Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 4/14/20

COVID-19 not only is affecting businesses and employees, but it will also affect the budget used to repair roads.

As the Benton County Supervisors sat down to their weekly meeting last week, on the agenda was to discuss the budget for secondary roads. Myron Parizek the County Engineer shared that the fuel tax revenue that we rely heavily on could go down slightly. IDOT has said that traffic is down about 30%. As a result, it's estimated that there will be roughly 25-30% less coming in from the road tax during this time.

Income generated through the tax is used for repairs and maintenance of the area roads. The longer things are shut down, the more it will affect the budget for road repairs and maintenance for an extended length of time. While automobile traffic is down, over the road trucking has slightly increased adding, even more, wear on the roads.

April 14, 2020

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session. 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 the minutes of April 7, 2020. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the agreement with Master's Touch, LLC for tax statement processing and mailing. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To change the Budget Hearing for FY 20 amendment from April 24, 2020 to May 12, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date for a land use hearing for Damien and Jessica Andrew in part of NW ¼ of NW ¼ NE ¼ 31-82-10. Andrews's joined the meeting by phone. Marc Greenlee presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Andrew's would like to build a new home on an old farmstead sight. The land is not in production, there are some existing buildings on the farm sight. The existing driveway meets all policy requirements. The sight will need a new septic, but has an existing working well. The proper notice was given to adjacent land owners and only hearing back from one, whom was in favor of the change. No other comments were heard, and the public hearing was closed.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the land use hearing for Damien and Jessica Andrew in part of NW¼ of NW ¼ NE ¼ 31-82-10. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the Iowa Department of Transportation FY21-25 Secondary Road Construction Program, which reflects secondary road bridges and road upgrades over the next five years. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Iowa DOT FY 21 Secondary Road Budget. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #20-25, Secondary Roads Five Year Program and previous revisions, requiring changes to the sequence, funding, and timing of the proposed work plan. Motion carried.

Continued COVID 19 discussion was had. As of this meeting time, Barb Greenlee reported that there are 20 confirmed cases in Benton County. Nancy Jorgensen, deputy auditor discussed some topics for handling part-time pay during this time and how things are being coded.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)c and 21.5(1)g Motion carried at 10:20 a.m.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To exit closed session at 11:38 a.m. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize the county attorney to prepare and post the Weed Commissioner/Iowa Roadside Vegetation Management job opening. Motion carried.

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

_______________________________

Rick Primmer, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor