News : Benton County Board of Supervisor Notes for 9/3/24

The map indicates the new districts set by the Iowa Health and Human Services Department

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in session on Tuesday morning, September 3, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa

The agenda and minutes were approved with a spelling correction.

Sheriff Ron Tippett presented a contract for the patrolling with the City of Norwaty for 520 hours over the next 12 month at an hourly rate of $32.50 hr. for a total of $16,900.

The following land use hearing was set by Barb Fetzer for Chad Albert for Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 9:15 a.m., for part of Parcel A, in the NE 1⁄4, of the NE1/4, and part of parcel B, in the SE 1⁄4, of the NE 1⁄4, of Sec 27, T84N, R10W.

Under Reports, Gary Bierschenck reported on a meeting Behavioral Development meeting last Thursday. There are new districts being set up by the state. Benton County will be in a new district. The shift will go into effect next July. For more information about this Iowa Health and Human Services Ddepartment, click HERE.

Tracy Seeman had a meeting with the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund as well as ECICOG. He reported that two business loans were granted for two businesses. One business will be tracking shopping carts. The chain has decided that this would save them money as each shopping cart costs $450. He also had a meeting about the towers for the emergency services radio system.

Gina Edler, made a presentation as the Vice-President of the Center Point-Urbana FFA Alumni & Supporters a letter of support for the CPU FFA Alumni Greenhouse project. She explained that Center Point-Urbana School District did not have its own FFA program until last year, and the organization just celebrated its first year. The group would like to build and donate a greenhouse to the school whose FFA is currently meeting in the Industrial Tech building which isn't conducive to the program, Edler said.

The group is trying to create a learning environment where they can grow and develop.  The goal is to raise $200,000 and not use any school funds for the project. Edler is in charge of writing grants for the project. So far she has been able to raise $25,000 toward the project. 

The school district is unique in that it straddles two counties, Linn and Benton. She will be reaching out to conservation as well to try to locate sources of funding. She is requesting a letter of support from the supervisors for the project. The supervisors gave their approval for a letter of support for the project.