County approves new cabin bids

Union County Conservation Board Thursday approved the only two bids for the two new cabins planned for Three Mile Lake.

Design Homes of Missouri Valley was the lone bidder for the construction of the actual cabins at a total cost of $442,452. Hayes Concrete of Afton was the only bid for foundation work totaling $68,000.

Conservation Director Doug Jones said when construction will start has not been determined but the bid information states the buildings must be complete by Feb. 1, 2025. Jones said that date is not when the cabins will be available to rent.

“We will have all the amenities to still work on,” he said. Jones declined to state when the cabins will be ready to use. He is wanting all of the concrete, sidewalks, landscaping, furnishings and other features to be done first.

Each cabin is planned to be three bedrooms, one bathroom with a loft. The loft will be open space allowing additional sleeping area. The cabins will measure about 28 feet by 44 feet plus an 8-feet covered porch at the entrance. The cabins will be handicap accessible and have full kitchen and laundry services. Two of the three bedrooms will hold three people. Each cabin will have water and sewer.

The cabins are funded by $720,000 of the county’s American Rescue funds provided by the federal government during the COVID pandemic to make up for lost revenue. Union County received about $2.37 million. The cabin proposal has since received donations from other sources.

Jones is scheduled to be on the board of supervisors agenda today to inform the board about the approved bids. Conservation board member Marg Welch was not in attendance.