Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 9/11/18

September 11, 2018 The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Primmer, Wiley and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Justin Birker, Courthouse maintenance employee came to discuss courthouse sidewalk. With the employees using the north entrance, there had been requests to see about putting in an additional sidewalk from the north doorway along to the east sidewalk. Birker felt it would not be in the best interest, he felt there is enough sidewalks already. This is an area where all the snow gets pushed to, and the generator exhaust exits in this area. There are also many different utility lines in this vicinity to take into consideration. It does not get a lot of sunlight, so safety concerns of ice, and falling debris from the courthouse roof. The board agreed with Birker, no action will be taken further on this matter. Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the minutes from September 4, 2018. Motion carried. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: Approve payment of checks numbered 228455 through 228637, payroll checks numbered 140237 through 140250, ACH deposits numbered 35515 through 35653, vendor checks numbered 228449 through 228454. Motion carried Bierschenk moved/Wiley seconded: Acknowledge resignation of Dakota Rundlett in the sheriff’s office effective August 28, 2018. Motion carried. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Judy Breja to the LISW Interview committee. Motion carried. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve class B Liquor License for Blairstown Lions Club set for September 16th, the original date previously approved was cancelled due to weather. Motion carried. Wiley Approved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve signage quote from Tharp Design for interior signs at the Benton County Service Center. It will include, signs, frames and mounting for $1,744.00. Motion carried. Holly Ollinger, was back meeting with the board presenting more signatures on her petition to reduce the speed limit along 61st Street Drive. She followed up last week’s request and contacted the sheriff’s office in regards to the petition. Chief Deputy John Lindaman’s opinion was that lowering the speed limit would not negatively affect traffic safety. Engineer Parizek drove that road, and felt that reducing the speed would also lessen the site distance requirements for a new driveway to be planned on Ollinger’s property. Bierschenk moved/Wiley seconded: To approve Resolution #18-48, Reduce Speed Limit. Motion carried. R E S O L U T I O N #18-48 WHEREAS: The Board of Supervisors is empowered under authority of the Iowa Code Sections 321.255 and 321.285 of the Code of Iowa, to determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, that the speed limit on any secondary road is greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing, and may determine and declare a reasonable and proper speed limit, and WHEREAS: Such investigation has been conducted by the Benton County Sheriff Office and Benton County Engineer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that a speed limit be established and appropriate signs erected at the location described as follows: 61st Street Drive from US Hwy 218, west approximately one-half mile, 40 MPH. Resolution adopted this 11th day of September, 2018. _____________________________________ Rick Primmer, Chairman _____________________________________ Todd Wiley ______________________________________ Gary Bierschenk ATTEST: _____________________________________ Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor Bierschenk moved/Wiley seconded: To approve and sign title plan sheet for bridge replacement on 51st St. Drive in Section 10 of Cedar Township Project No BROS-SWAP-CO06(112)—SE-06. Motion carried. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To sign and approve purchase agreement for permanent and temporary easement for bridge project in the amount of $2,395.00. Motion carried. The Supervisors revisited the previous topic of changing the county’s land use policy. They invited the county zoning commission members to join in the discussion along with Benton County’s Land Use office, Benton Development Group along with a few others. Members of the commission present were: Mark Kotouc, Elaine Harrington, Steve Thompson, Larry Beatty, Nancy Jensen and Larry Koster. Marc Greenlee, Land Use Administrator started out by explaining the county’s land use ordinance. It established the entire unincorporated area of Benton County as an agricultural land use district in 1986. No real changes to the ordinance have been made since. Any new non-agricultural use has to be reviewed by the board of supervisors. A farm is defined as being 21 or more acres used in the commercial production of farm products according to the plan. Some use farm exemptions to build houses on the quality land. Adding that land to be changed needs to have a corn suitability rating (CSR) under 70. Kate Robertson of BDG stated that from an economic standpoint, they would like to see development along the HWY 30 corridor. They would like to see an amendment to the current plan, and later on look at the whole plan. Kristina Kremer also with BDG, wants to make it easy to do business in the county and to get people to want to come here. How do we bring growth and how can we make that happen so the county reaps the reward off taxation? If something new is going to be done, it needs to follow the Iowa Code per Greenlee, and needs to start with comprehensive mapping of the county. The current plan calls for preserving agricultural land. Zoning Commission member Elaine Harrington stressed that Benton County needs growth and the room to progress. Another member asked how development is being done in other counties, if we could compare. Steve Thompson didn’t see the benefit of a business right off HWY 30, when a town can provide the services they need. Discussion continued on the matter. After Primmer asking if there was enough interest into holding another meeting on the topic, the consensus was in favor. Supervisor Wiley encouraged all zoning commission members to read the land use policy. Auditor Rippel has an electronic copy she can share with those interested, as it is quite lengthy. Allison Hicks and Jeff Young, members of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission provided a brief review on their attendance to the National Alliance of Preservation Commission Forum 2018 held in Des Moines, Iowa in July. These two members along with two other commission members and one county resident attended. They all brought back information and tools that can and will be used to help the county grow in support of historic preservation. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize and approve RFP for appraisal services and advertisement for such in regards to the uniform relocation assistance and real property acquisition act. The City of Vinton is proposing voluntary acquisition of two parcels they want to develop a watershed storm water detention basin. Motion carried Adam Rodenberg, WMA Director requested that the board go into closed session to perform his evaluation. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)i. Motion carried at 11:45 a.m. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To exit closed session and enter into open session. Motion carried at 12:16 p.m. Wiley moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. _______________________________ Rick Primmer, Chairman ATTEST: _________________________________ Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor