April
1, 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.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the minutes of
March 25, 2025 and March 26, 2025.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge Nancy
Jorgensen’s retirement in the Auditor’s Office, her last day will be May 30,
2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Sheriff Dave Upah brought along three invoices for the last of the
vehicles purchased this year. Since it fell this week and not a normal claim
run, he needed the permission for the check. Upah also mentioned he was trading
in 3 Durango’s, an Impala and a pick-up truck for $10,000 off the total price.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the handwritten
claim for Thys Motors for (3) sheriff vehicles in the amount of $123,692.
Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To set the FY 26 Budget
Hearing for Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz
voting aye. Motion carried.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution
#25-16, Abatement of Taxes on mobile homes for a total amount of $3,721
pursuant to Iowa Code 562B.27 and Chapters 555C.2B. Tippett, Seeman and Volz
voting aye. Motion carried.
The Board re-visited the wage clarification for Transportation Director
Mark Erickson. Erickson had asked for a 14% increase and the board approved $2,800
which was just under a 5% increase. Supervisor Volz commented, that if we moved
forward with a 14% increase , that we will have a line out the door of other
employees and residents of the county who want to come play pin the tail on the
Supervisors. The comparisons Erickson provided was nice to look through, but
also doesn’t say how long that person has been in the position. Volz also noted
that reducing the budget and operating more efficiently was appreciated and he
would expect out of all our departments do the same and save money.
Erickson asked if they wouldn’t be using the comparable information for
salaries in the future. Supervisor Tippett explained that comparables are used
for determining the elected officials salaries. Supervisors also pointed out
this is Erickson’s first year in the job. Supervisor Volz also appreciating the
reduction in budget and operating more efficiently and that he would expect out
of all our departments to do the same and save money. No action was taken.
County Attorney Ray Lough talked with the Board about the mental health
advocate and public health. Lough introduced Bethan Wheaton, who has been the
county’s advocate for several years. With the mental health region being non
existing after July 1st, Lough said by statute the counties are still
required to have an advocate. He explained what the advocate does and how it is
important to have these people to follow up on services. Lough would like to
find her a place in the county instead of working out of her home, so was
talking to Grace Schmidt to see about placing her under the Public Health
Department. Lough would be meeting with the County’s Public Health Board on
this next week. Mental health is a big issue not only in our county, but every
county.
Lough also discussed the need for a county-wide training coordinator
and would like to assign that duty to his Assistant Attorney. Alisha
Stach-Lorang has an emphasis on law enforcement and could be a benefit. Lough
mentioned training in areas such as being in a courtroom in a contested trial,
help them prepare to be ready. Along with other things such as search warrants
or the mandatory arrest requirements. Lough
added he would like to fund the additional $5,000 for salary and $2,500 for
supplies and things needed for the trainings for the next 2 years to come out
of the Attorney’s collection incentive fund.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-17,
Establishing a training coordinator and appointing Alisha Stach Lorang. Tippett,
Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the amended
employment contract with Alisha Stach-Lorange to include the added duties of
county-wide training coordinator along with the additional salary over the next
two years. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
The Board opened the public hearing for the FY 25 Budget Amendment #3.
Auditor Rippel explained the areas that needed to be amended. Like Lough
mentioned earlier, the dissolving of the Mental Health Region, there was
funding for the last quarter for employees retention pay and indirect costs. We
want to be sure we get all that paid out and reimbursed before it all ends July
1st. The other $172,100 amount was need was to follow up with the
Sheriff’s new hires, added spending for their withholding amounts, the need for
equipment for the new vehicles purchased along with some body cameras. The last
area between non-program and capital projects for $600,000 was to fix an error
from the last amendment. Spending authority was noted in the wrong service area
so that needed to be tweaked. No public comments were heard in regards. The
public hearing was closed.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution
#25-18, Amending FY 25 Budget. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion
carried.
RESOLUTION #25-18
BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 4th day
of February, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in
session for the purpose of hearing on an amendment to the current operating
budget adopted on April 23, 2024. There was a quorum present as required by
law. Thereupon, the Board found that the
notice of time and place of the hearing had been published. Thereafter, and on said date the amendment was
taken up and considered. Thereafter, the
Board took up the amendment to the budget for final consideration and
determined that said budget be amended as follows:
Expenditures Amendment
Public Safety $ 172,100
Physical Health & Social Services $ 0
Mental Health $ 0
County Environment & Education $ 0
Roads & Transportation $ 0
Government Services to Residents $ 0
Administration $ 57,420
Non-Program $ 600,000
Debt Service $ 0
Capital Projects $ -600,000
Operating Transfers Out $ 00
REVENUES Amount
Intergovernmental $
0
Licenses & Permits $
0
Charges for Services $ 0
Use of Money & Property $
57,420
General Long-Term Debt Proceeds $ 0
Operating Transfers – In $
0
Proceeds of Fixed Assets $
0
Operating Transfers In $ 0
Dated this 1st day of April, 2025.
_____________________________________
Tracy
Seeman, Chairman
_____________________________________
Ronald
Tippett
______________________________________
Bruce
Volz
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor
Supervisor Seeman brought up the mailbox carrier need at the Service
Center. The cost was more than he was quoted. He is going to revisit the
catalog and find something that maybe could just be added on to the current
box. No action was taken.
Committee reports were heard from Ron Tippett who participated by zoom
in the HACAP meeting. He reported great things they were doing for the
community. Bruce Volz reported how he really enjoyed the recent Heartland
Insurance Risk Pool Meeting. It was nice that the trustees are all
representative from other counties. Supervisor Seeman had an ECICOG and East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund meeting
and mentioned the retirement of Tracey Achenbach. She will definitely be
missed. Supervisors Volz and Tippett also attended the dedication for the
Wildcat Park’s improvements that was held last Saturday.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-19,
Wage and Classification change for Ron Ragen, equipment operator who carries a
labor grade classification IVD. His hourly wage is to be set at $28.84
effective April 1, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Supervisor Seeman and Engineer Myron Parizek gave an
update after their recent meeting with the Vinton City Council in regards to
the box culvert extension for a curve on the east side of Vinton. Parizek
suggested the city pay for 75% of this, as it is 95-100% inside the city limits
of Vinton. An agreement was approved
by the Vinton City Council and the cost is just under $55,000.
Atkins
Mayor Bruce Visser was in attendance at the meeting and he brought along the
new City Administrator, Scott Flory to formally meet the Board.
Tippett
moved/Volz seconded:
To adjourn at 10:04 a.m. Tippett, Seeman
and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
_____________________________
Tracy Seeman, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________________
Hayley
Rippel, Benton County Auditor
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