Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes June 17, 2025

June 17, 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 the agenda. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To table the minutes from June 10,2025 per Assistant Attorney Derek Marsh's advice to get a clarified motion for denying the land use hearing. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the amended Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for Kacena Family Tree Farm, Inc. d/b/a Kacena Farms effective August 7, 2024 through August 7, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for Watkins Community Athletic Association effective May 29, 2025 through May 28, 2026. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-45, LOSST Gift to Belle Plaine Area Ambulance in the amount of $15,755.30 towards a purchase of a new ambulance. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution # 25-47, Service Area Amendments in the FY 25 budget in Service Areas 1, 6, 8 and 9. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the fireworks permits for Iowa Pyrotechnic Association for July 12, 2025 and August 22, 2025 through August 23, 2025 pending approval from the Vinton Fire Chief and also with the stipulation that if there is a burn ban in place, we don't allow the event to take place. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To accept the resignation of Julia Biery in the Human Resources Department effective June 20, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Deborah Guard, Finance Director for the MHDS of the East Central Region and Sarah Wagner were re-visiting a memorandum of understanding from DAP and asset transfer for District 7. This was tabled a few weeks ago and was placed back on to re-visit after allowing the county attorney's office to look over the terms of the 28E agreement. Assistant Attorney, Derek Marsh explained some of the terms I the agreement brought some concerns. At this time they are recommending not to sign it, they wanted to have some language added to the agreement so it wasn't so vague. Discussion continued in regards to what entity would be the employer for Wagner. With all the changes being made after dissolving the mental health regions in the state, there are a lot of questions for everyone. If Benton County would choose to be the employer of record, the funding would be estimated a month up front at a time. Marsh asked to obtain contact information for the Region's attorney and discuss some of the language changes we would like to see.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To table action on the MOU for Dap and asset transfers to District 7 until June 24, 2025. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek discussed safety measures at the Van Horne/Blairstown intersection on Hwy 30. Parizek shared the safety action plan that Benton County joined last year along with 96 other counties for federal grant money to review accidents and develop a safety action plan. One f those locations is this intersection and it was recommended to add rumble strips. One of those strips is very close to a resident, who has expressed concern over the noise. They currently have destination lighting on both sides, and are waiting on flashing red beacons for the stop signs facing north and south. Parizek was looking for guidance on changes they wanted to make, stressing that from an engineering standpoint, the rumble strips were fulfilling their purpose. This intersection has three panels, and they all agreed to try and minimize the noise from the middle panel that is close to the residence.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn meeting at 10:27 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor