Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes April 29, 2025

April 29, 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 after striking the sheriff's discussion on dispatch and law contract fees. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the minutes of April 22, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Traveling Tapsters for May 23, 2025 through May 27, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Seeman opened the meeting up for more discussion on the FY 26 Budget. Seeman asked Auditor Rippel to point out changes made since last week's budget hearing. Rippel explained how she went over all departments re-estimated amounts mainly in their insurance line items. The 2.5 Percent reduction in spending was factored in along with reducing the transfer amounts from General Basic and Rural Basic into secondary roads. Rippel provided the Supervisors revised levy amounts for them to decide how they wanted to proceed. Overall the reduction for the countywide levy was in the amount of $0.07931.

Former Auditor Jill Marlow went over her concerns with the budget and how expenses continue to rise in a few service areas and questioned the non-program expenditures which led to an update on the radio communication project from Supervisor Seeman. Marlow commented how Rippel was doing a good job, and stated it is not easy with all the last minute changes to put it all together. She urged the Board to listen to her and to start the process earlier next year.

Rippel commented this board has been diligent in doing the extra work and have sat and went over things more so than previous board has done, and she appreciated that.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-26, Adopting FY 26 Budget. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25-26

ADOPTION OF THE FY26 COUNTY BUDGET

BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 22nd day of April 2025, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26 as filed with the Board. There was present a quorum as required by law. The notice and place of hearing had, according to law and as directed by the Board, been published in the Gazette, Cedar Valley Times, and Vinton Eagle, the official newspapers published in Benton County.

The budget was then taken up and considered. The public was provided an opportunity to speak.

The County Compensation Board recommendation for FY26 salaries for elected officials and as set forth and adopted in Resolution #25-13 is included in the FY26 budget.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a committed fund balance designation of the ending fiscal year fund balance be established for the following purposes:

General Fund-$647,000 equipment/vehicle replacement, Emergency response, infrastructure

Rural Services Fund - $47,000 land use administrator vehicle replacement

EMS Revolving Loan Fund - $125,000 for emergency services loans

LOSST Fund - $115,000 for technology upgrades and GIS re-flight

FURTHER the commitment of fund balances indicates that Benton County prefers to use available financial resources for the specific purposes set forth above, and although committed, the funds are to remain an integral part of the spendable or appropriable resources of Benton County.

The budget as adopted will approve the following property taxes for fiscal year 2025-26 (without gas and electric):

General Basic $6,185,331

General Supplemental $4,327,822

Rural Services Basic $4,468,561

Debt Service $ 799,542

Voted Emergency Medical Services $1,260,912

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that the FY26 budget is hereby adopted.

Dated this 29th day of April, 2025.

_____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________

Ronald J. Tippett

______________________________________

Bruce Volz

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To authorize Ben Turnis to order the camera system update from Hawkey Communications in the amount of $25,135.83 for recording in the jail cameras. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-27, Gifting LOSST funds to Newhall Fire in the amount of $51,020.74. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-28, Abatement of Taxes pursuant to Iowa Code 445.16(3) on parcels 190-11210 and 190-11220 for a total of $520. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-29, Abatement of Taxes pursuant to Iowa Code 445.16(3) on Parcel 270-01501 in the amount of $1,239.00. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-30, Destruction of Noxious Weeds and approve the 2025 notice for the destruction of weeds. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-31, Amending Service Area 3 in the amount of $2,500 and Service area 9 in the amount of $5,000 within the FY 25 Budget. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve and acknowledge the SLFRF 2025 Compliance Report submitted for the ARPA Funds. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) FY 26 Secondary Roads Budget. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek went over the 5 year construction program with the Board and explained some of the upcoming construction projects. This includes right turn lanes for HWY 30 at 32nd Ave. and 33rd Avenue and also culvert work planned at these intersections too. Parizek also provided an update at the HWY 30 corner with Blairstown and Van Horne and the intersection will be lit up very soon.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the IDOT FY 26-30 Secondary Road Construction Program. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Committee Reports: Bruce Volz virtually attended the ECICOG meeting and reported that he had an upcoming Heartland Insurance meeting. Supervisor Tippett had a HACAP meeting. Supervisor Seeman also attended the ECICOG meeting along with the Eastern Iowa Housing and Trust Fund noting that applications will open up for some of their programs for housing assistance or renovations.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To adjourn at 10:58 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor