Woodbury County government officials took more steps towards borrowing $1.2 million for larger capital projects, including potentially using about half that money to tear down the former county jail downtown.
The county board of supervisors in their Tuesday meeting approved a resolution for the form of a loan to borrow that money. The county supervisors most years borrow money for larger capital projects. They usually set loan lengths so that when a prior loan is paid off, a new one replaces it, to keep total county debt at nearly the same amount.
Woodbury County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dan Bittinger told Siouxland Public Media the county total loan amount for existing capital projects will be $4.9 million, an amount that is less than in many Iowa counties.
The county also has a separate loan of $43.8 million for the new law enforcement center that opened in September 2024 after a bond issue vote passed in March 2020. The former jail on Seventh Street had many mechanical problems after being built in 1987, so building a new jail was determined by county officials to be the best route forward financially.
Bittinger said at the next weekly county board meeting on June 3, the supervisors will make a final decision on which capital projects will be done with the new $1.2 million borrowing.
The list of possibilities includes demolishing the old jail at a cost of $600,000, plus new technology equipment, painting in many departments, and paving upgrades for the campground at Little Sioux Park.
*Additionally, an American entrepreneur with a bid to buy the social media app TikTok said South Dakota is the “frontrunner” for the infrastructure of the app’s potential headquarters in the U.S.
Reid Rasner said he has had conversations with the app’s legal representation, as well as the Trump Administration.
Rasner said he’s put together a strong bid of $47 billion to buy the app and its coveted algorithm. He said his bid is $20 billion above that of other suitors, which includes some well-known firms, including Oracle and Amazon.
*People posed tough questions in a tense town hall meeting, when 300 people packed into Seward High School for the town hall meeting by Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood on Tuesday evening.
Constituents voiced concerns about potential cuts to Medicaid and veterans’ services. Some attendees shouted down answers they believed didn’t align with Flood’s actions in Congress.
When Flood started the question-and-answer portion, the conversation immediately shifted to the budget reconciliation bill. Shouts erupted from the crowd as Flood explained why he voted for the bill that adds $4.3 trillion to the deficit while cutting spending.
He responded, “First and foremost, this bill is the first time in literally more than a generation that we made significant reductions in mandatory spending. Furthermore, it allows us to extend the tax cuts that were proffered in 2017.”
Flood was also asked about how he would hold President Trump accountable.
“If you don't act as a check and a balance on the executive branch when they're in violation, not only of the Constitution, but also of judicial orders, what exactly is the purpose of Congress?” one constituent asked.
The Republican Congressman Flood said he supports the president, but they don’t always agree.
Flood began the evening by addressing the large national debt counter projected above the stage. He called the rising debt a “national security issue” and said reducing it was his top priority.
“I know some of you are angry, I know some of you are upset,” Flood said. “I know some of you are worried, and I know some of you are supportive of the things that are happening in our country. Tonight is your night.”
In response to the negative press, Republican party leaders suggested lawmakers refrain from holding town halls or host them online.
Though his Columbus town hall in March came with similar criticism, Flood says he never questioned holding another. Flood said there was no one “trucked in” and paid from outside Nebraska to cause a stir at the town halls.
In Nebraska, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts also drew a critical crowd at his Kearney town hall in late April. The other Repubican U.S. senator from Nebraska, Deb Fischer, has not held a town hall since 2017.
*Additionally, the unofficial start of the summer tourist season arrived last weekend with the Memorial Day Holiday, and many people flocked to the Iowa Great Lakes area.
Among the refurbished spots in the Okoboji area were the Terrace Park Beach on the south end of West Lake Okoboji and the Central Emporium shopping center in Arnold’s Park.
The city of Arnolds Park received a grant to rework the amenities and layout of Terrace Park Beach. There was a ribbon cutting event to mark the conclusion of that work on Friday, May 23.
Among the changes are a boardwalk, other amenities, and new parking areas.
