Government : Benton County Supervisor Meeting Notes 4/8/25

The Benton County Supervisors met in their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at the Service Center. All three supervisors were in attendance: Ron Tippett, Tracy Seeman, Bruce Volz.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the approval of the agenda, minutes, claims and ARPA claims. There were questions concerning some of the expenses. One was $19,000 in membership fees required for the Supervisors, a question about a grant pass through for Conservation and questions for the Sheriff's Department.

Riverview Center representatives spoke and sought approval from the county for a resolution proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Supervisors approved the proclamation.

The Luzerne Fire Department requested funds which were approved from the LOSST funding for the purchase of an ATV at 10% of the cost which is $1,660.34.

The Sheriff's Quarterly Report was discussed and approved. A discussion concerning the hiring of a liaison for the department was held.

Shelby Chekal will be working with the Benton County Sheriff's Office as a mental health liaison following the approval of the Benton County Supervisors last week. Sheriff David Upah asked for the approval of this hire saying, "I don't know how we survived or how we did our job without her before she came along." Benton County Attorney Ray Lough explained that when calls are answered and it's determined that there is a mental health issue involving the call, she goes to the scene to assist. She helps to line up follow up care and assists in cases like dependent adult care cases.

Upah said that she's assisted in helping to keep people out of jail that needed mental health. Supervisor Ron Tippett chimed in in support of the decision as well. Tippett the former sheriff said that it's needed greatly in the community. She will be serving out of the Sheriff's Office.

Chekal has been working in the community in this position for a few years helping helping those who are in a traumatic situation whether law enforcement or the public. Formerly 50% of her wages were paid through Foundation 2 and 50% through the county. Funding for this position was eliminated by the state through the shuffling of the mental health budgets at the state level. Urbana, Belle Plaine and Vinton will be helping to pay her salary. Vinton will contribute $10,800, Belle Plaine and Urbana when they reinstate their Police Department and will be entering a contract according to their populations. July 1, 2025 she will get a 3% increase and each city will go up each year. The department just received a bill for over $41,000 through the former contract at 50%. That is scheduled to increase to 75% this year. When it's said and done, it should come in pretty close to where it is now. The county will also absorb the use of a vehicle for her.

County Attorney Lough, said that he was approached by Floyd County to consider taking on their collections. Their county board approved a contract with Benton County. Lough expects that it will bring in around $20-25,000 each year.

Explanation of the contract. The county must collect $50,000 each year or the contract goes back to the state. The State collects 72% and allows Floyd and Benton to split 28% of that first $50,000. After this, the State drops their portion by 5% allowing. The 5% is split between the County Attorney's office and Floyd County. The state determines the amount given to each county. Money collected toward restitution doesn't count in these amounts.

From Dubuque County, last year the total collections were $397,000 and this year Benton County has collected more than $540,000.

Approval was given for a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for Bloomsbury Farm

The Auditor's Quarterly Report was approved.

Mae Hingtgen with spoke to the supervisors concerning the MH/DS of the East Central Region's transition plan. The Administration Services will be out of Des Moines. The department will close at the end of June of 2025. There will now be two sections at the state level, Behavioral Health and Disability Services.

In January the department reevaluates itself. They will continue to work to help people get the services that are needed. The staff of 34 will be out of a job on July 1. Staff qualify for up to five sessions at the Abbe Center for supportive processing, it will be covered by the Region. The program has been in effect for more than 30 years. Hingtgen also brought in help for the employees to write resumes for new jobs. She estimated that it will cost $4 million to pay the bills from July-December and the office will officially close then.

Benton County will move into District 6. Costs for Behavioral Services will still fall on the county for committals. Mental Health committals will be reimbursed to the county. Hingtgen went on to explain that right now, under Iowa Law 229 expenses like Sheriff's transport, attorney fees, mental health advocate fees will go directly to the Region and the county will then pay the Region...but this is subject to change. The mental health advocate will be a "pay and chase" situation. The county will pay it then bill the ASO (Administrative Services Organization) quarterly. She advised the county to have money in the budget for at least a quarter to cover this expense.

Central Iowa Community Services will now oversee Benton County along with 43 other counties about 775,000 residents.

Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek spoke to the board concerning the cost of dust control. Curently the cost is $1,500 for the first 400 feet, with increased costs, the county approved an increase to $1,550. Most of the cost is bringing the product to the site, so an additional cost of $2.60 is charged per foot beyond the first 400 feet. The two application process runs from now through early May 1. This is a service that is not a service required for the county to offer, but will for now.

Volz asked Parizek about traffic and road conditions on 22nd St. near a dairy in southern Benton County. Seeman said he'd also talk with Parizek on a couple of other topics.

The Blairstown corner was another topic of discussion. Parizek is considering contracting with REC at the intersection on Highway 30 for lighting, as well as checking into options for rumble strips with reduced noise.

The Auditor's quarterly report was approved next.

The supervisors approved the annual Class C retail alcohol license for Bloomsbury Farm.

The board acted on the tabled action from March 25, 2025 awarding the quote for updating the Benton County, Iowa Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation. The plan is roughly a 500-page document. Every five years this is done. Some members of the board had talked with Dean Vrba, Benton County Emergency Management. concerning the matter. A quote for $16,642 was discussed and approval given to use Emergency Planning and Consulting LLC of Anamosa working with Robyn Reese.

Other quotes submitted were:

Blue Umbrella LLC $36,500

MCM Consulting Group $87,510

Two Rivers Emergency Management $24,000

Atchison Consulting Services $27,200 with training included $36,160

Reports - Volz had a Zoom meeting with ECICOG, Tippett had a meeting with Benton County Health on Thursday night.

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Work concerning the funding for the Benton Development Group was next. The board voted to reduce the county's funding from $100,000 to $80,000.

Public Interest Comments: A resident from the Brandon area reported that dust control using Chloride was $.85 a foot, but it also required a mask to use it. Seeman said that part of the contract is that residents are supposed to maintain the section that is treated, filling potholes etc.

The meeting was then adjourned.