05/27/2026
Topics of interest from the Boone County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026:
Boone County Board Meeting Updates;
The meeting focused on several key topics including the approval of Chris Call's resignation from Sweet Point Park, the adoption of a resolution and agreement for the county's credit card program, and discussion of the 2026 Boone County drainage levies. The board approved Call's resignation with thanks for his service and approved the credit card program resolution. Regarding drainage levies, Katie explained that seven Boone-controlled districts and five shared districts were being considered, with a specific note about District 112's reclassification hearing scheduled for July 8th.
Boone Drainage and Transportation Updates;
Bryant approved the 2026 drainage levies for districts 42, 52, 71, 151, 186, 200, and 211. Kretzinger reported on his attendance at the Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting where he learned about transportation improvements, including a planned $60,000 Safe Routes to School plan and potential roundabout at the Lincoln Way and Y Avenue intersection. Kretzinger also discussed a tax increment financing program for Fairway Stores that is currently in a holding pattern due to parcel designation issues with the city of Boone's urban revitalization district.
Project Updates;
Bryant visited the Iowa Arboretum where Debbie Durham expressed satisfaction with the Treehouse Village project, noting it has significantly increased tourism from 16 annual visits to hundreds of weekly visitors. Bryant also discussed the Central Iowa Expo tiling project, which has increased in cost to approximately $44K split 3 ways due to pricing increases, with the boring phase ready to begin soon.
Boone County Veterans Board Appointment;
The meeting focused on appointing Jodi Tymeson as a commissioner to the Boone County Veterans Affairs Board, effective July 1st, 2026. Bryant moved to approve of her appointment, which was seconded and unanimously approved. The group discussed Tymeson’s qualifications, including her previous experience with the Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs and her role as a former state representative. The conversation also touched on preserving a World War II memorial space, with plans to assess needed repairs and maintenance after an upcoming conference.
VA Benefits Access Challenges;
Steve Cunningham, Veterans Affairs Director discussed challenges in reaching veterans, particularly those in the National Guard, who may be eligible for VA benefits but are not currently counted in their system. He expressed concern about the increasing complexity of VA claims processes, noting that claims have grown from 5 pages to nearly 50 pages for conditions like hearing loss and tinnitus. Cunningham also highlighted issues with the VA's evaluation process, citing examples of discrepancies between professional nexus letters and nurse practitioner assessments, and mentioned that AI tools are helping with claim processing despite requiring additional time investment.
Veteran Transportation and Counseling Resources;
Cunningham discussed challenges with the VA bureaucracy and expressed gratitude for the board's support in providing a van for veteran transportation safety. He shared personal experiences about veteran mental health issues and emphasized the need for proper counseling resources, including plans to establish a VA counseling center at the VAVC. The conversation ended with a discussion about introducing Jodi as a new commissioner, with Cunningham noting her strong connection to the community through her family's military history.
Central Iowa Detention Center Updates;
Longhorn provided updates on several topics including the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center's decision to end their evaluation program due to financial losses of $202,000 annually. The center is now exploring expanding services to include Social Security disability and immigration evaluations, which could potentially generate $30,000-40,000 in annual revenue instead of losses. Longhorn also discussed mortgage options for the detention center, with the board deciding to pursue a construction loan at 6.75% rather than refinancing at 6.25-6.5%.
Intergovernmental agreement for Combined Law Enforcement;
The conversation ended with approval of an amendment to the Central Iowa Drug Task Force Intergovernmental Agreement to expand the scope beyond just drug investigations.
Caveat: This summary is a synopsis of the meeting from my personal notes and observations. The official record of the meetings of the Boone County Board of Supervisors can be found in the Minutes from the Boone County Auditor.
