Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes November 26, 2024

November 26, 2024

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Bierschenk and Seeman present, Primmer absent. Supervisor Bierschenk called the meeting 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

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the agenda. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the minutes from November 19, 2024. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the following claims to be paid out of the ARPA fund: Custom Jet Ouboards in the amount of $27,718.68 for a rescue boat for EMA and Sheriff. Karl Emergency Vehicles for $15,637.79 patrol truck for conservation, Uline Shipping Supplies for $758.76 and Huffcutt for $169,625 for Conservation's shower house at Wildcat. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve handwritten claim number 251906, Payroll checks numbered 143419 through 143528, ACH Deposits 59160 through 59316, vendor checks 251907 through 251913, and claims numbered 251914 through 252106. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To set public hearing date of Tuesday, January 21, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. for FY 25 Budget Amendment. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Benton County Attorney Ray Lough explained how the county had a committee formed for the Opioid Settlement Funds. The goal of the committee is to get something in place that was thoughtful and gave more bang for our bucks. The committee collected RFPs and have been meeting to discuss those received. Lough presented a resolution that will authorize a memorandum of understanding with the Area Substance Abuse Council(ASAC) regarding Opioids. Chelsea Hurber, Director of Fund Development for ASAC explained how this program would bring a care coordinator and a provider to Benton County located in their own buildings. This would bring better access to Vinton and Belle Plaine instead of having the patients having to get their care of out Cedar Rapids. This would be a one-year program, and then check to see if they want to continue to do this on a long-term basis.

Seeman moved/ Bierschenk seconded: To Approve Resolution #24-106, Disbursement of Opioid Settlement Funds with Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) for services to establish a care coordinator and a care provider in Benton County to make treatment needs more readily identifiable and accessible in the amount of $70,000 for one year. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Chris Ward, Vinton City Administrator met with the board about a possible speed limit change for the road along Nathan's mile trail.. Supervisor Seeman suggested that the City of Vinton work with ECICOG for possible Grant funding to hard surface the road instead. No action was taken on this.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve and sign plan set for Project BROS-CO06(124)-8J-06 for a RCB culvert replacement-twin box on 32nd Ave. Drive in Florence Township. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek shared the bid letting sheet from the Iowa DOT that was had on November 19th.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To ward the Bridge Replacement Project BROS0CO06(123)-8J-06 on 26th Ave. Dr to the lowest bidder K Construction Inc. of Elkader. Iowa in the amount of $459,494.21. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #24-107, Designate the Engineer for executing the contract for Project BROS-CO06(123)-8J-06 with K Construction, Inc. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

The Sheriff had sent out for bids for three (3) police package SUVs, 4 door, 4WD or AWD model year 2025.

Only one bid was received from Thys Motor Company in Belle Plaine.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To award the bid to Thys Motor Company for three (3) D025 Durango Pursuit Vehicle AWD 22Z in the amount of $44,564 each for a grand total of $133,692. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Anna Demuth, North Benton Ambulance Director along with members of the EMS Advisory Council shared their proposal how the trust fund should be divided. Services in Benton County are: North Benton Ambulance, Blairstown and Belle Plaine Ambulances along with numerous first responder services in the area communities. The council looked at various scenarios before agreeing to their proposal to divide it out by a percentage based on things such as population, square miles of coverage. The Auditor's office will require all invoices to come to them for payment directly to vendors for items that are allowed under the EMS Trust Fund.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the funding proposal brought to the board by the EMS Advisory Council to divide the EMS Tax dollars starting December 1, 2024 through November 30, 2025 and revisit with the council how this is working. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept resignation from Cale Schmidt for the Atkins representation on the EMS Advisory Council and appoint Dan Rammelsberg to replace him. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tracy Seeman reported on his recent EMS Advisory Council Meeting, EMA meeting and also a safety committee meeting.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Adjourn at 10:01 a.m. Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Gary Bierschenk, Co-Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor