Dallas County Leader Shares Details of Upcoming $16.85 Million Bond Vote

Area chamber of commerce members heard from two of the principals behind the proposed Dallas County administration and law enforcement center that will be on the ballot on Aug. 6.

A a joint luncheon Thursday for the West Des Moines, Waukee and Clive Chambers of Commerce, county Supervisor Mark Hanson and Jerry Purdy, Design Alliance architect, shared details about the facility, which will require voter approval of a $16.85 million referendum.

“We are presenting information on our space planning and our desire to need a new public safety building and new administrative space for Dallas County,” Hanson said. “This space request is really not a want, it is not a wish, it really is a true need to upgrade our space to continue to run efficient and effective government in Dallas County.”

The presentation began with Hanson discussing the needs of every county and the growth in Dallas County.

“Dallas County was the seventh fastest growing-county in the United States in 2011,” Hanson said. “It was the 14th fastest-growing county in the country last year.”

Hanson said Dallas County will continue to grow and with a growing county of 72,000 residents, responsibilities need to met.

Veterans affairs, public health, mental health, the sheriff's office and jail, emergency management activities, and many other services are provided by the county.

Once the population reaches 80,000 residents state law will require the addition of another courtroom; Hanson believes this will happen in the next two years.

He then discussed how Dallas County has the lowest taxes of any Iowa county.

“We take 13.5 cents out of one dollar of taxation,” Hanson said.

Hanson said that if the bond issue is approved, the owner of an average priced home of $200,000 would pay $30 a year more in taxes.

Purdy then discussed the design of the new facility, which has been worked on for more than two years.

“We conducted an exercise to figure out the priorities and what the county is trying to accomplish,” Purdy said. “We need to provide a greater community for Dallas County, consolidate county offices, accommodate the court’s growth, transition out of rental properties and maintain offices in downtown Adel.”

Purdy showed the audience designs of the building and said the site is on the east side of Adel, on the north side of Highway 6.

“It is a highly visible site,” Purdy said. “When you introduce a jail in a project like this that of course attracts a lot of attention. ‘How do you handle the position of a jail?’ ‘How do you handle the neighborhoods and so fourth?’ We are blessed to have a site that allows us to accomplish those types of tasks,” Purdy said.

Hanson said if the bond passes, construction would start in the spring.

• 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, Woodward Granger High School cafeteria, 306 W. Third St., Woodward

• 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, Perry High School Library, 1200 18th St., Perry

• 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, Waukee Community School District Central Administration Office, 560 S.E. University Ave., Waukee