November 19, 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.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of November 12, 2019. Motion carried.
Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To acknowledge resignation of Tony Thomsen as medical examiner investigator and appoint Matthew Fults as his replacement effective immediately. Motion carried.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve adding the signatories of Hayley Rippel, Michele Sauer and Melinda Schoettmer to the official banks of Benton County listed as follows: Motion carried.
US Bank- Vinton
Farmers Savings Bank & Trust-Vinton
Midwest One Bank & Trust-Belle Plaine
Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, N.A.
Regions Bank-Waterloo/Vinton
Chelsea Savings Bank-Belle Plaine and Van Horne
Benton County State Bank-Blairstown
Bank Iowa-Norway
Watkins Savings Bank-Watkins
Cedar Valley Bank & Trust-La Porte City/Vinton
Central State Bank-Walford
Atkins Savings Bank & Trust-Atkins
Keystone Savings Bank-Keystone
Dysart State Bank-Dysart
Northeast Security Bank-Urbana/Independence
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the hiring of Alexandra Fox as a part-time correction officer in the sheriff office with a starting wage of $14.92 effective November 12, 2019. Upon completion of required training and probation period, wage will increase to $16.92 an hour. Motion carried.
Auditor Rippel talked to the Board about some needed guidance for the FY21 preliminary budget work. Thoughts on such things as employee’s portion of insurance premiums and that a letter is usually generated for the department heads once we get some rates from the state. They need to be thinking about things they want to point out as the departments are filling out their budget sheets. Primmer suggested departments need to look at ways for cutting their budgets due to lack of economic diversity. The Board agreed to keep the employee contributions the same, while possibly not raising wages. Seeman pointed out that we can’t continue having more expenses than revenues, if everyone can make reductions, we won’t have to pick them apart.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To acknowledge the certified post-election audit that took place on Friday November 15, 2019 at 9: 00 a.m. Motion carried.
Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Class B Liquor License for Kimm’s Sinclair. Motion carried.
The time of 9:30 a.m. having arrived, Election Deputy Gina Edler and the board proceeded with canvassing the 2nd tier of the November 5, 2019, regular City/School Election.
The following School Board Directors were elected:
Belle Plaine: Benjamin Reineke, Stephen Beck and Alicia Jacobi
Benton Community: District 1-Roy John Becker Jr.
District 2-Theresa Thompson
District 3-Matt Nolte
District 7-Emily Upah
Vinton-Shellsburg: At Large-Kathleen J. Van Steenhuyse
District 1-Thomas Burke and Rebecca S. Williams
District 2-Jake Fish
The following City Mayor and Council Members were elected:
City of Walford: Mayor-William Voss, Council-Jo Ellen Carter, Jeffrey S. Pottebaum and Matt Greiner
Bierschenk moved/ Seeman seconded: To declare the 2nd tier canvass of the City/School Election to be complete and the votes cast to be official. The official results are to be recorded in the office of the County Auditor. Motion carried.
Karen Phelps, Conservation Director provided updates to the Board regarding a few recent inquiries they had with recent projects and purchases. Phelps also brought up suggestions on selling some county owned real estate and the proper steps that will need to take place in those regards.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and authorize signature of the Environmental Review for the final notice for Iowa Watershed Approach Project 13-NDRI-002. Motion carried.
Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Final Notice for MC-INV-005 to be published in Friday November 22, 2019 papers in Vinton and Tama. Motion carried.
Sheila Hlas, Executive Director of the Benton County Volunteer Program presented an overview of services provided. They volunteer program is governed by a seven member volunteer board with meetings held quarterly. There are still currently two locations, Vinton and Belle Plaine. As they continue to grow, these services can only be sustained through the generosity of funding from partners like Benton County. The same funding request of $25,000 was requested for FY21
Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve utility permit for Poweshiek Water Association to bore under pavement in sections 11 and 12 in St. Clair Township. Motion carried.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve utility permit for Farmer’s Mutual Telephone in Benton Township along 32nd Ave. Motion carried.
Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve final payment for IDOT voucher with Vieth Construction Corporation in amount of $5,068.47 for project HRRR-CO06-(76)—5R-06. Motion carried.
Discussion on the Maplewood cemetery owned by Taylor Township regarding estimated costs to sealcoat and if the county can provide some figures and see what can legally be levied for cemetery care.
Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried.
_____________________________________
Rick Primmer, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________________
Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor
Comments
Submit a CommentPlease refresh the page to leave Comment.
Still seeing this message? Press Ctrl + F5 to do a "Hard Refresh".