Government : Benton Co. BOS Minutes 1/26/21 (Employee Sick Leave Policy for COVID)

January 26, 2021

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman and Bierschenk present. Primmer called in. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the conference room at the Benton County Service Center. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session and livestream at https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve minutes of January 19, 2021. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: Approve payroll checks numbered 141718 through 141727 ACH deposits numbered 44229 through 44369, vendor checks 237711 through 237718, claims numbered 237719 through 237873. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Veteran's Affairs Quarterly Reports ending September 30, 2020 and January 31, 2021. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the Priority Dispatch E911 claims from 2019. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-12, Approving Replat of the Final Plat of Fehl First Addition to Benton County, Iowa. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #21-12

Replacing Resolution #20-20

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REPLAT OF THE FINAL PLAT OF

"FEHL FIRST ADDITION",

BY BENTON COUNTY, IOWA

WHEREAS, at the request of the developer of Fehl First Addition, Benjamin Fehl, a replatting of the Final Plat of Fehl First Addition to Benton County, Iowa, containing two lots, has been submitted for approval to the Benton County Board of Supervisors consisting of the following described real estate:

THIS REPLAT OF THE FINAL PLAT OF FEHL FIRST ADDITION REPRESENTS A SURVEY OF:

Existing Parcel "A" per Plat of Survey dated 8/25/2008 recorded in Book 8 Page 4042 in the Office of the Benton County Recorder, described as follows:

That part of the Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (SE 1/4 SW 1/4) of Section No. 16, Township No. 86 North, Range No. 12 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Benton County, Iowa, described as follows:

Beginning at the Southeast corner of said Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter, point being a found "mag" nail in A.C.C. pavement with license #15525;

thence along the South line of said Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter South 89°56¼' West a distance of 830.5 feet to a set "mag" nail in A.C.C. pavement with license #15525;

thence North 00°18' East a distance of 523.5 feet to a set ½" rebar with license #16264;

thence South 89°45¼' East a distance of 828.5 feet to the East line of said Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter, point being a set ½" rebar with license #16264;

thence along said East line South 00°04¾' West a distance of 519.0 feet to the point of beginning.

Containing 9.93 acres including 0.63 acres of right-of-way.

Subject to easements, restrictions, covenants, ordinances and limited access provisions of record and not of record.

Note: The South line of said Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter is assumed to bear

South 89°56¼' West for this description.

WHEREAS, after consideration, the same is found to be correct and in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of Iowa and the ordinances of Benton County, Iowa, and

WHEREAS, the Benton County Board of Supervisors find that the replatting of the Final Plat of Fehl First Addition would be advantageous to Benton County, Iowa, and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that said replatting of the Final Plat of Fehl First Addition to Benton County, Iowa, will be and the same hereby acknowledged and approved and accepted on the part of Benton County, Iowa, subject to the following stipulations:

1. Any new driveway will be built to comply with Benton County's driveway resolution dated October 17, 1975, and amended September 4, 1981.

2. Any new private water supply system will be constructed with the approval of the Benton County Health Department.

3. Any new private on-site sewage treatment system will be constructed with the approval of the Benton County Health Department

The Benton County Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to certify a copy of this Resolution to the County Recorder of Benton County, Iowa, and affix the same to said Final Plat as provided as law.

ADOPTED AND PASSED this 26th day of January, 2021.

____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

____________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

____________________________________

Rick Primmer

ATTEST:

________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To set the FY22 maximum levy hearing date for Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-13, Temporary Road Closure. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #21-13

Temporary Road Closure

BE IT RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisor's that the following described Secondary Road be closed for CONSTRUCTION effective from February 1, 2021, through the completion of the project.

From 62nd Street near the NW corner of Section 4-T84N-R9W thence south 0.5 mile to 62nd Street Trail near the W¼ corner of Section 4-T84N-R9W along 30th Avenue Drive in Canton Township.

Signed this 26th day of January, 2021.

