Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 9/17/19

September 17, 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. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor’s office and at: www.bentoncountyiowa.org

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve minutes of September 10, 2019. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To set land use hearing date for Mark and Crystal Manos in part of the N1/2 NE ¼ 20-86-9 for Tuesday October 15, 2019 at 9:15 a.m. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To set land use hearing date for Kurt and Elizabeth Blankenhorn in part of Parcel A in the SE ¼ of NE ¼ of 12-82-10 for Tuesday October 15, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Jennifer Toenjes to the Veterans Affairs Commission. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #19-5, Proclaiming September as National Voter Registration Month and National Voter Registration Day as Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To set the public hearing for accepting bids for courthouse tuck pointing and waterproofing for Tuesday October 22, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the canvass of the September 10, 2019, Special School Election as read and declare the public measure as passed. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #19-52, Employment status change for Sydney Barton in the Sheriff’s office, moving from part-time to full time effective September 17, 2019 at same hourly wage. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #19-53, Appointing Timothy Dille as Assistant to the County Attorney. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve law enforcement contracts with the following cities, that Benton County will provide the protection not to exceed listed hours and total yearly sum will be paid quarterly. Motion carried.

Newhall -15 hours in a week, yearly sum of $19,500

Luzerne-1/2 hour a week, yearly sum of $650

Shellsburg-20 hours a week, yearly sum of $26,000

Van Horne-15 hours a week, yearly sum of $19,500

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #19-54, tax abatement for City of Belle Plaine on Parcel 660-32260 in the amount of $792.00. Motion carried.

Discussion about who would want to serve as a member to the Heritage Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors. Supervisor Bierschenk would inquire more what it involved before he commits. Will report back next week.

The Engineer requested a dirt road upgrade for 11th Ave. North of HWY 30 near Hwy 21 interchange. Parizek questioned if the county could use the approach made with sealcoating, in which the landowners pay for half and county pays for half. Final interchange design plans are being put together now by the state and they might let the project next spring, but might take two construction seasons to complete. No action was taken, but Parizek was told to budget accordingly so that it could take place. Supervisor Seeman did some researching and presented a chart of the various towns in Benton County and what they do with their yard waste. After a lengthy discussion last week regarding the unincorporated town of Watkins and how they were handling their waste. Seeman explained that communities like Van Horne, Atkins, Keystone, Newhall and Walford all have town burn piles. Blairstown is closed, but goes to the landfill. Balle Plaine, Norway and Shellsburg have compost piles. Garrison takes big stuff to Vinton or home burn. Luzerne burns on their own properties. Urbana has everything go to the garbage. Vinton has a designated area. Ben Bonar, Benton County Weed Commissioner provided a handout on the Iowa Code as it pertains to the obstruction in the Highway Right of Way 318.3(6) and public nuisance 318.6. In the past, Watkins used to have a burn pile, it was so big it had caught surrounding trees on fire. That is when a “no” dumping sign was placed. That sign was spray painted and soon stolen. Bonar wanted to find a site that does not amount to a heaping pile of garbage in a ditch. If it is allowed to be burned, Bonar was concerned about the precedent it sets. Supervisor Primmer has concerns that if something is burned on county property, the county could get sued. He felt they needed to do their home burning and/or find an alternative spot.

Carol Berger was inquiring about what Benton County is doing or planning to do regarding wind towers. The current ordinance regulates wind generation as a non-agricultural use and standards that apply for approval of a new non-ag use would apply to this use as well. This topic probably needs to be addressed again so that Benton County can be more pro-active in the future. Iowa County has been in the news a lot lately regarding this.

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

_____________________________________

Rick Primmer, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor