MUSCATINE, Iowa – Emotions ran high for Friends of the Old Barn president John Haskins.

Haskins requested to use and renovate the cottage located at 3300 Cedar St., a property owned by Muscatine County formerly known as The County Farm.

Friends of the Old Barn wants to use the cottage for its bathroom facilities, while also renovating the home for historical purposes.

At the Nov. 2 meeting, the group’s request was turned down, with the Board voting 3-2 to remove the home instead. At Monday’s meeting, the discussion of moving or demolishing the home was removed from the agenda.

To show project support, Haskins and Friends of the Old Barn supporters collected signatures on a petition, getting 130 signatures in one day.

“I got 50 at the Hy-Vee store in one hour,” Haskins said. “This gives us a good example of how people feel.”

Supervisor and Chairman Wayne Shoultz said his concern was cost.

“Are you able to financially maintain the property in a respectable way?” Shoultz asked.

Haskins said the money “will be there,” adding that at 66 and with no family, he intends to will his estate to the Friends of the Old Barn.

“We can’t expect people of the community to be a white knight for us if nothing’s going on,” Haskins said, noting that a lack of restroom facilities was preventing the group from doing more with the barn.

Supervisor Dave Watkins and Tom Furlong also expressed concern for the sewer, water and heating of the home.

“I see it as a money pit and you see it as opportunity,” Furlong said.

Furlong said the needed repairs, such as a handicapped ramp, widened doors and hallways and handicapped-accessible bathroom could be costly. Added with future needs like a new roof and windows, it could run $20,000, he said.

“Give us the building and let us do what we say we can do,” Haskins said. “If you give us the opportunity and we don’t deliver, you’re still in control.”

Supervisors Esther Dean and Kas Kelly again expressed their support of the organization.

“You’ve been a good group and a good neighbor,” Dean said. “I think you’ll do whatever necessary. I have faith in your group.”

The Board agreed unanimously to put the item on the Nov. 23 agenda and requested Haskins and barn supporter David Metz to provide “statistics, numbers and information” on the renovation costs.

Metz said there is hope for an endowment through the Comunity Foundation of Greater Muscatine to help fund repairs and expense.

The Board also

n Unanimously agreed to set an application deadline for flood victims taking part in the Jumpstart Housing Rehabilitation Program.

Director of administrative services Eric Furnas said an estimated $400,000 in assistance money was granted for Jumpstart participants, and while most have filled out the application and are beginning the recovery process, a “few remaining applicants” are still out.

“We need to set a deadline so they know what the expectations are,” Furnas said.

The Board set a May 1, 2010 deadline.

Chose Joe Church as the mayor of Nichols. County auditor Leslie Soule had Shoultz draw one of the two tied names from a box.

Jim Fulcher and Joe Church were tied for mayor with three votes each.

Soule also addressed the canvass for the election. Supervisor Kas Kelly thanked those running and elected for their work.

Decided to allow jail expansion project manager Stu Willits the authority to authorize change orders under $1,000.

The jail construction is expected to start before the end of this year, and Willits is construction manager.

Change orders over $1,000 will be addressed by the Board, who will call a special meeting if necessary.

Discussed with budget coordinator Sherry Seright instructions for department heads regarding upcoming budget cuts.

Seright said around $300,000 in expenditures over revenues will need to be cut and hopes to meet with staff and department heads to discuss further, rather than cutting across the board.

“We will ask departments to cut budgets and find out direction first,” Seright said. “It gives us the opportunity to explain to departments where    we’re at.”

Friends of the Old Barn Open House meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Elly’s Tea and Coffee, 208 W. Second St. at Pearl Plaza. The public and officials are invited to attend.

Open house

Friends of the Old Barn Open House meeting will be held at 7 p.m.  Thursday, Nov. 12, at Elly’s Tea and Coffee, 208 W. Second St. at Pearl Plaza. The public is invited to attend.