_____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

______________________________________

Rick Primmer

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconed: To approve Utility Permits for East Central Iowa REC in Eldorado and Union Townships. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-14, FY 21 Budget Amendment #2. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #21-14

BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 26th day of January, 2021, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of hearing on an amendment to the current operating budget adopted on March 19, 2019. There was a quorum present as required by law. Thereupon, the Board found that the notice of time and place of the hearing had been published. Thereafter, and on said date the amendment was taken up and considered. Thereafter, the Board took up the amendment to the budget for final consideration and determined that said budget be amended as follows:

Expenditures Amendment

Public Safety $ 0

Physical Health & Social Services $ 0

Mental Health $ 0

County Environment & Education $ 1,050,000.00

Roads & Transportation $ 0

Government Services to Residents $ 0

Administration $ 0

Non-Program $ 25,000

Debt Service $ 0

Capital Projects $ 0

Operating Transfers Out $ 0

REVENUES Amount

Intergovernmental $ 0

Licenses & Permits $ 0

Charges for Services $ 0

Use of Money & Property $ 0

Miscellaneous $ 0

General Long Term Debt Proceeds $ 0

Operating Transfers - In $ 0

Proceeds of Fixed Assets $ 0

Dated this 26th day of January, 2021.

_____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

______________________________________

Rick Primmer

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

The Board discussed the Benton Development Group budget request along with one from the Riverview Centers for FY 22. BDG asked for the same amount, while Riverview was asking for $2,000 more. Sheriff Tippet spoke up on the Riverview Center. He asked that we hold off on committing, they haven't been in contact with Benton County for approximately 8 months and he'd like to invite them along with the SARS team to come to a future board meeting and get on board with what services would be offered for this allocation. No action was taken.

The County Attorney had emailed the revised Covid sick leave policy form that was discussed last week. The original draft was an example used by Clinton County. It was tweaked in accordance to Benton County and changes were agreed upon.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #21-15, Benton County COVID Related Sick Leave Policy effective immediately. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #21-15

ADOPTION of BENTON COUNTY COVID RELATED SICK LEAVE

WHEREAS, the Benton County Board of Supervisors desires to adopt a new policy related to the COVID 19 Pandemic; and

IT IS FUTHER RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that the following policy is hereby adopted effective this date:

POLICY STATEMENT

It is the purpose of this policy to provide employees and county officials with guidelines to staff being off for COVID Related issues after January 26, 2021.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all Benton County staff. This policy does not apply to Elected Officials.

GOALS

The goals of this policy are to provide direction to staff, department heads, and elected officials

to stay home when dealing with COVID related illnesses after the expiration of 6201-18 Sec. 5101 Division C Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and Division E-Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (expired on 12/31/2020).

ABSENCES ELIGIBLE FOR COVID LEAVE

For employees quarantined or sick with COVID

The employees who have been required or advised to quarantine by a medical provider or a county, state, or federal agency, or who have been advised by a medical provider they have confirmed or presumptively confirmed COVID-19. Employees must complete a Request for COVID Related FMLA Sick Leave form and provide it to the Auditor's Office. The employee may choose from any of their leave banks to receive pay including their sick leave banks. This will be covered under FMLA and is dependent upon FMLA leave balance. Absences longer than two weeks must complete the FMLA certification form stating additional leave is necessary.

Additional leave will be dependent upon FMLA leave balance.

Employees must follow the Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines for returning to work after the illness.

For employees caring for an individual quarantined or sick with covid-19

Staff will complete FMLA certification form for approval to provide care for an individual who is sick. Contact the Auditor's Office for FMLA forms.

Approved leave terms

This leave is to isolate at home or to take care of those isolating at home. If the COVID related leave is approved, employees are not to be working secondary jobs outside of their home or partaking in activities away from their home outside of essential daily living tasks. If an employee is found not to be isolating for any reason beside receiving care or conducting essential living tasks (getting food, medicine, and healthcare) they can be disciplined up to and including termination.

CONTACT INFORMATION

In all cases of absence, employees must provide current contact information (including phone number and email address) to their supervisor.

NOTIFYING EMPLOYER

The employee shall provide the employer with as much notice as practicable.

RETURN TO WORK

Please work with your Department Head and the Auditor's Office on your return to work date. Return to work date will be determined by Current IDPH recommendations for COVID or by your physician.

REQUESTING A Leave

To request a leave, the employee will complete a form provided by the Benton County Auditor then email it to hrippel@bentoncountyia.gov or fax to 319-472-3692. If you cannot email or fax use the drop box outside and address the envelope to the Auditor's Office. **Do NOT deliver or mail if you are sick with COVID.

**See Attached form

Signed this 26th day of January 2021.

BENTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

_________________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_________________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

_________________________________________

Rick Primmer

ATTEST:____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Committee reports were had. Among those was a report from Supervisor Seeman how the landfill took in 5 million pounds of storm damaged tree debris from the August derecho.

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

______________________________Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor