Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Primmer, Bierschenk and Seeman present. Supervisor Primmer 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 with a few items re-arranged in order. Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the December 10, 2024 minutes. Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer voting aye. Motion carried.

Ray Lough, County Attorney presented a resolution clarifying the Benton County Board of Supervisors employment and stated that it didn't change anything other than addresses hours to be worked and insurance benefits to be received. This is not currently specified in the county's current handbook. Jill Marlow, prior County Auditor asked Lough to read the resolution aloud and followed up with questions regarding how this affects insurance premiums and other things related to part-time vs full time benefits. Ron Tippett, retiring sheriff and newly elected supervisor, said he was who requested clarification on this and how it impacts IPERS (Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.) Some counties view it as full-time while others part-time. The conversations continued back and forth and the Board agreed they needed further information what all this entails.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To table action, to allow more time to research more on the impact of IPERS, Insurance and workman's compensation. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

The Engineer presented quotes as follows for the purchase of two (2) tandem axel dump trucks:

GATR-Mack Granit -$143,400 each

Truck Center Co., Elk Run Heights-Freightliner 114SD Plus for $132,303 each.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the purchase of two Freightliner tandem dump trucks from Truck Center Co for a total of $264,606. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

The Engineer was going to prepare the petition, contract and waiver for the sealcoating project previously approved for 74th street. Parizek thought the 3 parties affected were wanting to pay the lump sum up front before year end. This would be in case they wanted to spread it out as a special assessment on their taxes.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To set the interest rate for sealcoat improvement projects to 3%. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve out of state travel for Myron Parizek and Ben Vierling to attend the National Association of County Engineers conference in Illinois, April 14-18, 2025. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To allow David Upah to grant his remaining sick leave balance of sick leave to Bonnie Ehlinger. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve increasing the maximum allowed hours to work for Michelle Sutton from 20 to 30 hours a week. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

Mona Onken, representing the Benton County Wellness Committee, reported that Benton County qualified for a 4% discount in our FY 2026 premiums do to having enough participations this year. That is a rough savings amount of $37,978.20. Onken also wanted to clarify, that in the future year, the only requirement would be for employees is to get their yearly physical. They wouldn't have to do the on-line health assessment. In previous year, the board granted a Wellness Day for those employees who participated along with a $12 a month insurance discount off their employee premium amounts. Onken asked for this to be granted again.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To grant those employees who participated in the wellness program to get a Wellness Day along with the insurance premium discount of $20 a month. Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk voting aye. Motion carried.

John Elwick and Mike Elwick addressed the supervisors during public comments with their concern regarding recent action on authorizing conservation to sell the old dog pound. They had previously approached the supervisors back in 2017 regarding a land swap with this property and were told by the previous county attorney this couldn't take place because of the strict restrictions the title held. When it was gifted to the Benton County Fish and Game, it had stipulations for it to only to be used for permanent wild life refuge. Mike Elwick shared an old newspaper clippings from that conversation years back in regards to this. Elwick's own the surrounding farm ground and also questioned the water line and how it appears there hasn't been an easement recorded between the City of Vinton to Benton County. Currently Conservation has an ad in the paper to collect bids for the purchase for a meeting in January. The Board told the Elwick's they would look into this further and talk to the county attorney along with the Conservation Director. Supervisor Seeman pointed out he was not a member of the Board during that time period and wasn't made aware of it.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Adjourn at 10:03 a.m. Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Rick Primmer Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor