Engineer

Terms

Employed by Board of Supervisors, each term not to exceed three years. [309.17] Bond:  $2,000-$5,000 by the Board of Supervisors [309.18] Compensation is set by the Board of Supervisors [309.18] Qualifications:  Must be a registered professional engineer in the field of civil engineering to be eligible to be known as a county engineer.

The County Engineer’s duties include:

•  Advise the Board as to the manner of constructing and maintaining the secondary roads.

• Supervise all construction and maintenance work and is responsible for the efficient, economical and good-faith performance of said work.

•  Require survey and plans for construction work on secondary roads and bridges to be prepared.

• Certify to the County Auditor the payroll for labor.

• Approve all withdrawals from the road fund.

• Make an annual report to the county and state of all expenditures of or from road funds

The County Engineer’s Office is responsible for supervision of all construction and maintenance work performed on all secondary roads within the county. BV County’s road system includes 1004 miles of road with 235 miles being paved and 140 bridges over 20 feet in length.

The County Engineer’s Office is responsible for the design and construction of all road and bridge projects on the road system. All permits pertaining to use of the roadway are issued from the office. These include moving permits for oversize/overlength truck loads, work in the right-of-way authorization, underground utility permits, and approval of driveways/field entrances.

The County Secondary Road Department is responsible for general maintenance on all county roads. this includes installing of traffic signs, maintaining road surfaces, ditch drainage on the road right-of-way, vegetation control, and winter snow and ice control.

The County Engineer’s Office is located at 526 Radio Road. The Secondary Road Department operates out of its main shop in Storm Lake with outlying shops in Alta, Albert City, Linn Grove, Marathon, Newell, Rembrandt, and Sioux Rapids.

The County Engineer’s Office is the second contact for drainage ditch issues. Buena Vista County Drainage Engineer should be first contact. The Drainage Engineer has all maps and records for drainage districts.

Construction Projects

Planned Projects for 2024 (Coming Soon).

• Road Improvements on 70th Ave. & 600th St. around the new Platinum Crush Bean Plant starting the end of September 2024.

Moving Permits

Iowa General Provisions for Oversize Load Permit

The State of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation and any other permit issuing authority assume no responsibility for the property of the permit holder. During movement under permit, the permit holder must meet the terms and conditions of the permit and must take all reasonable precautions to protect and safeguard the lives and property of the traveling public and adjacent property owners. A copy of a current certificate of public liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000 bodily injury each person, $200,000 bodily injury each occurrence, and $50,000 property damage must be carried in the vehicle for which the permit has been issued. Nothing shall exempt the permit holder from compliance with any load limitations which have been or might be established on any bridge or road that is posed with embargo signs. The permit and any revisions will be void if the actual weights or dimensions exceed what is indicated on the permit or its revisions. Permits can be issued only for loads that are a single article that cannot be reasonably broken down to make it legal in size and weight. The permit must be carried in the cab of the vehicle for which it has been issued and be available for inspection.

Movement is allowed seven days a week except for designated holidays and for special events when abnormally high traffic counts can be expected. The designated holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. No movement will be allowed on these holidays or after 12 noon on days preceding these holidays and holiday weekends which include holidays that fall on Monday, except as provided for in Section 321.457 of the Code.

Any reportable accident involving a vehicle operation under permit must be reported in writing to the Director of the Office of Motor Carrier Services, P.O. Box 10382, Des Moines, IA 50306-0382.

Escort Requirements

Escorts must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid Class A, B, C, or D driver’s license, and carry proof of public liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000/$200,000/$50,000. The escort vehicle must be approximately the size of a normal passenger automobile or pickup and must have an amber revolving light. The Light must be at least 7″ high and 7″ in diameter, with at least 100-candlepower lamp providing 360° warning (or a strobe light), and be mounted on top of the escort vehicle which must be burning while escorting a permit load. An 18″ square red flag must be on each corner of the front bumper of the vehicle.

A rear escort is required when vehicle length exceeds 120 feet.

A rear escort is required when the width of the vehicle and load is over 16 feet 6 inches and travel is on 4 lane roadways.

A rear escort or amber light or strobe light on the power unit and on the rear extremity of the vehicle or load when width exceeds one-half the roadway up to and including 16 feet 6 inches and travel is on 4 lane roadways.

A front escort is required when: Width is up to and including 14 feet 6 inches and exceeds one-half the roadway and travel is on 2 lane roadways with lane width less than 12 feet OR Width is up to and including 14 feet 6 inches and exceeds one-half the roadway and travel is on 2 lane roadways with lane width 12 feet or more without sufficient shoulders OR Width is over 14 feet 6 inches and travel is on 2 lane roadways.

A front escort – or an amber light or strobe light on the power unit and on the rear extremity of the vehicle or load, when width is up to and including 14 feet 6 inches and exceeds one-half the roadway and travel is on 2 lane roadways with lane width 12 feet or more with sufficient shoulders.

A front escort with mounted height pole is required when height exceeds 14 feet 4 inches up to and including 20 feet. An escort but no height pole is required after 20 feet.

Lighting Requirements

An amber revolving light at least 7 inches high and 7 inches in diameter with at least a 100-candlepower lamp providing 360-degree warning (or strobe light) visible from front and rear, mounted on the towing unit is required when: Length exceeds 85 feet up to and including 120 feet OR Frontend projection exceeds 25 feet OR rear-end projection exceeds 10 feet OR Weight exceeds 80,000 pounds. An escort can be used in lieu of amber light.

Signs and Flags

Signs and flags are required when a vehicle and load exceeding 75 feet in length, 8 feet 6 inches in width, and/or 15 feet 4 inches in height. In addition, flags are required when the vehicle rear projection exceeds 4 feet. A sign reading “Oversize Load” must be at least 18 inches high by 7 feet long with a minimum of 12-inch black letters with a 1-1/2 inch stroke, on a yellow background, and mounted on the front bumper and on the rear of the load. A rear sign for mobile homes must be mounted at least 7 feet above the highway surface, measuring from the bottom of the sign. Flags must be red or orange fluorescent and at least 18 inches square must be mounted as follows: one flag at each front corner of the towing unit and one flag at reach rear corner of the load. In addition, there must be a flag at any additional protrusion in the width of the load. The signs or warning devices must be mounted so they can be removed or covered with the vehicle is within legal dimensions.

Definition of sufficient shoulder – A gravel or paved surface extending a minimum of 6 feet beyond the edge of the roadway.

Requirements for Continuous Moves

Vehicles and loads may travel by permit between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise if, in addition to the general provisions and general requirements specified by the permit, the following conditions are met.

1. Dimensions shall not exceed:

(1) Width. 11 feet.

(2) Height. 14 feet, 4 inches.

(3) Length. 100 feet.

(4) Weight. Permitted axle limits.

1. Travel must be on roadways with a minimum width of 22 feet and minimum lane width of 11 feet.
2. Safety lighting shall be provided at the widest part of a load. The lamps may be place at the outer ends of the load itself or on appurtenances which are equal in width to the widest part of the load and positioned at both extreme front and rear of the vehicle or trailer as follows:

(1) One lighted red lamp on each side at the rear of the load.

(2) One lighted yellow or amber lamp on each side at the front of the load.

Telephone number for more information (515) 237-3264

Iowa DOT Moving Permits Cost

Buena Vista County Oversize/Overweight Permit Form

Utility Underground Permits

The utility company, corporation, applicant, permit holder or licensee, (hereinafter referred to as the Permit Holder) agrees with Buena Vista County that the following stipulations and those special requirements on the front shall govern this permit.

