Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 11/9/21

November 9, 2021

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer 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 will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-94, Approve hiring of Ariane Geiger in the Treasurer's office at an annual salary of $36,500 effective November 15, 2021. Motion carried.

Melinda Schoettmer, Treasurer also discussed the upcoming change to contiguous county titling for adjoining counties to be able to come to Benton County to do their titling at no additional collection fees to us.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve farm exemption for Ray and JoAnn Musil for part of the NW of the SW of 2-84-9. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve payroll checks numbered 142029 through 142086, ACH Deposits 47274 through 47417, claims numbered 240583 through 240747, vendor checks 240748 through 240754. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of November 2, 2021. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #21-95, Approve Committed Funds Balances as of June 30, 2021 in accordance to GASB 54. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Wendy Winkie to replace Edwon Yedlik on the Historical Preservation Commission. Motion carried.

Dean Vrba, Transportation Director wanted to bring the fares for transportation up to the Board. Vrba is currently looking at increasing the costs soon to make it more comparable with the actual costs to the department. No action was taken, Vrba will come back with the new fares in a future meeting for formal approval.

Wayne Shannon and Brenda Sandberg, both members of the Pioneer Cemetery Commission came to the board to discuss the Stringtown Cemetery project trying to re-establish 22 graves in the plot. Shannon asked about the survey of the area where graves overlap the adjacent landowner. The Board urged the commission to talk to the county attorney in regards to the survey and paperwork needed. Sandberg also mentioned the need for space to store some items for the commission along with some filing cabinets. If they could have a central location for these items would be ideal.

Cole Kruizenga, ISG Incorporated, discussed upcoming action for the board to think about regarding the Heartland Greenway System Pipeline inspection. Greenway proposes doing the inspection on behalf of Benton County for this project. A meeting about this project will be held on January 3, 2022 at the Norway Community Center at noon. The board would like to have the county attorney look this over and learn more about what it all entails.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize the chair to sign the Racom Tower purchase contract after the County Attorney fills in the legal description and other areas, and also approve the Auditor for issuing payment for the tower. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve three (3) part-time communication specialists in the sheriff's office. Jessica Roberts, Allyssa Mcatee and Michelle Ruhs will be paid at the rate of $17.91 an hour effective November 9, 2021. Motion carried.

Lindsey Upah, Rural Access Hub Manager, proposed the possibility for the county to allow the Abbe Center to rent office space at the Benton County Service Center. The board didn't make any decisions but want to talk to a few of the involved entities this would affect first.

Maintenance Director Rick Wood addressed some of the janitor services at the Service Center. Wood also discussed a wage increase that was mentioned for Justin Birker, maintenance assistant. Supervisor Primmer mentioned how they would like to hold off on raises until the new fiscal year, although there have been exceptions in the past. No action was taken, but Wood was asked to bring back some figures and budget plan to a future meeting.

The time of 10:30 a.m. having arrived, Election Deputy Gina Edler and the board proceeded with canvassing the November 2, 2021, regular City/School Election. Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded:

The write-ins for Atkins council member for Mike Stewart and Michael Stewart are both to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: The write-ins for Blairstown Mayor for Rodney Kubichek, Rod Kubichek, Rod Kubick, Rodney C. Kubichek, Rodney Kubichec, Rodney Kubick, Rodney Kucek all be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: The write-ins for Keystone Mayor for Erin Janns and Erin Janss are both to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: The write-ins for Luzerne council member Geni Brandt, Jeani Brandt and Jeanie Brandt are all to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: The write-ins for Norway council for Kelly Leudki, Keily Leudtke and Kelly Ludeking all variations to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: The write-ins for Walford Mayor for Bill Voss and William (Bill) Voss are both to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: The write-ins for College Community District 2 for Andy Volt and Andrew Volt both to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: The write-ins for Union School, District 1 for Darrel Dewinter and Darrell Dewinter are both to be counted as same person. Motion carried.

The following City Officials were elected:

City of Atkins: Mayor-Bruce Visser, Council-Samantha Petersen, James Koehn and EJ Bell, Council to fill a vacancy-Julie DeMeulenaere 2

City of Belle Plaine: Council at Large-Mitch Malcolm, Council District 1-Lyle Morrow, Council District 3-Judy Schlesselman, Park Commissioner -Tracy Papesh

City of Blairstown: Mayor-Rodney Kubichek, Council -Brian Hagen, Bradley Davidson, Luke Becker

City of Garrison: Mayor-Garrett Flickinger, Council-Robert Decker, Allan Ray Lindsey and Tina Rommann

City of Keystone: Mayor-Mark W. Andresen, Council-Mary Kay Hennings, David Lee Monson and Kathy Janss

City of Luzerne: Mayor-John W. Brandt, Council-Kelly Kendall, Barbara A. Shields, Kyla Buttikofer, Lorin Potter and Dwight Glinsmann

City of Mt. Auburn: Mayor-Tosha McGarvey, Council- Dean Vrba, Beth Hendryx, Alisha Burmeister, Mercedes Bickel and Cody Lundry

City of Newhall: Mayor-Doug Boddicker, Council-Douglas Charles Rinderknecht, Doug Wendel, Ben Seeck, Mart Campbell and Bruce Cross

City of Norway: Mayor-Bruce E. Volz, Council-Ron Miller, Robby Miller and Martin Schulte, Council to fill a vacancy-Kevin Frese

City of Shellsburg: Mayor-Lonnie M. Speckner, Council-Lori Travis, Sharon Harvey and Shadoe Vogt

City of Urbana: Mayor-Mitch E. McDonough, Council-Joshua Holthaus and Armin Martin

City of Van Horne: Mayor-Pat Gorkow, Council-Amy L. Knaack, Kimberly Fisher and Jim Parmenter

City of Vinton: Mayor-Bud Maynard, Council at Large-Rylie Pflughaupt Council District 1-Ron Hessenius, Council District 3-Valerie Bearbower, City of Vinton-fill a vacancy District 4-Bethany Gates

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To declare the canvass of the City/School Election to be complete and the votes cast to be official. The official results are to be recorded in the office of the County Auditor. Motion carried.

School officials and the City of Walford officials will be certified in the second-tier canvass which will be held on November 16 at 9:05 a.m. Motion carried.

The Board discussed committee reports as they signed all the election certificates. Those included the conservation meeting Seeman attended and the Atkins roundhouse.

Primmer mentioned the meeting he had with Racom regarding moving forward and getting the prices locked in for that radio project.

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

_______________________________ Tracy Seeman, Chairman ATTEST: _________________________________ Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor