Government : Benton County Board of Supervisors Minutes 1/2/25

January 2, 2025

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Tippet and Volz present. Supervisor Seeman called the meeting to order at 9:30 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

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To appoint Tracy Seeman as Chairman for 2025. Tippett and Volz voting aye, Seeman abstained. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the agenda. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the December 31, 2024 minutes. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Ronald Tippett as Vice-Chairman for 2025. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Discussion was had on board procedures specifically referring to agenda items and when to put a time on them along with those public comments or department heads addressing the board. They could come to the middle table and state their names.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To approve putting timed items back on the agenda when necessary and ask that people come forward and state their names when addressing the board. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-1, Authorizing the Auditor to Issue Checks and Sign ACH Agreements for 2025 pursuant to Iowa Code §331.506. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-1, Authorizing the Treasurerr to Issue Checks and Execute ACH Agreements for 2025 Iowa Code 331.552(29) . Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Discussion was had for the need to transfer funds to Land Acquisition for a grant pass through for conservation. Once the claim is paid, they will get reimbursed. Currently there isn't enough spending authority or funds in Land Acquisition to pay the claim. Auditor Rippel will have this all finalized next week, no action taken and it will get put back on for next week.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To opt out of adopting a Construction Evaluation Resolution for 2025. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz 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. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint the following members to the respective boards for 2025. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

North Benton Family Resource Center (HACAP) - Supervisor Tippett

Regional HACAP -Supervisor Tippett

Emergency Management Commission - Supervisor Tippett

Supervisor Seeman, Alternate

Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) - Supervisor Seeman and Shelby Williams

Solid Waste Disposal Commission Advisory Board - Supervisor Seeman

Supervisor Tippett, Alternate

Supervisor Volz, Alternate

County Conference Board - Supervisor Seeman

Supervisor Tippett

Supervisor Volz

6th Judicial District Department of Corrections - Supervisor Tippett

Workforce Development - Supervisor Volz

Eastern Iowa Tourism - Supervisor Volz

Supervisor Tippett, Alternate

Supervisor Seeman Alternate

North Central Iowa Juvenile Detention - Supervisor Tippett

Supervisor Volz, Alternate

Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) - Supervisor Tippett

Benton County Conservation - Supervisor Seeman, Ex-Officio

East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund-Supervisor Seeman

Public Health Board-Supervisor Tippett

Regional Mental Health-Supervisor Tippett

Decat-Supervisor Tippett

Heritage Area Agency on Aging-Sarah Wagner

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To authorize signatures on the Statement of Non-Issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for 2025. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Tippett seconded: To appoint Myron Parizek, Hayley Rippel and Ray Lough as ADA Coordinators for 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To re-appoint Lori Mott and Jean Ohlen to the Benton County Board of Health for a three-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint Greg Walston, Jay Herman, Marlyn Jorgensen, Janelle Jack and Heather Rinderknecht for a one-year term to Benton Development Group. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint David Redlinger to the Benton County Land Use Adjustment Board for a five-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To re-appoint Dan Hill to the Benton County Conservation Board for a five-year term. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To appoint or make the following changes to members of the East Central Iowa Council of Governments' Boards. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Kate Roberts, Bruce Visser,and Tracy Seeman, Ronald Tippett and Bruze Volz as alternates

REGION 10 TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ben Vierling and Dan Mckenna as an alternate

REGION 10 TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Randy Scheel for two-year term

REGION 10 PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mark Erickson and Jessica Meyer-two-year term

REGION 10 TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE

Tracy Seeman, Gary Benson, and Ronald Tippett (alternate)-2 year term

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To appoint the following persons to the Benton County Eminent Domain for 2025. 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

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

Van Horne Benefited #1 - Larry Hlas

Keystone Benefited #2 -Dale Seeck

Newhall Benefited #4 -Timothy Rathje

Ben-Linn Benefited #3-#5 - James Keiper

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint Allison Hicks and Phil Borleski to the Benton County Historic Preservation Commission for a three-year term. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint Tracy Seeman, Becky VanWey, Ann Jorgensen, Jeff Ralston and Luke Hennings for a three-year term on the Integrated Vegetation Roadside Management Board and appointing Shelby Williams to the vacant spot. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint John Kreider, Isaac Harthoorn and Roy Schulze to the Benton County Pioneer Cemetery Commission for a three year term. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To re-appoint Nancy Jensen, Mike Seeck, Jon Kaestner, Amy Boddicker, Terry Hertle, Jennifer Zahradnik and Tracy Seeman to the Benton County Solid Waste Commission. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To re-appoint Mark Happel, Elaine Harrington, Mark Kotouc, Connie Barnes and Deb Christianson to the Benton County Zoning Commission for a three-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

No action on the Belle Plaine Airport Regional Zoning.

Seeman moved/Tippett seconded: To re-appoint Gary Marlow to the Vinton Airport Zoning Board. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Tippett seconded: To re-appoint Myron Parizek to the Airport Eastern Iowa Zoning Board. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint John Lindaman as the Civil Rights Coordinator for 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To have Vinton Newspapers, Vinton Eagle and The Gazette as the Official Newspapers for 2025. Seeman, Tippett and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Bruce Volz as trustee to the Heartland Insurance Risk Group and Hayley Rippel as alternate. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Myron Parizek as the County Engineer pursuant to Iowa Code 309.17. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To authorize Tracy Seeman to sign USDA FSA Documents on behalf of Benton County. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Eric Schares as the Benton County Weed Commissioner for 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Steve Runyan and Paul Zander as Cedar Township Trustees for a four-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Carl Gerhold, Mike Rathje as Fremont Township Trustees for a four-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Dale Seeck and Lindsay Staton as Homer Township Trustees for a four-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Mike Knupp and Mark Kotouc as Homer Township Trustees for a four-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Paula Denison and Matt Garbers as Union Township Trustees for a four-year term. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried

The Board started discussion for FY 26 Budgets. AuditorRippel explained how the big part of budget changes relies on health Insurance rates and what the Board will decide to do along with wages. This led to discussion on reserves in the fund balances and how it is important to not utilize that if we can help it. The 3% cap on increases is still a concern this year as it was last year. If the county has valuation growth, and estimating same levies as last year and that amount is above 3% we are forced to lower the levy as we were forced to do last year. Supervisor Tippett would like to see the Board take a different approach this year. With his experiences as both the sheriff and police chief in the past. He would like to give department heads an amount to work with but not allowing cuts to wages, personnel or benefits. Auditor Rippel would get some documentation to the Board, so they can see the history over the past few years. The upcoming meetings will have a lot of discussion/action items that will need to be had before we can really start crunching numbers.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To Adjourn at 11:47 a.m. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor