T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY During last Wednesday morning’s meeting, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors authorized the Mid-Iowa Antique Power Association to install a new windmill at the property it leases from the county near the Jail/Sheriff’s Office complex just off of Highway 30.

After he had previously approached the Marshall County Board of Supervisors about the possibility of purchasing a new windmill on the ground his organization leases from the county near the Sheriff’s Office/Jail during the public comment period at a prior meeting, Mid-Iowa Antique Power Association Board Member Bill Roads didn’t have to wait long for an affirmative answer last Wednesday morning.

“Two weeks ago, we came up and told you what our proposal was, you know, to put the windmill up, and our association will pay for the windmill. We just need your OK to put it back up where it was, and the issue was who would insure that because the cost (of the windmill, including installation) was $9,300,” he said.

County Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson said she had investigated the cost of insuring the windmill, which was knocked down during the 2011 derecho, and found it would be $40. Roads told her he hoped to have the new structure installed by this week.

“Well, we’ve gotta approve this,” Supervisor Jarret Heil joked.

Roads noted that the new windmill has already been purchased, but it was suggested that he ask for the supervisors’ blessing as the association leases the ground along Highway 30, which is the site of the annual Steam Threshing and Plowing Show every August, from the county. Hibbs also jokingly suggested waiting to install the new windmill until after the predicted windstorm that thankfully did not do much damage locally had passed.

“Thanks for all your work on this, and we’re excited to see it go up,” Heil said.

A motion to approve the installation passed unanimously. During the previous meeting, Roads and Paul Sams explained a bit of the history on the windmill at the east end of the horse building and conversations about how to rebuild after the 2011 storm. A large donation from a member of the association, the late Irene Elsberry, finally made the replacement of the windmill possible.

“The windmill was a pet project of hers, after it blew down, trying to raise funds, and it just kind of died off because there wasn’t enough interest. But if you want to honor her, take that $10,000 and put a windmill up,” Roads said.

The only lingering question was whether the windmill would fall under the county’s building insurance, and Sams asked for clarification on the topic.

“What we’re putting up is a 33 foot tower with an eight foot fan, and it’ll have our logo or our name on the bin. So it kind of identifies us out there in that area,” Roads said.

Buildings and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke recalled that the 2011 derecho occurred on his first day of work for the county, and Sams thanked both Baedke and Sheriff Joel Phillips for their willingness to work together to keep the ground in tip-top shape.

“We appreciate that, and we appreciate the long-term happiness we’ve had with the board of supervisors in allowing us to use that area. So thank you again,” he said.

Roads also inquired about the possibility of repairing or replacing rotting poles on the property. Benson and Hibbs promised to get the windmill item on the next regular agenda. Once the insurance details were cleared up, it was smooth sailing from there.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.