Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors Minutes 12/24/19

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December 24,2019

​The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular 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

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the minutes of December 17, 2019 Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: Approve payroll checks numbered 141064 through 141079, ACH deposits numbered 40286 through 40422, claims numbered 233669 through 233814 and vendor checks 233815 through 233823. Motion carried.

Benton County Sheriff Ron Tippett presented FY21 budgets last week for Foundation 2 and the Rural Access Center. The county is part of the east central mental health region, and even though it is county levied funds, it needs approval from both levels, Benton County Supervisors and the Regional Board. Tippett is asking for formal motions to approve said presented budgets.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the Critical Incident Training (CIT) budget not to exceed $63,399 and allow those required to attend out of state training. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the Foundation 2 budget up to $85,871. Motion carried.
​Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the Rural Access Center portion of the Mental Health Budget including wages, benefits and the upkeep to not exceed $153,508. Motion carried.

Michele Sauer, Benton County Treasurer and Deputy Melinda Schoettmer came to discuss office hours and the need to advertise for more help. They also presented a handout showing the costs to operate in the Belle Plaine office on Wednesdays and staying open late on Thursday nights. It hasn't shown to be very cost effective per the statistics. In Belle Plaine the state requires 2 employees at all time in the driver's license station and when they might only get 4 customers in one day, there is a lot of wasted time. This also puts a burden on the courthouse office being short staffed by 2 and paying out mileage to the employees who drive back and forth. They both felt it would be more beneficial to have these employees back in the courthouse and issuing licenses along with other duties that could be completed in the down timeon Wednesdays. And also closing at 4:30 on Thursday nights. They will get plenty of notices out to the public and were looking for Boards approval for this to take place effective January 31, 2020. During tax collections times, they will continue to be open the additional hours for the public regardless. And on Wednesdays they will now be able to issue all driver's license related tasks to all Benton County residents in the courthouse office.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept the recommendations from the Treasurer's office for stopping the additional office hours on Thursday nights and closing the Belle Plaine drives license station effective January 31, 2020.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #19-67, Certifying Deputy Treasurer's Melinda Schoettmer and Rose Sackett and their respective salaries of 80% and 70% of the official's salary effective December 24, 2019. Motion carried.

Benton County Auditor presented a purchase agreement with Tenex Software Solutions, Inc. The Secretary of State has informed those counties using The Iowa Express Voter (electronic poll book) that in the upcoming future they will no longer provide the support and updates needed. With the upcoming 2020 Elections, we asked some vendors to come share some other options with us. Adkins Election Services has agreed to allow us to purchase this recommended product and spread payment out over 3 fiscal years for easier budgeting and also provide to us a money back guarantee. We were impressed with the demonstration and talked with other counties already using this. Rippel suggested we get moving forward as soon as possible. With a recent notification for an upcoming special school election to be held on March 3, 2020, she felt this could be a perfect opportunity to test it out on a smaller scale and make sure we are happy with their product.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and sign the software purchase agreement between Benton County, Iowa and Tenex Software Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $21,654 a year for 3 years. Motion carried.

Insurance and Wellness update was given by Auditor Hayley Rippel who attended the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) wellness meeting in Des Moines. Also providing copies of the newly distributed rates by ISAC Group Health Program effective July 1, 2020. Currently we have the full 5% wellness discount from enough participation in the program. For next year, Benton County only had enough employee participation in the wellness program to be receiving a 2% next year. The current plan the county is on (11E) has increased by 7%. No action was taken at this time.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and authorize chairman to sign the wellness agreement between the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) and Benton County to participate in the Wellness program during the plan year of 2020. Motion carried.

Discussion about the upcoming meetings regarding all the appointments and routine things that need to happen after the first of the New Year. It was agreed to not have the normal Tuesday meeting next week but to meet on Thursday January 2, 2020.

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

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Rick Primmer, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

​Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor