Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors meeting 2/14/11

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Buch, Vermedahl, and Sanders present. Chairman Buch called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to approve the minutes of February 8, 2011. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Mary Williams requested that the Board consider amending her general assistance budget by $3,400 for FY11. Williams also asked that her re-estimated amount for MH-DD services in the general supplemental fund be left at $28,500. Williams had submitted a budget estimate for FY12, which indicated that she would not need as much funding in FY11 and FY12, but has now reviewed her budget and believes that the current year re-estimate should be left at $28,500. The auditor questioned if the FY12 budget should be increased to $28,500 as well. Williams stated that she would just request a budget amendment next year if she needed additional funding. The auditor stated that if Williams believed that she would continue to spend an amount similar to the past, then she should budget at a realistic level. Williams stated to increase the budget.

Mary Halstead questioned the board as to why the grand jury would not be viewing the General Sherman building. Halstead stated that she contacted the county attorney last year and asked why and asked him again this year as to why that building was not being toured. Williams stated that she had asked the same thing, stating that the building had been flood damaged and contained several county offices. The board stated that they would discuss with the county attorney.

Mary Halstead, Transportation Director, and Dana Burmeister met with the board regarding the FY11 budget and FY12 budget. Halstead stated that she had reviewed both budgets and did not believe any changes were needed. Halstead also requested approval for her and Burmeister to attend the Route Match conference in Georgia from April 18 through April 22. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to approve the request for Halstead and Burmeister to attend the conference in Georgia. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Supervisor Sanders left the meeting temporarily.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to acknowledge the receipt and filing of a annual manure management plan filed by Phillip McKenna. The facility is not located in Benton County; however manure is applied to property located Big Grove Township in Benton County. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Supervisor Sanders returned to the meeting.

Beverly Winkie met with the Board to request support for a Vision Iowa grant for a building addition to the Belle Plaine Museum. Winkie explained that the museum has received a collection from a family of historic items. However, the current building is not large enough to house the collection. The donor has also agreed to pay for a portion of the 30 x 60 foot addition required to house the collection. Supervisor Buch questioned if the museum was just requesting a letter of support or if a financial contribution is being sought. Winkie advised that financial support is beneficial when applying for Vision Iowa grants. Supervisor Vermedahl suggested that a letter of support be given to the Belle Plaine Historical Society museum project, stating that the county is currently providing $500 of support to the organization and that the county provided past support of the original building in the amount of $6000.00. Vermedahl stated that Vision Iowa should be aware that the economic condition is not that great and the county is already providing local support for other Vision Iowa grants in Benton County. Supervisor Buch asked the auditor if she would draft a letter. The auditor stated that she would be that due to the board meeting today – she wouldn’t be able to draft it until tomorrow. The county attorney offered to write the letter of support for the board, stating that he would be able to draft the letter today. Moved by Sanders, seconded by Vermedahl, to offer a letter of support setting forth the previous comments. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The matter of FY12 wage increases for non-elected officials. Treasurer Geater supplied information on what she thought her employees should earn. Supervisors Vermedahl and Buch asked various questions on how the information was gathered. Supervisor Sanders did not comment. Marc Greenlee asked if anything additional was needed. Vermedahl and Buch stated that they needed time to review the budgets and the information presented. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to table discussion on the matter until February 22, 2011. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. The auditor suggested that the matter be placed on the March 8th agenda, when the board might make a decision.

Brian Gruhn met with the Board regarding union contracts for FY12. Gruhn asked the board to go into exempt session. The auditor requested legal advice from the county attorney. The county attorney stated that the board could go into exempt session if discussions were to involve future years. Moved by Sanders, seconded by Vermedahl, to go into exempt session. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried at 11:20 a.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Sanders, to return to the regular session. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Sanders, seconded by Vermedahl, to approve the labor agreement between Benton County and the PPME, representing the secondary roads for FY12. The contract will be presented at a future date for signature. Further, the chair is authorized to sign the labor agreement for FY12 between Benton County and Teamsters, representing the sheriff’s department. The agreement had been approved at a previous meeting of the board of supervisors. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek spoke to the board about the budget amendment for sanitary disposal. Parizek stated

that the DNR has approved payment from closure post-closure for expenses to close the cell at the landfill and therefore he is requesting a budget amendment from closure post closure for approximately $77,000 and another $250,000 in sanitary disposal.

The engineer provided cost estimates for improving the Oak Grove Road project versus hard surfacing the same road. The cost to complete the road as initially proposed $2 million and would be $1.3 million with the revised proposal. The road would not be hard surfaced. The revised proposal upgrades the road to a better grade, but leaves it with a gravel surface. The reduction in the project scope will free up money for the road upgrade near Atkins. The board questioned if the project would be done this year. The engineer stated that it would not be completed this year. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to change the project for the Oak Grove Road to reduce it to the $1.3 million dollar

project. Supervisor Sanders objected to the new proposal stating that the project was too far along to change it now. Buch stated his primary concern was to put the road in a useable condition and one that can be maintained. Buch stated that future funding for roads will probably decrease in the future and his objective is to put the funds Benton County has to the best use. Sanders stated that his constituents keep telling him that the board of supervisors has made a commitment to hard surface the road. Supervisor Vermedahl stated that he believes the new proposal will take less property from the landowners and is probably more in line with what the residents wanted. Vermedahl stated that if future traffic counts on the road support further upgrades, then that will be reviewed at that time. Voting aye were Vermedahl and Buch. Sanders voting nay. Motion carried.

The Board discussed the disposition of the temporary communications building. The auditor explained that in

order for the project to be closed, the county needs to state what they intend to do with the building. The county can keep the building and FEMA will reduce the amount of payment to the county by the salvage value. If the county does not want the building, then it will need to be demolished. FEMA will pay for the expense to demolish the building. The board directed the sheriff to research what the value of the building is currently and the board will then decide how to dispose of it.

The board toured the law enforcement center to view the current construction progress. The board also discussed a date for an open house on the new facility. Moved by Sanders, seconded by Vermedahl, to set June 11, 2011, as the date for an open house. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. The board stated that it was during the early morning hours of June 12, 2008, that the law enforcement center succumbed to the 2008 flood.

The board continued working on the FY12 budget. Although the board intends to continue working on the budget requests, it was moved by Sanders, seconded by Vermedahl, to set March 8, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. as the time and date for a public hearing on the FY12 county budget. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. The auditor is to publish the budget as it is currently presented; however the board noted that reductions could be made to the published budget.

Supervisor Vermedahl left the meeting at 4:10 p.m.; however an emergency item was brought before the remaining board members before departing and was then acted upon (see below).

The following action is being taken although the matter was not placed on the agenda. It is necessary to take the action due to the short time frame in which a response is needed and not being notified prior to the agenda being posted. Moved by Sanders, seconded by Buch, to authorize the chair to sign the ACA Appeals Provisions Addendum, Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Notices to Benton County’s health plan with the Iowa State Association of Counties Group. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. This addendum is required as a part of the Health Care Reform Act.

Moved by Sanders, seconded by Buch, to adjourn. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

_______________________________

Ron Buch, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Jill Marlow, Auditor