General

1. The installation shall meet the requirements of local municipal, county, state, and federal laws, franchise rules and regulations, regulations and directives of the Iowa State Commerce Commission; Utilities Division, the Department of Natural Resources, all rules and regulations of the County and any other laws or regulations applicable.
2. The Permit Holder shall be fully responsible for any future adjustments of its facilities within the established highway right-of-way caused by highway construction or maintenance operations.
3. This permit shall be terminated 20 years from date of approval for gas and water mains outside the corporate limits of a municipality in accordance with the Code of Iowa, Chapter 320. Renewal may be requested.
4. Non-compliance with any of the terms of the County’s policy, permit or agreement, may be considered cause for shut-down of utility construction operations or withholding of relocation reimbursement until compliance is assured, or revocation of the permit. The cost of any work caused to be performed by the County in removal of non-complying construction will be assessed against the Permit Holder

Construction and Maintenance

1. The location, construction and maintenance of the utility installation covered by this application shall be in accordance with the current Utility Accommodation Policy as per Iowa Department of Transportation.
2. A copy of the approved permit shall be available on the job site at all times for examination by Department officials.
3. All traffic control including sign placement and flagging are the responsibility of the Permit Holder. The original placement of signs and their removal upon completion of the work shall be accomplished by the Permit Holder.
4. Operations in the construction and maintenance of said utility installation shall be carried on in such a manner as to cause minimum interference to or distraction of traffic on said highway.
5. The Permit Holder shall carry on the construction, repair and maintenance of the accommodated utility with serious regard to the safety of the traveling public and adjacent property owners. Traffic control shall be in accordance with Part VI of the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
6. Unless specifically noted in this application, all work performed within the right-of-way shall be restricted to a time frame of 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.
7. The Permit Holder shall be responsible for any damage that may result to said highway because of the construction operation or maintenance of said utility and shall reimburse the County any expenditure that the county may have to make on said highway because of said Permit Holder’s utility having been constructed, operated and maintained thereon.
8. As built plans for all installations shall be furnished to the County within 90 days of the completion of the project.  Said plans shall include a plan and profile and location from the civil monument.
9. The Plan Holder agrees to reimburse the County for all inspection cost during construction as deemed necessary by the County Engineer.

Liability

1. The Permit Holder shall indemnify and save harmless the County of Buena Vista, its agencies and employees, from any and all causes of action, suits at law or in equity, for losses, damages, claims or demands, and from any and all liability and expense of whatsoever nature, arising out of or in connection with the Permit Holder’s use or occupancy of the public highway.
2. Buena Vista County assume no responsibility for damages to the Permit Holder’s property occasioned by any construction or maintenance operations on said highway if Permit Holder has been notified in accordance with stipulation number D.3. or if the facilities are not located in accordance with this permit.
3. Buena Vista County, its agencies or employees, will be liable for expense incurred by the Permit Holder in its use and occupancy of the highway right-of-way only when negligence of the County, its agencies or employees, is the sole proximate cause of such expense. Whether in contract, tort or otherwise, the liability of the County, its agencies and employees, is limited to the reasonable, direct expenses to repair damaged utilities, and in no event will such liability extend to loss of profits or business, indirect, special, consequential or incidental damages.

Notification

1. The Permit Holder is responsible for contacting Iowa One-Call (1-800-292-8989) and request the location of any underground utilities forty-eight (48) hours before excavation. Before beginning work in the highway right-of- the Permit Holder shall also contact any other known utility located in the area of the proposed work.
2. The Permit Holder agrees to give the County forty-eight hours notice of its intention to start construction or to perform routine maintenance on the highway right-of-way. Said notice shall be made to the contact person whose name is shown on the front side.
3. The County shall give the Permit Holder at least forty-eight hours notice of any proposed construction or maintenance work, on either existing or newly acquired right-of-way when the proposed work will be within ten feet of a utility location as previously approved by the County by permit or written agreement. The Permit Holder shall be responsible within this timeframe to arrange to protect its facilities.

Disclosure Statement

The information furnished on this form will be used by Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors to determine approval or denial of the application. Failure to provide all information will result in denial of the application. Information furnished is public information and copies may be provided to the public upon request.

Buena Vista County Utility Permit Form