Madison County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — July 28, 2026
Key Items on the Agenda
The Madison County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet in regular session at 9:30 a.m. at the Madison County Annex in Winterset. The agenda includes a public hearing on the Morrison Woods Subdivision, proposed awards for two major bridge replacement contracts, an opioid settlement funding request, video security equipment upgrades, several road and bridge closures, property tax exemption applications, and a personnel item.
The Board is also scheduled to revisit several ongoing matters under old business, including relocation of the Veterans Affairs office, sale of the Public Health Building, meeting decorum, an engineer review of an OPN response, contracted employee hiring, an outstanding State Auditor invoice, a possible FY27 budget amendment, and authorized security cameras.
Major Financial and Contract Items
More Than $2.8 Million in Bridge Replacement Contracts
Two proposed resolutions would award bridge replacement contracts that were previously included in Madison County's FY26 Five Year Construction Program.
- HDP-C061(130)--6B-61: The packet proposes awarding the project to Herberger Construction Co., Inc. of Indianola for $1,756,541.39.
- BRS-C061(131)--60-61: The packet proposes awarding the project to Gus Construction Co., Inc. of Casey for $1,050,911.33.
Together, the proposed awards total $2,807,452.72. Both resolutions would also authorize the County Engineer to sign the contract documents on the Board's behalf.
$37,000 Opioid Settlement Fund Request
The Board is scheduled to consider a proposed $37,000 award from Madison County's Opioid Settlement Fund to Turning Point Evaluation, Inc. The organization submitted the request as a representative for the Earlham, Winterset and Interstate 35 school districts.
The packet describes the funding as supporting continuation of a project involving behavioral-health services. The accompanying budget identifies activities including school and community days, Farm Days, a Wildwood Hills day, supervision and coordination, training, supplies, evaluation, and equine-assisted psychotherapy.
Video Security Equipment and Services
A proposed resolution addresses video security equipment upgrades for the Courthouse and an integrated security-camera system serving the Courthouse, Annex and EMS buildings. The resolution also contemplates selecting the successful vendor as the county's provider for annual maintenance, warranty, servicing and ongoing support.
However, the resolution included in the packet leaves the vendor name, award amount and solution description blank. The packet therefore does not establish which company would receive the work or the final contract value.
The proposal would also prohibit county departments, elected officers and employees from substituting vendors or making changes to covered security systems without prior Board approval.
Public Hearing and Land Use
Morrison Woods Subdivision
A public hearing is scheduled on the proposed final plat for Morrison Woods Subdivision, a one-lot minor subdivision requested by Michael S. and Julie L. Morrison. The project is located in the 1500 block of 120th Street and encompasses approximately 3.01 acres, including 0.23 acres for a public-road right-of-way easement.
The packet states that the property lies within two miles of Earlham and is therefore subject to concurrent subdivision jurisdiction. The proposed approval resolution states that the City of Earlham has approved the subdivision and that the plat conforms to Madison County's zoning ordinance.
Following the public hearing, the Board is scheduled to consider ZO-072826A, which would approve the final plat and direct the Zoning Administrator to complete certification, filing and recording steps.
Property Tax Credits and Exemptions
The Board is scheduled to consider AO-072826A, covering Homestead and Homestead 65+ tax credits or exemptions, Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credits, and Military Service Property Tax Exemptions for the FY26 assessment year.
The County Assessor recommends that the Board allow applications recommended by the Assessor's Office and disallow applications identified for disallowance. The proposed resolution lists the following additions to be applied to taxes for FY28:
- 156 Homestead Tax Credit/Exemption additions
- 44 65+ Homestead Exemptions
- 26 Military Service Property Tax Exemptions
- 29 Disabled Veterans Homestead Tax Credits
The packet includes supporting material concerning applications recommended for disallowance. The Board's action on those recommendations remains pending.
Roads, Bridges and Transportation
Several Secondary Roads resolutions are scheduled for consideration. Some concern closures or restrictions that began before the July 28 meeting, while the resolutions themselves appear on the upcoming agenda.
Bridge Closed After Structural Failure
SR-072826C concerns Madison County Bridge No. 148-550-515 on Limestone Avenue in Monroe Township. County road documentation states that the bridge was closed beginning July 22 because of structural failure and is to remain closed to traffic until further notice.
The closure covers the bridge area near Limestone Avenue and 330th Street, with additional signs posted at nearby intersections.
Settlers Avenue Culvert Replacement
SR-072826D concerns a closure of approximately 0.75 mile of Settlers Avenue in Walnut Township for a culvert replacement. The packet's road notification lists the closure from July 23 through August 6, 2026, between 322nd Street and Madison-Clarke Street.
Pitzer Road Pavement Repair
SR-072826B addresses a one-lane restriction on Pitzer Road (P53) at Bridge 58-300-130 in Jackson Township for pavement patching. The supporting road notice identifies lane closures, an 11-foot width restriction, controlled stops and expected traffic delays.
Meadowview Avenue Culvert Repair
SR-072826A concerns the temporary closure of Meadowview Avenue at 120th Street in Jefferson Township for culvert repair. Packet documentation identifies the associated work period as July 13–14.
Secondary Roads Camera Procedures
The agenda also lists SR-072826E, concerning documentation and procedures for the existing Secondary Roads camera system. The agenda states that the underlying material was redacted from the Board packet because it contains sensitive security information, so the packet does not provide substantive details about the proposed procedures.
Personnel
The Board is scheduled to consider ZO-072826B, acknowledging the hiring of Melodie A. Sawyers as a full-time, hourly, non-exempt Administrative Assistant for the Zoning & Environmental Health Department.
The proposed rate is $26.50 per hour, effective August 3, 2026. The packet specifies a six-month probationary period, followed by an employee review that could result in a pay increase or termination of employment.
Ongoing Governance and Budget Issues
Several matters appear under old business with possible Board direction or action rather than completed recommendations in the packet.
The agenda includes:
- Veterans Affairs office relocation and the auction sale of the Public Health Building.
- Board of Supervisors meeting decorum.
- Possible direction on an engineer review of an OPN response.
- Possible direction concerning contracted employee hires.
- Possible direction regarding an outstanding State Auditor invoice.
- Discussion and possible direction concerning a FY27 budget amendment.
- Discussion and possible action regarding authorized security cameras.
The packet also includes a new-business item involving the county's procurement of annual and forensic auditing services. The Board is scheduled to discuss possible approval of answers to questions submitted by vendors for the FY annual audit(s) and forensic audit RFP.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The largest clearly quantified decisions in the packet are the two proposed bridge replacement contracts totaling approximately $2.81 million and the proposed $37,000 opioid settlement fund award. The Morrison Woods public hearing also gives the public an opportunity to comment before the Board considers final plat approval.
Several other items could depend heavily on discussion at the meeting. In particular, the security-equipment resolution contains blank vendor and pricing fields in the packet, while the agenda leaves possible action open on the FY27 budget amendment, State Auditor invoice, contracted hiring, security-camera issues and audit RFP questions.
