Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor minutes April 15, 2025

April 15, 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 both sets of minutes of April 8, 2025 along with April 10, 2025 Farm Bureau meeting, with making one correction to the amount for seal coating to change from $1500 to $1550. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the Veterans Affairs Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the General Assistance Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the Recorder's Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-24, Replacing Resolution #15-31, Adopting Benton County Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plan. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge the resignation of Michelle Sutton from the Benton County Rural Access Hub effective May 16, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge the resignation of Gary Benson who worked part-time in the Treasurer's office doing the driving exams, effective April 29, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Glenda Shipley to replace Corey Rains in his absence to the EMS Advisory Council. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To authorize chairman to sign the letter of support for the Homebuyer Assistance Program through East Central Iowa Housing and Trust Fund. Chairman Seeman asked to amend that motion and revise the letter to include all three supervisors. So the motion was amended to authorize all signatures. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Committee reports were heard from Supervisor Tippett, he attended the Public Health Board meeting, and reported that they didn't take action on putting the mental health advocate under them. So that would stay with the Sheriff as of now. Supervisor Seeman reported on the recent Conservation Board meeting. He reported how happy they all were with the Atkins Roundhouse project. And they are currently taking bids for the tree canopy.

The Board asked for any reports from departments that were in attendance since they had extra time.

Sheriff Upah reported on the 2 patrol vehicles that are all ready and still waiting on equipment for others.

Assistant County Attorney reported that he has been working with Auditor Rippel regarding the EMS Funding and trying to come up with a better list of approved expenses so that we can share with them all at the June EMS Advisory Council Meeting.

Auditor Rippel gave an update on the paperless time sheet program for payroll and how they had their first test run last week and will do another next payroll. After today's meeting they are going to go over everything with all the department heads. Rippel also spoke on the finished scanning project that was done by her office along with the Recorder of the Real Estate Records and Supervisor Minutes from her office along with various documents from the Recorder's. They should have that link up and running very soon on the website, which some information in the Recorder's records will need redacted, so that is still ongoing.

Shelby Williams, Conservation Director provided a quick update on her department as well.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To recess at 9:30 a.m. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To reconvene the meeting at 10:15 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

The Board had some handouts for each department in attendance. The Auditor did some calculations for total budget asking per department, minus the wages/withholdings and benefits, and compared a 2.5 % reduction and 5% of what was left. They heard some comments in regards to this being very tough for some vs others. Supervisor Seeman mentioned when looking at the overall budget predicting almost 6 million in deficit when comparing worst case scenario of all the expenses vs estimated revenues. Granted

if grants aren't approved, that spending authority would cease. Supervisor Volz also re-iterated on the reductions and asking that at the end of this fiscal year for everyone to be considerate and not going on spending sprees before the fiscal year ends. Auditor Rippel explained the loss of revenues for various things that the state is no longer funding, and with the tax reform bill, the upcoming years are only going to get tougher. The departments are asked to make their changes within the week before the Budget Hearing on April 22, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Continued discussions on where other areas in the budget could be reduced, while others is hard to plan for. The Board can reduce the spending before the budget is adopted at that hearing and appreciated everyone's effort to make this happen.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn at 11:17 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor