Dubuque County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Dubuque County supervisors approve hiring, REAP committee funds park projects

The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Resolution 26-164 to hire deputies, assistants, and clerks at its July 27 meeting. The board also established a recurring Monday work session for data center planning and directed zoning staff to draft initial ordinance language. Separately, the county REAP committee approved a five-year plan and four grant applications for park and trail improvements.

Board of Supervisors actions

At its July 27 meeting, the board voted unanimously on Resolution 26-164, which authorizes hiring of deputies, assistants, and clerks. The board also set up Data Center Work Sessions to be held every Monday at 1:00 p.m., and determined that Dubuque County Zoning department staff will draft data center ordinance language for the Commission.

REAP Committee approves plan and grants

The Dubuque County REAP Committee, meeting Aug. 3, unanimously approved the FY 2026 through FY 2030 Dubuque County REAP Plan. It also approved four grant applications:

• City of Rickardsville: $50,000 to $75,000 for park pavilion enhancements
• City of Peosta: $50,000 for a trail from Burds Road to Kelly Oaks Park
• City of Epworth: $70,000 for Tower Park restrooms and utilities
• City of Dubuque: application for Eagle Point Park environmental restoration and storm water runoff (no dollar amount listed)

All approvals were unanimous.

Other recent meetings

The Board of Supervisors met Aug. 3 with an agenda that included a public hearing on FY27 Budget Amendment 1, resolutions to approve the sale of two parcels (Parcel 1012359007, vacated Brunswick St. between Lots 143-160 Belmont Addition, and Parcel 1025130011, Kelly's Sub in City of Dubuque), final plat approvals for Prairie Creek Subdivision, Arlen Acres Plat 2, Thier Farm Subdivision, Sherrill Place No. 3, Voncarlowitz Place No. 2, and Rauen Place, a bridge replacement project on St Joes Prairie Rd (Project BROS-C031(133)--5F-31), hiring resolutions, and opioid settlement contracts. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not available.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment met Aug. 4 to consider a special-use permit application (BA#08-25-26) from Christopher R. and Anne M. Hennessy. No other items were listed; minutes are pending.

The Veteran Services Commission met Aug. 5 and held a closed session to interview veterans. No other details are available.

Coming up

• Aug. 10 (today), 1:00 p.m.: Board of Supervisors work session on the Dubuque County Data Center Planning Process, including framework/roadmap and next steps. Public comments on agenda items will be taken first.
• Aug. 12: Board of Supervisors will hear a presentation from Watershed Program Director Eric Schmechel.
• Aug. 18: Zoning Commission will consider final plat approvals for Noonan Acres, Five Points Addition, Y-Camp Place No. 4, Nature Trail Addition, and J & P Farm Subdivision, along with three rezoning requests (Cornerstone Nursery LLC from A-1 to PC; Daniel & Jodi Helle and Chris & Molly Tallman from A-1 to A-2; James & Judy Wulfekuhle from A-1 to A-2).
• Aug. 19: Veteran Services Commission will hold a regular meeting, including a closed session to interview veterans and an office report from Executive Director Randy Rennison.

Dubuque County roundup: Land sales, budget amendment, plats set for August 3 vote; recent meeting minutes not yet published

Minutes have not yet been published for any of Dubuque County's recent meetings, so outcomes from the past two weeks are not yet available. The most consequential items on the calendar are scheduled for August 3, when the Board of Supervisors is set to vote on two parcel sales, a FY27 budget amendment, six subdivision plats, and a bridge replacement project.

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors held or scheduled multiple meetings between July 20 and July 27. Agendas show the board was set to consider hiring of deputies, assistants, and clerks; a road closure on August 30 for the 7th Annual Research for the Kids UTV Ride; sale of two parcels at public auction; public hearings on construction permits and land sales; and approval of an RCTP agreement with the City of Zwingle for street resurfacing.

A July 23 meeting was scheduled to review framework documents and a roadmap for a data center ordinance, including review of the 2013 Comprehensive Plan and land suitability analysis. A July 27 work session was set to continue the data center planning process and act on a resolution regarding hiring of clerks, assistants, and deputies.

Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet known which items were approved, modified, or tabled.

Library District Board

The Dubuque County Library District Board met July 21. The agenda included discussion of a proposed Carver Trust grant for the Farley Library and Community Center, designation of public-meeting notice locations under HF 2490, and review of the Bulletin Board & Display Policy. The board was also scheduled to consider board training for FY27 and a holiday closings policy. Public comment was limited to three minutes. Outcomes are not yet available.

Zoning Commission

The Zoning Commission met July 21 to consider final and preliminary plats, including the Final Plat of Survey of Voncarlowitz Place No. 2, the Preliminary Plat of Survey of Sherrill Place No. 3, the Final Plat of Survey of Rauen Place, and the Final Plat of Survey of Arlen Acres Plat 2.

Three rezoning requests were also on the agenda: Dollin Inc/Alex & Bridget Kremer; Genesis Three Holdings LLC/Ron & Margie White; and Carl & Karen Bries. Outcomes are not yet available.

Veteran Services Commission

The Veteran Services Commission held a bimonthly meeting July 22 at 1:30 PM. The agenda included approval of minutes, an office report from the Executive Director, a closed session to interview veterans, and setting the next meeting for August 5. Outcomes are not yet available.

Coming up

• **August 3 — Board of Supervisors:** Public hearing on FY27 Budget Amendment 1; resolutions to approve sale of Parcel 1012359007 (vacated Brunswick St. between Lots 143-160 Belmont Addition) and Parcel 1025130011 (Kelly's Sub in City of Dubuque); approval of final plats for Prairie Creek Subdivision, Arlen Acres Plat 2, Thier Farm Subdivision, Sherrill Place No. 3, Voncarlowitz Place No. 2, and Rauen Place; resolution to approve bridge replacement project on St Joes Prairie Rd (Project BROS-C031(133)--5F-31).
• **August 4 — Zoning Board of Adjustment:** Public hearing on Special Use Permit (BA#08-25-26) for Christopher R. and Anne M. Hennessy.
• **August 5 — Veteran Services Commission:** Bimonthly meeting with closed session to interview veterans.

Dubuque County boards weigh data center moratorium, bridge replacement, and land sales

Dubuque County's Board of Supervisors put data center development at the center of recent agendas, with a proposed one-year moratorium on all scales of data center construction and a follow-up work session involving airport and economic development officials. Minutes for all recent meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes listed below reflect agenda items only, not confirmed decisions.

Board of Supervisors

The July 6 agenda included a proposed one-year moratorium on Small, Medium, Large-Scale, and Hyperscale Data Center Development, along with a public hearing for the MK Land, LLC Construction Permit Application. Also on the agenda: purchase of one 1 Ton and one 0.5 Ton pickup truck from Runde Auto Group, a contract with Denco Highway Construction for the 2026 HDPE Culvert Lining Maintenance Project, and a Letter of Agreement between Dubuque County and Major League Baseball. Eight final subdivision plats were also listed for approval.

On July 13, the Board held a work session on the Dubuque County Data Center Planning Process, with presentations from Dubuque Regional Airport Director Todd Dalsing and Greater Dubuque Development President and CEO Jason White.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

The July 7 agenda included approval of June 3, 2026 minutes and four public hearings on variance requests for properties on Seippel Road: BA#07-21-26 (Burger), BA#07-22-26 (Miner), BA#07-23-26 (Rauen), and BA#07-24-26 (Schultz).

Board of Health

The Board of Health met three times in the past two weeks. The July 8 agenda included updated fiscal projections, discussion of Narcan distribution box locations, a presentation from Iowa State University on a Public Science Collaborative, and continued work on a Prevention & Education Action Plan.

A July 9 agenda listed a single item: establishment of a Data Center Health Impact Citizen Working Group Action Plan.

On July 15, the Board of Health Ordinance Subcommittee heard a presentation on the Dubuque County Unified Development Code by Sarah Runkle and Jenna Giliam of MSA Professional Services, plus an update on ordinance enforcement. A separate July 15 Board of Health agenda included a waiver petition for 1763 St. Catherine Rd, Bellevue, IA; inquiries regarding DCPH grant funding and an Opioid Settlement General Application for Bridgewater Recovery; a Combat Cancer 28E Agreement with Marion County Public Health; and a work session on the Dubuque VNA Family Planning Program.

Veteran Services Commission

The July 8 meeting agenda included routine items: approval of minutes, an office report, an open floor for guest comments, and a closed-session interview of veterans. No policy changes or contracts were listed.

Conservation Board

The July 16 agenda featured a public hearing on plans, specifications, and estimated cost for replacing Heritage Trail Bridge #30 (project RT-C031(132)-9H-31). The board also considered permission to solicit bids for the bridge replacement and for tree-planting site preparation at Whitewater Canyon, Miller McGrath, and the Strathman-Heritage Trail addition. Additional items included a fence-replacement bid award at Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Area and approval of July 2026 payables and June 2026 procurement cards.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Board of Supervisors:** Hiring of deputies, assistants, and clerks; road closure on August 30 for the 7th Annual Research for the Kids UTV Ride; sale of two parcels at public auction; public hearings on construction permits and land sales; and approval of an RCTP agreement with the City of Zwingle for street resurfacing.
• **July 21 — Library District Board:** Discussion of a proposed Carver Trust Grant for the Farley Library and Community Center, designation of public-meeting notice locations under HF 2490, and policy reviews. Public comment limited to three minutes.
• **July 21 — Zoning Commission:** Final and preliminary plats for Voncarlowitz Place No. 2, Sherrill Place No. 3, Rauen Place, and Arlen Acres Plat 2, plus three rezoning requests.
• **July 22 — Veteran Services Commission:** Routine bimonthly meeting with office report and closed-session veteran interviews.