Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 2/13/24

February 13, 2024

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in special session with Supervisors Seeman and Bierschenk present. Primmer called in. 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. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the Agenda as listed .Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of Tuesday, February 6, 2024 and Thursday, February 8, 2024. Voting aye were Bierschenk, Seeman and Primmer. Motion carried.

The time of 9:00 a.m. and this was the time and date set for opening bids for Bridge Replacement Project for L-CE-0028-73-06 on 16th Ave. in Cedar Township. These bids were received in the auditor's office as follows:

K. Construction, Inc.-$569,774.60

Iowa Bridge & Culvert, L.C. -$652,681.95

Peterson Contractors, Inc. -$559,457.50

Taylor Construction, Inc.-$570,546.25

Jim Schroeder, Inc. -$597,671.29

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept bids as read, and board will accept the winning bid at next week's board meeting. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschen seconded: To approve and authorize vice chairman to sign title sheets for the following projects:

1) FM-CO06(130)-55-06-HMA resurfacing on E24-from ECL Vinton to W26

2) FM-CO06(131)-55-06-HMA Resurfacing on W26-from NCL Shellsburg to near 58th Street

3) FM-CO06(132)-55-06-HMA Resurfacing on E24-from W26 to Linn Co line

Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the memorandum of understanding for the reimbursement from MH/DS of the East Central Region for county employees and authorize vice chairman's signature on the agreement along with Exhibit A and Exhibit B. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date for a land use hearing for Steve and Lexa Speidel in part of the NE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 5-84-10. Matt Even presented some of the technical information and also read a letter against the change. Requesting a change of use of 1.2 Acres to allow for single family dwelling and a building for a business 2 miles south of Vinton on HWY 218. This parcel is owned by Joe Mullineaux. This ground is mainly used for pasture and bailing. Avg CSR of 92. The IDOT review will not permit in this location because of site distance was increased to 600 feet requirement. They want to look at possibly improving 62nd Street which is a Level B road and depending on associated costs. So the Speidel's have asked that we table this to allow time for them to research and make sure they want to proceed and what steps they want to take. One letter of opposition was read from Jennifer White, as an adjoining property owner, firmly objects to the residence with well business stating this is a farm/residential area. No other comments were had.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table the land use hearing for Steve and Lexa Speidel until Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Payroll checks numbered 143120 through 143124, ACH Deposits 55861 through 56006, vendor checks numbered 248815 through 248821, Payroll checks numbered 143125 through 143133, ACH Deposits 56007 through 56155, claims numbered 248822 through 249007 and vendor checks numbered 249008 through 249015. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To pay RC Tech, $3,551.00 for courthouse wiring project and True North Consulting Group for the continued fees for the Radio Project in the amount of $4,428.00 using the ARPA Funds. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Fireworks permit for Daniel Marovets on April 6, 2024. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table setting Budget Hearing Date. Motion carried.

The time of 9:30 A.M. was the date and time set for a public hearing on the FY 24 Budget. Auditor Rippel explained the various service areas that needed the amendments and what reasons were listed. Some of those expenses will be offset by revenues from Grants. The members of the public present did not speak up on the matter, so the chair declared the public hearing closed.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #24-17, FY 24 Budget Amendment #2. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #24-17

BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 13th day of February, 2024, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of hearing on an amendment to the current operating budget adopted on April 18, 2023. There was a quorum present as required by law. Thereupon, the Board found that the notice of time and place of the hearing had been published. Thereafter, and on said date the amendment was taken up and considered. Thereafter, the Board took up the amendment to the budget for final consideration and determined that said budget be amended as follows:

Expenditures Amendment

Public Safety $ 5,802

Physical Health & Social Services $ 25,546

Mental Health $ 0

County Environment & Education $ 332,800

Roads & Transportation $ 260,000

Government Services to Residents $ 15,000

Administration $ 12,940

Non-Program $ 225,000

Debt Service $ 0

Capital Projects $ 0

Operating Transfers Out $ 0

REVENUES Amount

Intergovernmental $ 313,000

Licenses & Permits $ 0

Charges for Services $ 0

Use of Money & Property $ 0

Miscellaneous $ 0

General Long-Term Debt Proceeds $ 0

Operating Transfers - In $ 0

Proceeds of Fixed Assets $ 0

Dated this 13rd day of February, 2024.

_____________________________________

Rick Primmer, Chairman

_____________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

______________________________________

Tracy Seeman

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Sue Wilber, HR Director discussed an addendum revision proposed by the handbook sub-committee for the Handbook section 4.1 regarding the county's holiday schedule and what to do when Christmas Eve falls on a weekend. In years past it has always been a half day but the committee asked for it to be a full day. Further discussion on what day to observe the holiday on when Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, do they want to get the Friday before of the Tuesday after off. There was also talk about using the personal day and birthday as floating days for all full-time employees. The past Christmas Eve Holiday was addressed again, and it has been suggested to make that as 4 hours of floating time for the employees to use before end of the fiscal year.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the addendum to Holidays 4.1 below to be amended to the county handbook effective today: Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

**HOLIDAYS 4.1

Benton County recognizes certain days of importance as holidays and pays full-time employees for time off on these days in accordance with eligibility rules explained in this section. The County observes the following holidays:

New Year's Day Veteran's Day

Martin Luther King Day Thanksgiving Day

Memorial Day Day after Thanksgiving

Independence Day Christmas Eve

Labor Day Christmas Day

Should a holiday fall on Saturday, the preceding Friday will be observed as the holiday. Should a holiday fall on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as the holiday.

The following schedule will apply in observing Christmas Eve/Christmas Day when Christmas Eve falls on a weekend:

If Christmas Eve is on a Saturday, it will be Observed on the preceding Friday.

If Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, it will be Observed on the following Tuesday.

Pay for Holidays Worked

Depending on the services provided by your department or office, you may be required to work on a holiday. If an employee is required to work on a recognized holiday, they will be granted another day off to be scheduled with the approval of the department head. Employees are not compensated extra for working a holiday except as provided in Section 3.2.

New employees will be eligible for paid holidays after 30 calendar days of continuous employment.

Two (2) Floating Personal Days

All full-time employees will be awarded two floating personal days that renew annually on your anniversary date. Floating days may be taken at a mutually agreed upon time with sufficient notice to the department director or designee. If these days are remaining at your anniversary date, they will be forfeited. All new hires are awarded these floating days with their first payroll regardless of their date of hire. Days must be taken as a full work day and can't be split.

Temporary, seasonal and part-time employees and those that are on an unpaid leave of absence are not eligible for holiday pay or floating holidays.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To award employees 4 hours of floating pay to be used by June 30, 2024. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Shelby Williams, Conservation Director provided an update following up from last week's supervisor meeting and a recent Conservation Board meeting. The discussion was had regarding the Weed Commissioner's appointment and roadside manager position being put under the Conservation Department. Williams presented a draft of what that transition would look like and reported that the Conservation Board had approved this last night.

A public question was heard from Kelly Van Ree. She asked about the cost concerns regarding higher pay for employees taking on more duties and also asked what the benefits of moving the weed and IRVM to Conservation besides Shelby's good management skills? Primmer said in addition to her good management skills that having employees jointly working as they currently do would be

a continued benefit. Employees from both sides are conservation minded with similar skills along with the ability for equipment sharing. Trying something new and hopefully it works out with stability and success. Seeman asked to have continued communication which then led to who will be on the hiring committee. Engineer Myron Parizek agreed they needed to move forward with roadside management and that spring was fast approaching. Secondary Roads will also be available to assist and help through continued communication between Conservation, Secondary roads and the Supervisors. This agreement would be reviewed and they can decide if they want to continue this route in the future.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept the recommendation presented on the transition of the weed department and roadside manager position presented by Conservation Board and Shelby and enter into departmental agreements to move forward. Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman Voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Primmer seconded: To approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Tara Hills Country Club and authorize vice chairman to sign. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the law contracts for the City of Urbana- total yearly sum of $4,225.00 to be paid quarterly and not to exceed 2.5 hours a week, additional hours will be billed at $45 an hour rate. The City of Atkins -yearly sum of $30,420.00 to be paid quarterly and not to exceed 18 hours a week. Voting aye thereon were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

Tracy Seeman reported on his recent Conservation Board Meeting. Gary Bierschenk spoke about the Board of Health and how everything is in place and they will meet the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00 a.m.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk Seconded: To Adjourn. Voting aye were Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Richard Primmer, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor