Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 4/11/23

April 11, 2023

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. Summarized Resolutions 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 April 4, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve payroll checks numbered 142828 through 142840, ACH Deposits 52559 through 52705, handwrite 245728, vendor checks 245729 through 245735 and claims numbered 245736 through 245917. Payroll Checks numbered 142841 through 142846, ACH Deposits 52706 through 52853 and vendor checks numbered 245918 through 245924. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve using ARPA Funds for the following claims: True North Consulting Group for $5,904.00 and Amazon for a duplex printer in the amount of $1,476. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Auditor's Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2023. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Recorder's Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2023. Motion carried.

George Haefner, Weed Commissioner asked about posting for seasonal positions. Haefner would like two interns, which Supervisor Seeman asked if two positions were necessary while Supervisor Primmer asked about the pay. Haefner requested the pay stay same as last year at $17 an hour and work would take place between May and June. Seeman also asked about the longer work days if they were going to do the 10-hour days all five days a week. Haefner answered they would do so when the weather cooperated with their spraying. The Board agreed for him to proceed with the position posting and come back for formal action for approval at a later date when he found the qualified candidate(s).

Jennifer Fencl of East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) and Shelby Williams, Benton County Conservation Director presented a proposal for applying for a four-year grant. It is worth $900 a tree. The trees would be split between Hannen, Wildcat and Rodgers Parks and if any leftover, they would go to the Atkins roundhouse for those 80 acres that need replanted. Fencl explained there is 1.1 million in funding that will be split among Marshall, Tama and Benton County. Benton County would act as the pass-through fiscal agent.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #23-22, Authorizing ECICOG to submit application and associated documents for funding the CDBG-DR to the IED. Motion carried.

Supervisor Seeman and Auditor Rippel updated the board on some of the projects that were discussed and approved at the 3/27/2023 ARPA Committee meeting. The Conservation project for a shower house at Wildcat Park was one of the bigger ones along with two-way radios for the secondary roads and weed department. Agreed to go up to $200,000 towards the cost so they can be compatible with the new E911 Radio Tower Project in the works. Other smaller projects such as finishing the courthouse boiler, network wiring and a few other small needs that can be approved as the invoices come through.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve using ARPA Funds for Wildcat Shower House Project and authorizing Shelby Williams, Conservation Director to move forward. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #23-23, FY23 Service Area(s) Amendment. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To set the 2023 MC-70 Dust Control fees. The first 400 feet is $1,500.00 and $2.50 per foot after that with a minimum of 50-foot increments. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek provided the break down one year at a time for the five-year program. Discussed design work for upcoming bridge replacements along with widening shoulders and replacing culverts. A number of roads will also be resurfaced.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Five-Year Proposed Plan for Secondary Road Construction Program FY 24-FY28. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the FY 24 IDOT Secondary Road Budget. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve utility permit for Alliant Energy in Jackson and Cedar Townships. Motion carried.

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

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor