Supervisors approve new cabin bids

Union County Conservation Director Doug Jones told the board of supervisors Monday he expects the new cabins to be built at Three Mile Lake to be ready to rent sometime in July.

Supervisors approved of the bids to build the two cabins as did the conservation board Thursday. Using a Design Homes sales representative in Missouri Valley, the Wisconsin-based company was the lone bidder for the construction of the two cabins at a total cost of $442,452. Hayes Concrete of Afton was the only bid for foundation work totaling $68,000.

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.

Jones told the supervisors after the cabins are done, he still wants time for all the amenities, like sidewalks and landscaping, to be complete before they are available to rent.

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. Just with the two bids totaling about $510,000, Jones said the remaining American Rescue funds will be used to furnish both cabins. He already has had some furnishings donated.

In other county news...

Supervisors approved Trent Holliday to purchase 600 N. Sycamore St. for $1,000. According to county records, taxes have not been paid on this property since 2016, totaling $4,132. Holliday to Union County Treasurer Kelly Busch he plans to make improvements.

Supervisors also abated $418 in taxes of the former Union 25 coffee building that was located on North Sumner. Creston public schools purchased the building and relocated it to school property as part of a business education program.

A liquor license for Lakeshore Golf and Country Club was approved.