Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 11/2/21

November 2, 2021

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer were present.

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. Summarized Resolutions along with 28E Agreement will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov ( https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa)

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the minutes of October 26, 2021 with a correction on the amount of the WMA change order. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the purchase of courthouse Christmas lights and move forward with getting them hung on the courthouse. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve hiring Katlyn DeBrower as a part-time sheriff deputy effective November 2, 2021 at the hourly rate of $24.85 an hour. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To acknowledge resignation of Lydia Close, communications specialist in the sheriff's office effective November 12, 2021. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-93, Employment change for Dennis Eden in the Sheriff's office to promote to Senior Correctional Officer effective November 2, 2021 at an hourly rate of $23.21. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #21-94, To approve amended and substituted county electronic services system 28E Agreement. Motion carried.

Karla Mall called in to discuss her open records request. Mall had inquired last week regarding video footage from an incident on the 3rd floor of the courthouse on October 15, 2021 between 3 and 4 p.m. Mall explained the county attorney told her to contact the supervisors. Rick Primmer explained the county's current security policy and how these records are to be kept confidential unless ordered by the court. No action was taken.

Jean Ohlen, Blairstown resident, met with the board regarding mental health and her compassion for the subject. Ohlen was a career nurse for 50 plus years in the psychiatric field and has been helping with the "stepping up" program. She is also a family peer specialist, and is helping other nurses to a study on Benton County. Ohlen purchased a building in Van Horne called Chances and Consequences and urged the board to do more and help fund more for mental health in Benton County. She discussed substance abuse and depression, protection of children and also the impact of compulsive gambling. She invited the supervisors to attend an open house in her building on Wednesday, November 3, 2021.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried. _______________________________ Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________ Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor