Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes March 18, 2025

March 18, 2025

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Tippett and Volz present. Chairman Seeman 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. Full Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve agenda. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Courtney Long, Veterans Affairs Director to attend out of state training on April 7-10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the minutes of March 10, 2025 and both sets from March 11, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge Mona Onken's resignation from the MHDD of the East Central Iowa Region effective May 16, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Rick Wood, Maintenance Director presented a cement quote received for leveling sidewalk on the courthouse grounds.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To acknowledge Jim Nelson's resignation on the EMS Advisory Council and appoint Zach Schmitz, as the replacement for the Norway's voting member. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Tippett said after speaking with the County Attorney, that with the law change for compensation's board, that the supervisors could reduce or make changes to their recommendations without doing it equally. Tippett made a motion stating that he felt the increase in the Attorney's office needed to be done because they were behind and the Assistant Attorney is based on this so was okay with the $6,000 increase. The Auditor's $3,000 was justified for the extra duties taken on and the rest of the elected officials would stay the same. Supervisor Volz asked why he was recommending this. Tippett then explained his comparison's by the county's population and rankings compared to other elected officials in the state. Our Supervisors were ahead, Sheriff is ahead a little bit while the County Attorney was about even. The recorder and treasurer were also ahead as was the Auditor.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-13, Elected Official's Salaries for FY 26. Tippett and Volz voting aye, Seeman voted nay. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25-13

ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES

WHEREAS, the Benton County Compensation Board met on January 28, 2025, and recommended the following increases in the salaries of all the elected officials pursuant to Iowa Code Sections 331.905 and 331.907; and

WHEREAS, the Benton County Compensation Board recommended the following increases for FY 26;

Auditor-$3,000

Treasurer and Recorder-$2,800

Attorney-$6,000

Sheriff-$4,000

Supervisors-$0

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors approved the following:

Official Current Salary Increase Recommended Salary for FY26

Auditor $98,441.46 $3,000 $101,441.46

Treasurer $93,097.07 $0 $93,097.07

Recorder $93,097.07 $0 $93,097.07

Attorney $140,534,51 $6,000 $146,534.51

Sheriff $136,290.32 $0 $136,290.32

Supervisor $51,664.61 $0 $51,664.61

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Benton County Board of Supervisors adopts the salary recommendations for elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as recommended by the Benton County Compensation Board.

Dated this 18th day of March, 2025.

____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

____________________________________

Ronald J. Tippett

____________________________________

Bruce Volz

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Barb Fetzer, Land Use Office asked the board to remember that she, for the past two years had taken on Marc Greenlee's position and ran the office with Matt Even's help. She has put a flat 4% rate increase into their budget for their raise and felt they had earned it.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the following increases in the County Attorney's Office:

Alisha Stach-$5,388.10 (4.26%)

Derek Marsh-$3,621.00 (4.26%)

Lori Siela-$2,819.27 (4.26%)

Deb Flemings -$3,000.80 (4.26

Joyce Banse-$1,919.13 (4.26%)

Kelsey Robbins- $4,664.82 (12.31%)

Allaina Casali-$2,969.36 (7.50%)

Angie Becker- $2,084.20 (5.5%)

Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve a 3% increase to all non-elected, non-commissioned, non-contracted employees with noting that the following individuals have a different rate:

Sarah Ries, Sheriff Office Administrator-$5,000

Mark Erickson-Transportation Director-$2,800

Susan Meyer-Transportation Driver-$1.00 an hour

Eric Shares-Weed Commissioner-3.5%

Justin Birker-Maintenance Assistant-92.5% of the Maintenance Director's Salary

Ben Turnis, IT Director and Chris Wagener, IT Assistant-12%

Deb Cummings, Secondary Roads Office Manager-$5,000

Barb Fetzer and Matt Even, Health and Land Use-4%

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the quote for cement work from Concrete Polyfix, Inc. for $11,330 to repair areas on the courthouse grounds that are safety concerns. Seeman, Volz and Tippett voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Volz reported on attending the ISAC conference held in Des Moines last week. He truly enjoyed it and felt it was overall beneficial and looks forward to the fall one as well.

Marc Laconte and Danny Carroll made comments at the end of the meeting regarding how oaths are taken, along with bonds questions. Benton County Assistant Attorney Derek Marsh was available to respond. Marsh also related the inquiries to a district court matter.

Joy McGowan, Deputy Treasurer asked about the wage increases for some employees while others are getting none. Tippett stressed it is the Supervisors job to try and balance the budget. McGowan pointed out that the Treasurer's office took on out of county's transfers fees and had additional income coming in comparing to the collections office.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn at 10:11 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor