The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a settlement agreement tied to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora.
The move aligns Buena Vista with more than two dozen Iowa counties working to resolve a legal dispute over governance of the facility.
The lawsuit—filed by Hardin County—challenged whether five counties were properly added to the commission overseeing the detention center. Under the settlement, those counties will reapply for membership, and all participating counties must approve the terms.
The board’s action helps clear the way for continued cooperation among counties that send juvenile offenders to the Eldora facility. The original 1993 agreement had grown unclear over time, with questions about voting authority and contract approvals.
Buena Vista’s approval moves the process forward, with final sign-offs from other counties expected in the coming weeks.
