Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors 8/22/23

August 22, 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 public 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: ( https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa)

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the minutes of August 15, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the purchase of a new van in the amount of $43,000 for the Benton County Transportation department and the title will transfer to East Central Iowa Council of Government (ECICOG). Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve and authorize chairman's signature on the DCBG-DR Tree Canopy Award for BentonCo.20-DRI-25. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: to approve the Benton County Urban Renewal Report with Zero outstanding debt. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Traveling Tapster, LLC. For September 22, 2023 through September 26, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Kacena Family Farms, LLC. for 9-17-23 through 5-17-24. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for The Sippin Six for August 31, 2023 through September 4, 2023. Motion carried.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date for a land use hearing for Michael & Shelley Crow in the SW ¼ SE ¼ of 14-82-11. Michael and Shelley Crow were present. Matt Even presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Even stated the land is currently in production with an average CSR of 65. Crow's would like to change 1 acre for a new single-family dwelling. There is an existing driveway that will be widened and used for this access which has been reviewed and approved. Currently, this is connected to the City of Blairstown's public water supply but there will need to be a new septic installed. Two notices were sent to the adjacent landowners and was published in the official newspapers. There was no public comments before today and this proposal should not have any negative impacts on surrounding farm operations. Hearing no other further comments, the public hearing was closed.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the land use change for Michael & Shelley Crow in the SW ¼ SE ¼ of 14-82-11. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve payroll checks numbered 142943 through 142959, ACH Deposits 54069 through 54225, vendor checks numbered 247120 through 247127 and claims numbered 247128 through 247263. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To set FY 24 Budget Amendment Hearing date of Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the claim for True North Consulting Group in the amount of $2,952.00 using ARPA funds. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #23-60, Abatement of Taxes pursuant to Iowa Code 445.63 on Parcel #s 330-03980, 660-10420, 030-17800 and 190-04710. Motion carried.

County Attorney Ray Lough updated the board about the Opioid money Benton County has received so far and the amount currently is around $105,000 with an estimated amount to be over $325,000 before it is all said and done. Lough and Auditor Rippel attended a seminar a few months ago in Des Moines and know the first step is to get a task force together and come up with some strategic planning on how to utilize these funds appropriately. Lough also spoke on the need for a budget amendment in his department for the new hires in the collection department along with some additional spending for conflicting court cases. Lough would also like to give an additional 3-4% salary increase to Deb Fleming since she has taken on the new hires and providing them all the training. The Supervisors didn't act on this at this time, but reminded Lough how they don't like to do mid-year raises and would prefer to do this at budget time.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint the following members to the Opioid Task Force: Dr. Brian Meeker, Ben Parmater, John Lindaman, Chelsea Hurber, Grace Petrezelka, James Bieschke, Cindy Pattee, Ray Lough and Hayley Rippel. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve and sign final IDOT Progress Voucher for Project BVROSCHBP-CO06(110)-GA-06 in the amount of $19,494.57. (Bridge Replacement on 24th Ave. Dr.) Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve and sign final IDOT Progress Voucher for Project BRS-CHBP-CO06(115)-GB-06. (RCB Twin Box Culvert on 16th Ave) Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve and sign final IDOT Progress Voucher for Project BROSCHBP-CO06(116)-GA-06 in the amount of $10,505.43. (Bridge Replacement on 22nd Ave. ) Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve and sign final IDOT Progress Voucher for Project BRS-SWAP-CO06(107)-Ff-06 in the amount of $11,470.50. (RCB Twin Box Culvert on 61st St Ln.) Motion carried.

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

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor