The 1884 Mower County courthouse dome is getting a new home.

The Root River Antique Power Association has agreed to take the dome.

However, it wants money to move the dome to the organization's heritage center on the Deer Creek Campgrounds grounds between Racine and Spring Valley.

The organization already has taken a historic one-room cabin from the fairgrounds and the Frankford Township Hall. It has a display of historic buildings at its heritage center, where an antique tractor show each July attracts thousands of visitors.

According to Richard P. Cummings, 1st District county commissioner and chairman of the county board's building committee, the dome wore out its welcome o the fairgrounds.

Both the Mower County Historical Society and the Mower County Fair Board agreed it must go.

This came after the county commissioners said the dome had become an eyesore on the fairgrounds and needed to be moved to make way for anticipated improvements and new buildings at the fairgrounds.

When the former courthouse dome was threatened with being moved to a landfill, the Historical Society and private citizens

rallied to "save the dome" from demolition.

A fund-drive raised some money, but not enough to ensure its renovation and salvage on the fairgrounds.

According to Garry Ellingson, 3rd District, the money was returned to the donors.

At Tuesday's county board meeting, Cummings made a motion to give $1,000 to the Root River organization to cover costs in relocating the doomed dome.

Ellingson seconded it and when the motion was voted upon, it passed by a 4-1 vote.

Only Ray Tucker, 2nd District, voted against the $1,000.

"They don't need any money to move the dome to the campgrounds," Tucker said.

In other action Tuesday, the county commissioners:

-- Agreed to accept an offer of $10 to buy a flood plain home acquired from Gary Davis. The buyer will have to provide a $1,000 performance bond prior to moving the house located along Mower County No. 29 near the County No. 28 intersection south of Austin.. It is one of six homes the county has acquired in various flood plains.

-- Agreed to hire two summer secretaries in the Mower County Extension Service at the rates of $9.25 and $8.50 per hour, according to seniority.

-- Accepted the retirement of long-time Mower County Chief Deputy Treasurer Cindy Skov after 35 years of employment with the county Skov will be replaced by veteran county treasurer's office employee Linda Ehmke.

— Agreed to retain the services of KKE Architects, Inc. to consult the county commissioners on county jail needs. The firm will be paid no more than $60,000 to make recommendations to the county board. The firm is one of four interviewed by the county for the purposes of recommending whether to build a new jail, expand the current jail or engage in an agreement to house prisoners with another county

— Adopted new fees for the disposal of tires as recommended by Jeff Weaver, Mower County recycling program coordinator and solid waste program administrator. The fee hikes will cover increasing expense incurred by the county to dispose of tires properly.

— Proclaimed the week of may 19-25 Emergency Medical Services Week in Mower County and recognized the invaluable contributions of local ambulance service agencies and first responder squads.

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)