Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 12/12/23

December 12, 2023

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in special session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. 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: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve the minutes of Tuesday December 5, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve vendor checks numbered 248220 through 248226, payroll checks numbered 143084 through 143088, ACH Deposits 55277 through 55424 and claims numbered 248227 through 248433. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the following claims that are listed in the above motion to paid from the ARPA Fund: Edwards Plumbing and Heating-$4,470.00, Schminke Excavating, LLC-$6,350.00 and True North-$2,952.00. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept resignation of Larry Moody as Cedar Township Clerk. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Jerry Krug as Cedar Township Clerk and Ben Lutz as trustee. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To accept Justin Bierschenk's resignation to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To appoint John Kreider to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Motion carried.

The Sheriff provided an update on recent security committee's recommendations and that is to leave things as they currently are.

Sheriff also asked to table his second item.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table the employment change for Jeff Harnish at the Sheriff's Office. Motion carried.

Discussion continued on the upcoming Holiday schedule and if the county would observe Tuesday, December 26 as a holiday. The Board decided to keep things as stated in the handbook.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve out of state training for Mona Onken to attend in St. Louis, Missouri April 14-17, 2024. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Resolution #23-86, Adopting Required Policies for Community Devlopment Block Grant (CDBG) Funding as follows: Voting aye were Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman. Motion carried.

1) Residential Anti-displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan (RARA)

2) Equal Opportunity Policy

3) Affirmative Fair Housing Policy

4) Procurement Policy

5) Code of Conduct

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #23-87, Adopting Policy on the Prohibition of the Use of Excessive Force required to receive funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Voting aye were Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize and approve the chairman's signature on the documents pertaining to the Community Development Block Grant Services (CDBG) service agreement. Motion carried.

Shelby Williams, Conservation Director also provided an update on Hannen Park. The construction is done and they will be hosting the January Conservation Board meeting there. The well work at Rodgers park is complete also.

Gary Bierschenk reported on his HACAP Board of Directors meeting. Supervisor Seeman reported on his Eastern Iowa Trust Fund and ECICOG meetings. The Sheriff touched a little on the radio test done last week in Marshalltown at RACOM, and said that the capabilities with the new system is very impressive.

Under Public comments:

Elana Janss reported to the board about a recent sheriff's order to remove dangerous and vicious dogs off her property. She has wolf dog hybrids, with very low wolf content. Janss stressed she is a very responsible dog owner and fence and padlocked gates and that all her dogs are vaccinated and microchipped. The Sheriff Ron Tippet was also present and told Janss, he had received complaints about the impact on cats, chickens and some sheep in the area. Janss said she does have one problem dog, and is looking to rehome this one who occationally gets out and runs, but didn't feel all the animals needed to be removed due to one. Sheriff Tippett suggested postponing this for a week so that the Board can read over the paperwork. It will be put back on the agenda for next week, Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

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

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel Benton County Auditor