Government : Supervisor Minutes 8/24/10

August 24, 2010

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Buch, Vermedahl, and Sanders present. Chairman Sanders called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to approve checks numbered 123471 through 123725, and ACH deposits numbered 9106 through 9214, for payment. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to approve the minutes of August 24, 2010. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to allow payment of a $30.00 claim to provider Dejardene for client services although the claim is over one year old. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Myron Parizek, county engineer, presented two bids for the asphalt resurfacing on E66 from Luzerne to Blairstown. The quotes were LL Pelling at $789,909.45 and OMG at $885,656.90. The engineer estimated the project to cost $813,654.55. Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to accept and award the bid to LL Pelling for the asphalt resurfacing of E66 from Blairstown to Luzerne at a cost of $789,909.45. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Dennis Kunze met with the Board to request a variance to the county’s subdivision ordinance on behalf of H & H Farms. The owner currently has a Parcel A located in the SE1/4 of the SE1/4 of 28-83-9. The parcel was created subsequent to the county adopting a subdivision ordinance regulating the number of divisions in an aliquot part. The parcel has not been transferred. The owner is requesting that an additional split be allowed as he no longer desires to transfer the Parcel A, but to change it to provide that additional buildings be included in the parcel and less farm ground. Kunze and the auditor explained that initially the owner wanted to vacate the plat; however it is unclear if Iowa law allows for vacation of a plat of survey. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to grant a variance to Benton County’s subdivision ordinance to allow for Parcel B in the SE1/4 of the SE1/4 of 28-83-9, which will encompass a part of the existing Parcel A as well as additional buildings outside of the current Parcel A, with the stipulation that the remaining agricultural land remain in a non-residential agricultural use. Further, it is found that a hardship exists in that it is unclear if Iowa law allows for vacation of a plat of survey and therefore the owner is prohibited from vacating the plat as desired. The stipulation on the use of the remaining portion of Parcel A being a non-residential agricultural use be recorded with the new plat of survey. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The auditor reported that improvements to the assessor’s service window in the courthouse included covering and/or replacing the existing counter and replacing the metal door. Quotes were received for the counter top with Granite Transformations (cover) - $1,580, Counterfitters (cover) - $1,975, and Big Creek Granite (replacement) - $2,475. The replacement of the window door with wooden bi-fold doors was quoted as follows: McDowell’s - $1,345 and Roger Witt - $800. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to award the bid for the counter top to Granite Transformations at $1,580 and the bi-fold door to Roger Witt at $800. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Representatives of Priority One met with the board to request that the county renew their five-year membership at $3,000 per year. The auditor questioned the renewal as it was discussed at budget time that the membership might be terminated with the funding being allocated to Benton Development Group. Renae Becker as well as the board of supervisors stated that they did not recall the conversation about the membership being terminated. However, Supervisor Buch stated that the communication between Benton Development Group and Priority One needed improvement. Supervisor Vermedahl stated that he was frustrated with the perceived philosophy that everything is centered on Linn County and that economic development is not truly a regional project. Vermedahl stated it seemed that Linn County and Cedar Rapids wanted Benton County residents to spend money in Linn County and Cedar Rapids, but that is where the relationship stops. It was asked how communications could improve between Benton Development Group and Priority One. Becker stated that Priority One has spoken to companies without Becker’s knowledge and she is made aware of it when the State contacts her. The board advised that the issue of renewing the membership would be discussed later in the year during budget time.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to approve Change Order #1 to the contract for the construction of the law enforcement center with Kleiman Construction in the amount of $2,672.07 for debris and poor soils remediation as well as credit for brick selection. Additionally, to approve Change Order #2 to the contract with Kleiman Construction in the amount of $2,216.40 to provide for intercoms at the corridor side doors #335 & #226 and to move intercom door #229 from the wall to the frame. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to adopt Resolution #10-44, Benton County Capital Asset Capitalization Policy and Resolution #10-45, Benton County Intangible Asset Policy. Voting aye were Sanders, Buch, and Vermedahl. Nays none. Motion carried. The Capital Asset Capitalization Policy restates and clarifies the county’s current capitalization policy currently in effect.

The board continued their discussions on an early retirement incentive for county employees. Supervisor Buch stated that he is not interested in offering an incentive at this time. Supervisor Vermedahl stated that he would support an incentive provided the incentive is for a longer period of time and that it included the elected officials. Vermedahl added that retirement should also be defined. The board discussed the definition of bona fide retirement with the consensus being that bona fide retirement means that the employee has to begin drawing a retirement pension of some type. The auditor stated that the plan she developed prohibited employees from returning to Benton County IPERS covered employment. The county attorney countered that his plan would allow for employees to return to part-time employment. Kim Staab stated that the State of Iowa ran into issues with persons participating in the early retirement and then returning to work and the State’s last early retirement prohibited employees returning to any State employment. Sanders stated that he is only opposed to persons returning to a permanent part-time position if they participate in the incentive. The board discussed the various aspects of the proposal including restrictions on persons hired as replacements for the retiring employee. The county attorney stated that the official in charge should be restricted from paying persons hired to replace the employee as much as the outgoing employee for a minimum period of five years. The auditor questioned what happened if a replacement could not be hired for less, citing several management positions that it may be difficult to fill at a lesser pay. The county attorney stated that the employee would be prohibited from retiring in those cases. The auditor responded that was an unrealistic requirement and that the retiring person should not be penalized. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, that an early retirement incentive be offered with the following parameters:

Bonafide retirement is defined as the employee drawing a retirement benefit fund;

Employees are prohibited from working in county employment more than 400 hours per year;

Employees must have a minimum of 15 years of IPERS covered service with Benton County

Includes elected officials meeting the requirements set forth

County will pay $425 per month towards county insurance only and the employee is responsible for the remainder of the premium

Is for a period of two years with the board having the option to continue or discontinue the incentive program

Year 1: Employee must notify the county of their intent between September 1, 2010 and October 31, 2010, to take bona fide retirement and to tender an actual resignation that is accepted by the board June 30, 2011; must be ages 58 through 64; - Year 2: Employee must notify the county of their intent between July 1, 2011 and August 30, 2011, to take bona fide retirement and to tender an actual resignation that is accepted by the board June 30, 2012; must be ages 58 through 63.

Further discussion on the motion: Supervisor Buch stated that he did not want to put employees in a position of having to retire in order to participate in the incentive program and that he was torn on how to vote. Buch stated that he had spoken with several employees who stated that would take if offered but would still work for the county if it isn’t offered. Buch also stated that he was concerned that the county just had an employee who retired and they didn’t give any incentive to that employee, but added that the county saved a lot of money, as the employee wasn’t replaced.

Vote: Vermedahl and Buch voting aye. Sanders voting nay stating that he was opposed to elected officials participating and that replacement employees should be required to be hired for less.

Jerry Petermeier met with the Board to provide an update on the construction of the law enforcement center. Petermeier told the board that there was no word on funding for the emergency operation center part of the project yet, that the sally port should poured by the end of this week; an evergreen at Kirkwood was destroyed when putting in the underground bore from law enforcement center to the Kirkwood facility. Petermeier expressed concern over the location of the “muffin grinder” stating that the maintenance performed on the unit would be done inside the building and the smell would be tremendous as well as the specifications for the muffin grinder in the plans was larger than the area designed to hold it and a change order would be coming for the additional cost. The auditor questioned if the additional cost would be the county’s or the architect’s if the error was in the plans and specifications. The board did not respond.

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

_______________________________

Jason Sanders, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Jill Marlow, Auditor