Government : May 18, 2010, Supervisor Minutes

May 18, 2010

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Buch, Vermedahl, and Sanders present. Chairman Sanders called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

The board discussed creating an early retirement program for county employees. The auditor provided a spreadsheet showing potential savings over five-years if an employee were to retire with a partial health benefit. Discussion included various options, including conversion of unused sick leave towards premium payments similar to the State of Iowa. The auditor suggested that if the county adopted a policy then if they wanted to encourage early retirement during certain periods they could change the amount of benefit. Supervisor Sanders stated that he was in favor of offering an early retirement benefit if it could bring savings to the county. Supervisor Vermedahl stated that he wanted to review the data provided at today’s meeting and asked that the matter be placed on next week’s agenda.

Moved by, seconded by, to amend the minutes of December 29, 2009, to include the following:

“Moved by Buch, seconded by Sanders, to set the fee for medical examiner reports at $200 per report. Any portion thereof or all may be paid to the medical examiner-investigator upon direction of the medical examiner or deputy medical examiner. The fee is effective January 1, 2010. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.”

All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

No action was taken on the approval of the May 10, 2010 and May 11, 2010, minutes.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to re-affirm the appointment of the following persons to the Benton County Geographical Information System committee: by virtue of position – assessor, auditor, and engineer, Chuck Juhl as a “user representative”, and Jason Sanders as the final county representative. There are no term lengths for the position as most are by virtue of position. Vacancies will be filled when resignations are received or the appointee does not attend a minimum of 25% of scheduled meetings within a 12-month period. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The time of 10:00 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date set for a public hearing on amending the FY10 county budget, the board took up the matter for consideration. There were no objections heard. After reviewing the requests for budget amendments, it was moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to adopt Resolution #10-35, AMENDING THE FY10 COUNTY BUDGET. Voting aye were Sanders, Buch, and Vermedahl. Nays none. Motion carried.

Marc Greenlee, Land Use Administrator, presented an application for a farm exemption submitted by Jerad Becker. Greenlee reported that the applicant is involved in a family farming operation with livestock and crop production. Greenlee reported that the requests is in accordance and complies with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to approve a farm exemption application filed by Jerad Becker on a parcel located in A Part of the SE1/4 of the SW1/4 of 26-83-9, for a single residential use. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to acknowledge the receipt of the annual manure management plan filed by Christensen Farms Midwest LLC., for the facility located at t 1819 56thSt., Vinton, Iowa. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to permit the use of the courthouse lawn on September 18, 2010, for Boomtown activities, with the understanding that Vinton Unlimited is responsible for enforcement of the No Smoking law as well as clean up and repair of damage to the lawn, if any. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to permit the use of the courthouse lawn on July 17, 2010, for the Vinton Cruise activities, with the understanding that the Vinton Cruise committee is responsible for the enforcement of the No Smoking law as well as clean up and repair of damage to the lawn, if any. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The county engineer reported that the balance in the landfill bank account on April 30, 2010, was $100,347.45.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to adopt Resolution #10-36, BRIDGE EMBARGO. Voting aye thereon were Sanders, Buch, and Vermedahl. Nays none. Motion carried.

The board discussed financial matters with respect to the conservation board purchasing property for a nature center. The property is currently a residence located next to Rodger’s Park. The conservation board has negotiated a purchase price of $270,000 with the current owners being allowed to remain in the residence, free of charge, through December 2010. The conservation board will also be responsible for replacement of the current non-functioning septic system. The conservation board advised that the trustee of the Donovan Trust has agreed to let the conservation board borrow money from the money donated to the conservation board with the understanding that it will be repaid with interest. Repayment of the loan will be with local option sales tax revenue and fundraising efforts, as well as other donations. The conservation board will discuss the matter further at their next meeting.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to approve a Class B liquor permit requested by Blairstown Demo Derby. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Kelly Geater, Treasurer, met with the board regarding abatement of penalty only on parcel 890-19050. Geater explained that when the owners purchased the property two parcels were included but only one parcel was changed. In the real estate file. Geater stated that when the new owner called about the taxes due on their property, the parcel that had not been changed was not included in the total provided to the owner. Geater was requesting that the penalty be abated on that specific parcel. The treasurer did not have the amount of the penalty at the meeting. Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to adopt Resolution #10-37, ABATEMENT OF TAX PENALTY. Voting aye thereon were Sanders, Buch, and Vermedahl. Nays none. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, that the Benton County co-insurance fund pay $50.00 per month per plan towards the health insurance premiums. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, that the cost of health insurance plans for FY11 be set tat $461.33 for a single plan and $1,085.84 for a family plan. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Garrett Wittmer met with the board to discuss a possible contractual arrangement for animal control in the unincorporated areas of Benton County. Wittmer agreed to provide the services at a base cost of $200 per month, plus $15.00 per hour for service, and all mileage reimbursed at the current IRS rate. The board advised that they would request that the county attorney draft a contract for consideration.

Ranae Becker of Benton Development Group updated the board on a celebration of rebuilding of the new law enforcement center.

Jerry Petermeier provided a status report on the construction progress of the new law enforcement center.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to adjourn. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

_______________________________

Jason Sanders, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Jill Marlow, Auditor