Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 1/22/19

January 22, 2019

 

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman present. Primmer called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #19-7, Compromise of Taxes. Motion carried.

 

RESOLUTION #19-7

 

WHEREAS, the Benton County Treasurer has recommended that taxes owed to Benton County on parcel #4685 should be compromised, $1746.00 taxes owed and $98.00 in penalty/interest;

 

WHEREAS, there are currently tax liens filed against the properties and has determined that it is impractical to pursue collection of the total amount of tax due through the tax sale and the personal judgment remedies and has recommended that the board of supervisors abate the tax on this parcel;

 

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that the delinquent tax, penalty, interest and costs assessed on parcel # 4685 for the amount of $1,559.00 is hereby abated pursuant to Iowa Code 445.16. The treasurer is directed to strike the amount due from the county system.

 

Dated this 22nd day of January 2019.

 

____________________________________

Rick Primmer, Chairman

 

____________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

 

____________________________________

Tracy Seeman

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

 

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of January 15, 2019. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: Approve payroll checks numbered 140487 through 140505, and 140506 through 140517, ACH deposits numbered 36913 through 37045, claims numbered 23002-230154, vendor checks numbered 230155-230162 and handwrite number 230163. Motion carried.

Riverview Center was unable to make the meeting due to the weather. It has been re-scheduled for next week.

Kate Robertson, Benton Development Group requested an increase of $ 7,500 for FY20. They are working on increasing marketing and would like the cities and county to get together to work on the same goals. They are having success with the community videos and Kate will get those to share with the board for future use as well. Robertson is also working to become a certified economic developer and has been and will continue to take courses for this.

County Auditor Hayley Rippel along with Deputy Auditor, Gina Edler, asked the board for clarification on handbook sections 2.7 (Mileage and Expense Reimbursement) and 6.9 (Credit Card Use). The County Attorney David Thompson was also present. Edler handed out a packet with concerns regarding this issue, how can she do her job if the rules and guidelines are different for different departments. Board Chairman Primmer read the policy on this. Reimbursement is based on a round trip to meetings when housed inside of Linn, Johnson, Iowa, Poweshiek, Tama, Black Hawk and Buchanan Counties. Reimbursement for all lodging expenses requires corresponding receipts. Continued talk regarding where the starting point was to calculate mileage etc. Thompson felt the county’s policy is not an appropriate policy for what his employees were doing. He was surprised the animosity over this and didn’t see the need for it. Auditor Rippel stressed her office was only wanting the invoice from the hotel stay, bills cannot be paid without the invoices, which then further leads to finance charges. Thompson felt a courtesy call to the bank would waive the finance charges. Rippel added that it was her job to question the credit card bills. When asked if it was taxpayers’ responsibility to pay the finance charges, Primmer said a lot of taxpayer’s dollars get wasted, “you’re stepping over a dollar to pick up a dime. So swallow it and move on.” The employees shall make up the difference in the reimbursement, in the past the elected official would pay for the interest charge. Primmer felt it should come out of the budget, therefore the board would have to rescind action from discussion and guidance given at a previous meeting in December regarding this.

Melissa Smith, Virginia Gay Hospital provided a review of the services provided throughout the county for public health services. The county gives a yearly allocation with the original contract stating that a cost of living increase be added to that each year. Smith also brought a revised and updated contract, but the county attorney would like time to review before it is signed and approved.

Peggy Schott and Phil Borleski, Benton County Historical Preservation were present to request their FY20 budget and go over their upcoming projects and plans for the committee. They were appreciative of the new office space at the Benton County Service Center.

The following departments presented their FY20 budgets throughout the morning meeting: Veterans Affairs, Conservation, IT/GIS, Auditor/Elections and the County Attorney.

Myron Parizek, Engineer and the board discussed if he could assist with services for the Benton County Service Center paving project. He would assess the area and get back to them.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the 2018 Weed Commissioner’s Report. Motion carried.

The board discussed the FY 20 Compensation’s Boards recommendations along with some non-elected wage discussions. The Compensation Board recommended a 3% for the Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer and Supervisors and 4% for the County Attorney and Sheriff. There was no action taken, the board would like to review these and act on them next week.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried.

 

_______________________________

Rick Primmer, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Expense Approval