
- Seven optional project alternates could further increase project costs.
- Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2027.
- A public hearing will be held on the Schulte rezoning ordinance.
- Multiple drainage district assessment resolutions are scheduled.
- The Board will consider Adel EMS Station project updates.
- A Beaver Township Trustee appointment is on the agenda.
- County-owned property disposal will be discussed in workshop format.
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 21 2026, Auditor Office renovation, Turner Construction, Farnsworth Group, 100 Nile Kinnick Drive, 210 North 10th Street, early voting, election administration, accessibility, LULA elevator, Adel EMS Station, GMP Amendment 2, Chapter 26A bidders, Schulte rezone, Ordinance 2026-0017, drainage district assessments, Drainage District 27, Drainage District 32, Drainage District 37, Drainage District 80, Beaver Township Trustee, county capital projects, public hearing, infrastructure, county facilities, Adel Iowa, board appointments
