Officials in Pottawattamie County say more than $1.2 million in improvements at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse and surrounding grounds will begin next month. According to the Daily NonPareil, the county’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday afternoon approved a bid by a Missouri bank for 1.9 percent interest on the issuance of $1.29-million in general obligation bonds. The bid by UMB Bank of Kansas City, in association with American National Bank of Council Bluffs, was lowest interest rate among six firms bidding for those bonds. The county will pay $152,411 in interest over the 10-year life of the bonds

The improvements include new elevator controls, handicapped accessible restrooms and new parking lots in the general area. Bids will be sought and the best one selected in early January.