Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors meeting Notes 1/2/24

In the first meeting with the newly elected Board of Supervisors, the meeting began with Supervisors Ron Tippett, Tracy Seeman and Bruce Volz. The first order of business was to elect a chairman of the board. Volz made a motion to appoint Seeman, Tippett and Volz voted to approve.

The minutes and agenda were then approved.

The Vice-Chair was appointed and will be Ron Tippett for 2025.

A request to add the timed items back to the agenda was made and approved. It was also requested to require speakers to step to the table and to introduce themselves.

Authorization was granted to the Auditor To Issue Warrants Per Iowa Code 331.506 and execute ACH and financial agreements for 2025, Resolution 25-1. The Treasurer was also authorized to execute ACH agreements for 2025 in Resolution 25-2.

A request to transfer funds for the FY 25 Budget for conservation, was tabled until the meeting on January 7, 2025.

The Supervisors also discussed to either adopt or deny the Construction Evaluation Resolution for 2025. This deals with things like hog confinements. The board voted to deny and this would leave the decision up to the DNR.

The schedule for supervisor meetings for 2025 will remain on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.

The list of appointments made will be at the end of this article.

The FY26 Budget Work was a large part of this week's discussion. Tippett said that he would like to approach the budget differently. Citing his time working in Belle Plaine, he said he was given a budget by the city with instructions that he could not cut wages, personnel and benefits a number was given and he was told to make it work. He feels that the Board should take that approach.

Rippel said that the county has been using its reserves.

Tippett asked how much is recommended for counties to have in reserve. Rippel said that would be at 30%. She encouraged the board to attend ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties meetings to help educate themselves on budgets.

Tippett said that he felt that they couldn't tell employees that they would need to make insurance more without giving employees a raise to cover the cost and said that he doesn't like the idea of taking away from people.

Rippel said the current costs are $754 for single members and $1694 per family. For employees that participate in the wellness program, the employee saves $15 per month. Last year the county saved 1%, this year the county will save 4% for participating. The insurance company would like to see 80% participation, the county is in the high 70% of participation. The supervisors talked about pushing the employee meeting earlier in the year to get employees started sooner on the goals for the health insurance program.

You can watch on YouTube at around the 1:35 minute mark where a good discussion was had about how to save money in the county, how budgeting works, how things were run in the past and how the board would like to function in the future. There were ideas tossed around, questions asked about how things work and suggestions for how to save money in the county.

Rippel encouraged the supervisors to attend the ISAC meetings and their District Supervisor's meeting to learn from other counties, and shared how they would have the opportunity to meet other county leaders and might find tips that they could us.

The supervisors will also be looking at the budgets for the last several years.

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The following Regional Boards were appointed Supervisors to serve on the following boards:

Area Substance Abuse (ASAC) - Tippett

Central Iowa Juvenile Detention - Tippett and Volz the alternate

Easter Iowa Tourism Board - Volz

HACAP - Tippett

North Benton Family Resource - Tippett

Regional Mental Health - Tippett

Solid Waste - Seeman, Alternate Volz

Eastern Iowa Tourism - Volz Alternates Tippett and Seeman

Emergency Management -Tippett, alternate, Seeman

Heartland Insurance - Volz, Rippel alternate.

Iowa Workforce Development - Volz

Public Health Board - Tippett

Sixth Judicial Department of Corrections - Tippett

Solid Waste Commission - Seeman, alternate Volz

Conservation - Seeman

Eastern Iowa Housing Trust Fund - Seeman

REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) - Shelby, Williams, Alternate Seeman

A new statement of non-issuance of a Certificate Of Occupancy (2025) was also signed by the supervisors.

The ADA Coordinators for 2025 will be Hayley Rippel, Myron Parizek, Ray Lough and the Safety Committee.

Two members were reappointed to the Public Board of Health. They included Jean Ohlen and Lori Mott.

The Benton Development Group Board will be Greg Walston, Jay Herman, Janelle Jack, Marlyn Jorgenson, Heather Rindernecht

The Benton County Land Use Adjustment Board reappointment was Dave Redlinger.

Appointment to the Conservation Board was made for Dan Hill.

The ECICOG Boards/Committees will be Kate Robertson, Bruce Visser, Tracy Seeman with alternates, Ron Tippett and Bruce Volz.

The Revolving Loan Fund Committee will include Kate Robertson.

For Tranportation Myron Parizek and Ben Vierling and alternate Dan McKenna.

Appointment to the Eminent Domain Commission for 2025 will remain the same.

The Transportation Policy Committee alternate will be Ron Tippett.

The Benefited Fire Districts were voted to leave as they are:

Fire District #1 - Van Horne

Larry Hlas

Fire District #2 - Keystone

Dale Seeck

Fire District #3 - Benton-Linn

James Keiper

Fire District #4 - Newhall

Timothy Rathje

Benton County Historic Preservation Commission - Allison Hicks, Phil Borleske

Appointed to the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Committee was Shelby Williams.

Pioneer Cemetery Commission appointees were Isaac Harthoon, John Kreider, and Roy Schulze.

Solid Waste Commission were Bruce Volz, Amy Boddicker, Nancy Jensen, Terry Hertle, Amy Boddicker, John Kaestner, Mike Seeck, Jennifer Zahradnik, Tracy Seeman.

Members appointed to the Zoning Commission Connie Barnes, Deb Christianson, Mark Happel, Elaine Harrington

Belle Plaine Regional Zoning Board still has a vacancy.

Myron Parizek was appointed to the Airport Eastern Iowa Zoning Board.

The appointment to keep the Airport Vinton Zoning Board the same.

Appointed to the Civil Rights Coordinator for 2025 John Lindaman.

Establish Official Newspapers For 2025 Cedar Valley Times, Vinton Eagle and Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Trustee and Alternate appointment to Heartland Insurance Risk Group, Bruce Volz and Hayley Rippel.

The Heartland Safety Coordinator for 2025 will be Doug Kerns.

Myron Parizek was appointed County Engineer pursuant to Iowa Code 309.17.

Tracy Seeman was authorized to sign USDA FSA documents on behalf of the county.

The Weed Commissioner for 2025: Eric Schares

The Monroe Township Clerk: Mark Kotouc

Cedar Township Trustees: Steve Runyan, Paul Zander

Fremont Township Trustees: Carl Gerhold, Mike Rathje

Homer Township Trustees: Lindsay Staton, Dale Seeck

Monroe Township Trustees: Mike Knupp

Kane Township Trustees: Todd Hennings, Tim Kapucian

Union Township Trustees: Paula Dennison, Matt Garbers