Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors Minutes 1/2/24

January 2, 2024 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

Primmer questioned if "Approve Agenda" can be added to the agendas. All the Boards he is on have that listed on the agenda. Edler stated she would have that added to the agendas.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of Tuesday, December 26, 2023. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint Rick Primmer as chairman for 2024. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Primmer seconded: To appoint Gary Bierschenk as vice-chairman for 2024. Motion carried. Bierschenk abstained.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #24-1, Authorize Auditor to issue Warrants per Iowa Code 331.506 and execute ACH and financial agreements for 2024.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #24-2, Authorize Treasurer to sign ACH Agreements for 2024. Motion carried.

Grace Schmidt, Public Health Director, discussed out of state training for NACCHO in March from 25-28 in Cleveland, Ohio. Air fare, hotel, meals and registration will all be reimbursable with the PHEP grant. Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: Approve out of State Training for Grace Schmidt, Public Health Director in March 25-28 to Cleveland, Ohio for NACCHO Conference. Motion approved.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Adopt Resolution #24-3 RESOLUTION #24-3 amending resolution #12-61 Which amended RESOLUTION #10-58, AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION #10-72 BENTON COUNTY EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE. Motion carried.

Scott Hansen commented that the County should look into additional plans. Open market plans are cheaper when it is just for husband/wife instead of family plans.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Adopt Resolution #24-4 Hiring Angela Becker as Collections Officer in the County Attorney's Office at a salary of $35,750 effective January 8, 2024 Motion carried.

Sue Wilber, Human Resources Director, discussed a Wellness Day and Health Insurance incentive with the Board. Wilber stated she recommended the Board keep the wellness day and increase the Health Insurance incentive amount from $15 to $20. There is currently 2% participation, she is confident we can reach above 2% and she is wanting the incentive to be more attractive to the employees. Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Wellness Day and increase Health Insurance incentive from $15 to $20. Motion carried.

Board acknowledged Scott Hansen, EMA Director's, retirement. Hansen turned in his resignation letter on December 28, 2023. Effective July 1, 2024 last day of work being June 30, 2024.

Wilber requested approval of out of state training for PELLA National Conference in Georgia from April 7-10, 2024. Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Approve out of State Training for Sue Wilber, Human Resources Director in April 7-10 to Savannah, Georgia for PELRA Conference. Motion approved.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To opt out of the Construction Evaluation Resolution for 2024. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: That the general schedule for regular meetings of the board of supervisors will remain the same and be each Tuesday throughout the year at 9:00 a.m. This schedule is general in nature and may be altered at any time throughout the year, including but not limited to the lack of agenda items, courthouse closings, meeting conflicts, or for any reason. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To appoint the following members to the respective boards for 2024. Motion carried.

North Benton Family Resource Center (HACAP) - Supervisor Primmer

Regional HACAP -Supervisor Primmer

Emergency Management Commission - Supervisor Seeman Supervisor Primmer, Alternate

Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) - Supervisor Seeman

Solid Waste Disposal Commission Advisory Board - Supervisor Seeman Supervisor Primmer, Alternate Supervisor Bierschenk, Alternate

County Conference Board - Supervisor Seeman,  Supervisor Primmer, Supervisor Bierschenk

6th Judicial District Department of Corrections - Supervisor Primmer

Workforce Development - Supervisor Bierschenk

Eastern Iowa Tourism - Supervisor Bierschenk, Supervisor Primmer - Alternate,  Supervisor Seeman - Alternate

North Central Iowa Juvenile Detention - Supervisor Primmer, Supervisor Bierschenk, Alternate

Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) - Supervisor Bierschenk

Benton County Conservation - Supervisor Seeman, Ex-Officio

East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund-Supervisor Seeman

Public Health Board-Supervisor Primmer

Regional Mental Health-Supervisor Bierschenk

Decat-Supervisor Primmer

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Authorize Chair to sign new statement of non-issuance of certificate of occupancy for 2024. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint Hayley Rippel and Myron Parizek as ADA Coordinators for 2024. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table to appoint members to the Board of Health. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To re-appoint Greg Walston, Jay Herman, Marlyn Jorgensen, Janelle Jack and Heather Rinderknecht to the Benton Development Group Board to a 1 year term. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To re-appoint Doug Stein to the Benton County Land Use Adjustment Board to a 5 year term. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Samantha Hunter to the Conservation Board to a 5 year term. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint the following members to East Central Iowa Council of Governments' Boards. Motion carried.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Bruce Visser-3 year term

REGION 10 TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Myron Parizek, Engineer-3 year term

REGION 10 PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dean Vrba-2 year term

REGION 10 TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE Tracy Seeman, Rick Primmer (alternate)-2 year term

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint the following persons to the Benton County Eminent Domain for 2024. Motion carried.

Licensed Real Estate Sales Person or Real Estate Broker Danny Kaestner, Tami Timm, Shannon Feuerbach, Alan Michael, Dave Wessling, Scott Schlarbaum, Melissa Lennie

Persons Having Knowledge of Property Values by Reason of Occupation Brian Bierschenk, Dave Coulter, Melissa McBride, Denise Weeda, David Redlinger, Gary McKenna, Harold Knaack Jr.

Owner-Operator Agricultural Property Elaine Harrington, John David Rhinehart, John Elwick, Todd Hennings, Brenda Schanbacher, Wayne Seila, Connie Barnes

Owners of City or Town Property Darold Sindt, Jeff Kelly, Kathy Van Steenhuyse, Janice Eldred, Larry Weeda, Connie Ogier, Gary Benson

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To re-appoint the following persons to the Benefited Fire Districts for three-year terms. Motion carried.

Van Horne Benefited #1 - Dean Werner

Keystone Benefited #2 -Steve Kromminga

Newhall Benefited #4 -Duane Rinderknecht

Ben-Linn Benefited #3-#5 - Allan Schanbacher

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table appointing members to the Benton County Historic Preservation Commission. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To table appointing members to the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Committee. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To table appointing Weed Commissioner for 2024. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Brenda Sandburg and Clint Sandburg to Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Nancy Jensen, Jon Kaestner, Amy Boddicker, Terry Hertle, Jennifer Zahradnik, Mike Seeck and Supervisor Tracy Seeman to the Solid Waste Commission. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To reappoint Dan Kaestner, Nancy Jensen, Steve Thompson, and Larry Koster to the Zoning Commission to a 3 year term. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To table appointing members to Airport Belle Plaine Regional Zoning Board. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint John Stiegelmeyer and Myron Parizek to Airport Eastern Iowa Zoning Board to a 3 year term. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint Deb Christianson and Dave Cornell to Airport Vinton Adjustment Board to a 5 year term. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint John Stiegelmeyer to Airport Vinton Zoning Board to a 6 year term. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint First deputy Sheriff John Lindaman as the Civil Rights Coordinator for 2024. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To designate the official newspapers for Benton County for 2024 as The Cedar Valley Times, The Vinton Eagle and The Gazette. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Rick Primmer as Heartland Insurance Risk Group and Hayley Rippel as the alternate. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Myron Parizek and Doug Kearns as the Heartland Safety Coordinators for 2024. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Sue Wilber as Heartland Safety Coordinator as long as Heartland Insurance allows a 3rd member. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To appoint Myron Parizek as the County Engineer pursuant to Iowa Code 309.17. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Primmer seconded: To authorize Gary Bierschenk to sign USDA FSA documents on behalf of Benton County. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Primmer seconded: To set FY24 Budget Amendment Hearing date to February 13, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Seeman gave an update on Towers, they inspected towers at all 5 locations, Mike Day, Scott Hansen, Ron Tippett, Dan Rammelsberg and Seeman were there for the inspections. Towers are all lit up.

Doug Cook stated he couldn't get the complaint for the vicious animal complaint like stated in the board meeting without a subpoena, so he is working on that. He could only get a copy of the call for service.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried. _____________________________ Richard Primmer, Chairman ATTEST: _________________________________ Gina Edler, Benton County Deputy Auditor