By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – An update on the Atkins Roundhouse Area was given to the Benton County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.
Leading the hearing was Alyssa Comer, planner/environmental specialist of the East Central Iowa Council of Government.
Comer’s report stated:
For a general description of accomplishments to date, a CDBG Disaster Recovery Tree Replanting contract in the amount of $750,000 was awarded to Benton County from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the removal of stumps and replanting of trees in the Atkins Roundhouse Area. A release of funds was issued on April 22, 2024. For the removal of stumps in the Atkins Roundhouse Area, a pre-construction meeting was held on November 18, 2024, work began on January 28, 2025, and was completed by March 27, 2025. For the replanting of trees in the Atkins Roundhouse Area, a pre-construction meeting was held on August 25, 2025, and planting began on October 8, 2025. Work is ongoing.
For a summary of funding of the activity and source of funds, and total funds spent thus far by source, as of October 20th, 2025, a total of $33,441.25 has been invoiced and paid for project delivery service and newspaper publications, and $237,203.85 in project costs has been invoiced and paid, all using CDBG funds.
For a general description of remaining work, remaining work on the project is weekly watering, maintenance of land to support tree growth, and hand planting along the property line of the Atkins Roundhouse Area, as well as required monitoring and site visits conducted by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
For a general description of changes made to the project budget, performance targets, activity schedules, project scope, location, objectives or beneficiaries, the project is currently on schedule to be completed before September 2026.
She said 255 trees were planted.
Engineer work
The board approved a utility permit for USA Communications for work in Iowa Township for a new fiber line. This is on the north corporate limits of Belle Plaine.
The board approved the temporary construction closure on 32nd Ave. Dr in Florence Township for bridge replacement.
The board approved a resolution for temporary construction closure on 52nd St. in Polk Township for bridge replacement.
Engineer Myron Parizek also gave an update regarding the Van Horne/Highway 30 intersection. They are looking to fill rumble strips and are seeking a quote for asphalt. They are also working on the “stop ahead” signs. The new rumble strips will be closer to the stop sign and further from the farm residence. He hopes for all of this to be done by the end of the week.
Land use
A land use change hearing was held for Scott Schulte for land in Section 17, Florence Township. This is for one acre for a single family dwelling. It is directly north of Norway. The area has a Corn Suitability Rating of 40, which is low. A new septic system is required. The applicant plans to use rural water. The request was approved.
Dog pound water line
Mike Elwick was at the meeting to discuss the former dog pound property water line. He read the following statement.
We want to thank all of you for your help in resolving our concerns over a mysterious water line on the Janet Elwick Trust property in Vinton, Iowa. It appears that we had been under the mistaken impression that this line went to the county owned “Dog Pound” located adjacent to our property. Thanks to the efforts of the Assistant County Attorney, we now realize we must have been wrong. According to the legal information supplied at the public hearing on 10/14/2025, the water line to the dog pound would have needed to have been installed sometime after 4/22/2002, the date of the easement with Merchants and the City of Vinton.
According to City of Vinton documents, the water line we have been referring to was installed in 2001.
Therefore, due to this information, we admit our mistake and realize we must have been talking about two separate lines.
Since any unknown buried objects can be a hazard to farming operations, we plan on working with the City of Vinton to abandon this unknown water line this fall before the ground freezes.
In addition, to help clarify the dog pound property boundaries prior to disposal by the county, we will also begin harvesting the trees adjacent to the dog pound that are clearly on our property according to the survey presented to us by the Assistant County Attorney at the same public hearing.
Thank you again for helping to clarify the issue.
Jim Magdefrau 