Chickasaw County board authorizes chair to sign Title VI nondiscrimination assurance with Iowa DOT

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5 authorized the chair to sign the county's annual Title VI nondiscrimination assurance with the Iowa Department of Transportation, a requirement tied to federal aid for local transportation projects. Roman Lutzen, county engineer, told the board the form is an annual certification needed to comply with federal regulations for projects funded with federal financial assistance and that the board's signature keeps the county eligible for those funds.

Lutzen said the county routinely files the assurance and that the signature is typically the chair's. "Basically, it's required to comply with federal regulations for financial assistance on transportation projects," he said. The board moved to authorize the chair signature; the motion carried after members voiced their approval.

The action preserves the county's ability to participate in federal-aid programs and avoid administrative delays on ongoing design and bridge projects Lutzen described, including multiple bridge and pavement efforts currently in the engineer's office. No further conditions were attached to the authorization, and the board recorded the motion as carried.

The board took the vote during a broader budget and department update session; the engineer also briefed supervisors on winter operations, vehicle deliveries and a sign grant application the office plans to submit on Jan. 12. The board did not request additional information before signing the assurance.

The next procedural step is the county chair's signature on the standard Title VI document and filing with the Iowa DOT to maintain the county's standing for federal reimbursements on eligible projects.