(Greenfield) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held an electronic meeting Wednesday morning, during which they approved a bid of $25 from Mike Mangels for Grove Township mowing. The Board received four bids, ranging from $25 on the low side, to $35 on the high side. They also approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant Draw Down in the amount of $545.85.

The Adair County Supervisors approved a recommendation from County Engineer Nick Kauffman, to hire Luke Meisenheimer as a General Equipment Operator, at a rate of $17.54/hour. He’ll begin his job April 12^th. The Board approved wage rate progressions for Secondary Roads’ Employees Brad Cooper and Dustin Ford. , and a Right-of-Way Contract for a Reinforced Concrete Box (RCB) Culvert Farm-to-Market Project on W20/Jackson Township.

Conservation Director Dominic Johnson provided the Board with updates on camping rates.

Johnson said also, they have awarded a bid for the Morman Trail Shower House building, the ground work for which will begin soon, contingent with the signing of the contract. The total price is $217,319, which includes the building and work. A new meter from SIRWA is an additional expense. He said work will begin soon on the shower house project – weather permitting – with the building delivered from the manufacturer in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, sometime in June. An information kiosk is also being installed at Lake Orient, Johnson said. It should be ready by the end of the week.

The Adair County Supervisors heard from County Attorney Melissa Larson, with regard to a Solar Panel Ordinance, and whether or not County Supervisor Steve Shelley, who has a wind turbine contract with MidAmerican Energy, has a conflict of interest with matters pertaining to approval of Solar Farms.

Her conclusion after reviewing the Code of Iowa, was his contract did not present a conflict of interest.

That is particularly true with respect to the fact a solar ordinance is general, not specific to MidAmerican, she said. Larson said also, her research has shown the Board has the authority to enact an Ordinance with regard to Solar Farms, without having to turn matters over to the Zoning Commission. The Board discussed separation distances and setbacks, with a Madison County Ordinance for Solar Farms, as a guideline.

A draft of the ordinance – which will include a road use provision – will be published specifying the distances as proposed by Supervisor Matt Wedemeyer. Supervisor Shelley recaps some of the specifications.

The Ordinance is by no means official. It will first be drawn-up with the legal language by County Attorney Larson, publication, and public hearings. The first draft reading tentatively set for April 14^th.