Government : Board of Supervisor Minutes 8/17/10

August 17, 2010

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Sanders and Vermedahl present. Supervisor Buch was absent. Chairman Sanders called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to approve an application for a utility permit requested by Farmers Mutual Telephone to place utility lines in the county’s right-of-way in Benton Township along W26 in section 22. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to approve the minutes of August 12, 2010. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Gary Benson and Tina Slager, representatives of the City of Urbana met with the Board regarding the law enforcement contract between Urbana and Benton County. Mayor Gary Benson addressed the board and explained that the City of Urbana is currently without a chief of police. The city has received an application for an interim police chief and his concern is that the reserves have other jobs and while they are gone the city would be without law enforcement coverage. Benson stated that Sheriff Forsyth has indicated that they are not willing to do a contract as is currently in place, but rather on an hourly basis whenever needed. Sheriff Forsyth that type of an arrangement could be an issue as far as scheduling in his department, but it is something his department has never done. The City of Dysart has a similar situation and Black Hawk County covers the town when no one is available. Forsyth stated that he doesn’t know how the proposal would work. Mayor Benson reported that the City would like to re-establish its own police force; however funding is currently an issue. Benson added that the city is applying for grants and researching other revenue sources to try to re-establish the department. Benson stated that other towns in Benton County that are similar in size to Urbana have the sheriff’s department provide coverage; however the city council wants their own department. The proposal before the council is to hire an interim chief who will perform administrative services only and with reserves providing the actual patrol. Supervisor Vermedahl stated that a schedule would have to be prepared indicating which hours would need to be covered by the sheriff’s department. Forsyth stated that there is a larger call volume in Urbana in comparison to other towns, which is primarily due to the interstate. David Thompson stated that a report from a year ago showed that Urbana was about third in the number of calls and that the sheriff’s department believed it too large to cover a year ago. Thompson stated that the issue isn’t just with Urbana but with the contract situation for all of the cities. The county is subsidizing law enforcement for all of the cities that contract service is provided, as the cost to the county is greater than what is being collected. Thompson asked at what point does the county state that they cannot afford to subsidize the cities. Thompson stated that he doesn’t have issues with a short-term contract, but with budgets getting tighter the cities may decide that having the county subsidize law enforcement for them is a permanent solution. Thompson stated that Urbana is too large to have situations where they have to wait 15 minutes for law enforcement to respond. Vermedahl stated that more information is needed as to reserve scheduling and the time the demand on the sheriff’s department would be the largest. Vermedahl stated that before a decision could be reached the impact on the sheriff’s department would need to be known to see if it is possible for the county to provide “on-call” coverage. Vermedahl added that a time-line from the city as to when the city plans to re-establish their department was also needed. Benson stated that the current contract is only for three months and there is concern as to what happens at the conclusion of the three-month period. Sanders stated that the county would not just drop the city but that with a three-month renewal on the contract will provide accountability and assure the county that the city is trying to establish a department. The city is to return to the board when they have additional information for them.

Mary Halstead, Transportation Director, updated the board on her department’s activities, including new rates being established for services. Halstead stated that the repair to one bus was approximately $1200.00 due to the design and type of suspension under the bus. Halstead stated that her department is more aware of this issue and will be more aware of this in the future.

Halstead requested permission to increase her full-time staff to three, including herself. Halstead requested to move Rhonda Westergaard to full-time status effective October 1st, but added she would have to advertise the position to meet veteran’s preference laws. Vermedahl questioned if Halstead’s budget could absorb a full-time position. Halstead stated she thought that it could. Supervisor Sanders stated that he was hesitant due to budget concerns and questioned why a part-time person couldn’t be hired for 39 hours a week. The auditor questioned why someone would work 39 hours without benefits when they could work 40 hours somewhere else and get benefits. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to allow Halstead to add an additional full-time staff to her department and advertise for the same. Voting aye was Vermedahl. Voting nay was Sanders. Motion failed.

Jerry Petermeier updated the board on the law enforcement building. The geothermal wells are to be completed and the equipment moved out by the end of the week. The stone is beginning to be installed and brick will be placed above that. The stone was not cleaned prior to installation, but will be cleaned later. Petermeier reported that the floor to the sally port would be poured in the near future. Petermeier reported that more poor soil was encountered and that another change order addressing that will be coming. Steel for the roof will be coming around the first of September.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1). Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried at 10:45 a.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to return to open session. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried at 11:05 a.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to direct the chair to sign the letter discussed in closed session. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to approve the Veterans Affairs’ quarterly report for the period ending June 30, 2010. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to adjourn. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

__________________________________

Jason Sanders, Chairman

ATTEST: ___________________________________

Jill Marlow, Benton County Auditor