Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors Minutes 5/16/23

May 16, 2023

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk 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 are invited to join in during open session or watch the 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 May 9, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and sign a memorandum of understanding between Benton County and Virginia Gay Hospital to participate in the 340B Program.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To set land use hearing for Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 9:15 a.m. for Joseph and Emily Damaro in part of Parcel A in the SE ¼ SE ¼ of 7-85-11. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve use of Courthouse lawn by the Vinton Park and Rec Department for June 15, 2023 and October 28, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and certify the tax suspension list to the Department of Human Services. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #23-32, Wage and Classification change for Chris Moessner in secondary roads that his hourly wage be increased to $25.37 an hour. Motion carried.

Discussion was brought up regarding the per diem rate for meals and incidentals when employees travel in state and out of state. The $30 rate has been in place since 2007. Myron Parizek brought up out-of-state traveling and the gsc guidelines that are available and listed per state.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To increase the per diem meal reimbursement amount from $30-$60 as stated in the handbook and to follow the U.S. General Services Administration guidelines set for out of state traveling effective July 1, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint the following individuals to the EMS Advisory Council for Benton County: Motion carried.

Transporting Services

Elana Johnson-Belle Plaine Area Ambulance Director

Cindy Pattee-Belle Plaine Area Ambulance Voting Member

Mindy Fisher-Blairstown Ambulance Director

Ben Darling-Blairstown Ambulance Voting Member

Anna Demuth-North Benton Ambulance Director

Scott Geissinger-North Benton Ambulance Voting Member

First Responders

Ben Kurka-Atkins First Responders

TBD-Atkins First Responders Voting Member

Shelly Docherty-Cedar, Mt. Auburn Fire & EMS

Dean Vrba-Cedar, Mt. Auburn Fire & EMS Voting Member

Mark Lint-Garrison First Responders

Erica Flickinger-Garrison First Responders Voting Member

Richard Loy-Keystone First Responders

TBD-Keystone First Responders Voting Member

Emily Peterson-Newhall Fire Department

Trent Claeys-Newhall Fire Department Voting Member

Marj Becker-Norway Fire & Rescue

Jim Nelson-Norway Fire & Rescue Voting Member

Kaila Cooper-Shellsburg First Responders

Vicky Hill-Shellsburg First Responders Voting Member

Nathan Johnson-Urbana, Polk Township Fire Department

Mike McFarlane-Urbana, Polk Township Fire Department Voting Member

Jeremy Hlas-Van Horne First Responders

Linda Hlas-Van Horne First Responders Voting Member

Medical Director Representatives

Brian Meeker

Angie Fults

Brad Wisnousky

Tim Sagers

Josh Pruitt

Benton County

Rick Primmer-Board of Supervisors District 1

Tracy Seeman-Board of Supervisors District 2

Gary Bierschenk-Board of Supervisors District 3

Scott Hansen-Emergency Management Member

Hayley Rippel-Clerk

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #23-33 Hiring Joyce Bane as Paralegal in Attorney's Office at a starting salary of $42,500 effective May 16, 2023. Motion carried.

The Board discussed vacancies in the weed department and Human Resources. The Weed Department is definitely under staffed aduring this spray season. They are going to be advertising for positions and the need for CDL drivers currently is the biggest obstacle. Shelby Williams provide the update regarding the recent Brush Chipper purchase and how to proceed with obtaining the grant reimbursement for it. Williams agreed to help out during the interim, and help with areas such as turning in invoices for payment and helping get the Auditor get the job opening posted.

With the HR Director vacancy and some ongoing matters that still need resolved, Department Heads wanted clarification how to proceed. Shelby Williams, Conservation Director said she has always started with the Auditor's office, and then reached out for outside advice who they then told her she needed to seek the Auditor's office. Nancy Jorgensen, Deputy Auditor, whom has handled most of the HR duties in the past spoke up on the topic and also confronted the supervisors regarding someone speaking outside of the meetings and telling others she doesn't know the duties. Jorgensen asked that he come to her first if he has future questions and she would be glad to explain things and can refer him to areas of the county handbook that the Auditor's office uses for guidance. Supervisors agreed to continue having the Auditor's office handle things and outsource if needed for the personnel matters through Heartland Insurance.

Judi Haymaker, Heartland Insurance Risk Pool and Mary Griffin, Account Executive for Holmes Murphy presented the 2023/2024 Property Renewal Comparisons. The County would be getting $11,746 in premium credit this year. The mod factor increased from 1.20 last year to 1.38. The Board was previously given the recommendations of the new appraised values of the structures and were asked to go over all the contents. Haymaker and Griffin asked that with all those changes, to have all departments look things over one more time and notify them of any other changes.

The Board left the conference room to meet up at the Weed Department Office and look at some of the spraying equipment.

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

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor