News : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 8/5/25

1 / 3August 5, 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

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the agenda with a correction to change listing Historical Society to be Historic Preservation. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve minutes from July 29, 2025. All members voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve farm exemption application for Dan and Megan Diehm in part of the SE ¼ of the NW ¼ of 24-84-9. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried. Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the change for Historic Preservation Commission to move from the conference room into the Mental Health Office space. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-64, LOSST Gift to Blairstown Fire Department in the amount of $4,500.00 for purchasing a new truck. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve continued intern hours for Priyal Patel in the County Attorney's office for up to 6 hours per week. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To appoint Ronald Tippett to the Iowa Decategorization (DECAT) Board. Seeman, Volz and Tippett voting aye. Motion carried.
The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date set for a land use hearing for Jeremy and Stacy Koopman in part of the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ Section 33-85-9. Jeremy Koopman was present. Matt Even presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Koopmans would like to change the use of approximately two acres to allow for a single-family dwelling and shop. This site has a CSR of an average of 42. There is an existing driveway for this site that was approved and reviewed by secondary roads to be compliant with county policies.
A private sewage disposal system and private well will need to be installed. The applicant's existing dwelling is located west of this site and another dwelling owned by the applicant's is located northwest of this site also one south of this site. There are row crops located north and east of this site. Three notices were sent out to adjacent property owners and legal notices were published. No comments were heard regarding this request prior to today's hearing. This proposal should not have any negative impacts on surrounding farm operations. Hearing no other further comments, the public hearing was closed.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the land use change for Jeremy and Stacy Koopman in part of the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ Section 33-85-9. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-65, hiring Shelby Dodson as afull-time communications specialist at an hourly rate of $22.80 effective August 20, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve hiring Cassie Riha, part-time cook/custodian in sheriff's office at an hourly rate of $20.10 effective August 13, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-66, FY 26 Budget Amendment. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION #25-66

BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 5th day of August, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of hearing on an amendment to the current operating budget adopted onApril 29, 2025. There was a quorum present as required by law. Thereupon, the Board found that the notice of time and place of the hearing had been published. Thereafter, and on said date the amendment was taken up and considered. Thereafter, the Board took up the amendment to the budget for final consideration and determined that said budget be amended as follows:

Expenditures Amendment

Public Safety $ 135,000
2 / 3Physical Health & Social Services $ 0
Mental Health $ 0
County Environment & Education $ 10,430
Roads & Transportation $ 159,971
Government Services to Residents $ 0
Administration $ 245,890
Non-Program $ 0
Debt Service $ 0
Capital Projects $ 0
Operating Transfers Out $ 0

REVENUES Amount

Intergovernmental $ 90,890
Licenses & Permits $ 0
Charges for Services $ 0
Use of Money & Property $ 0
Miscellaneous $ 0
General Long-Term Debt Proceeds $ 0
Operating Transfers - In $ 0
Proceeds of Fixed Assets $ 0
Operating Transfers In $ 0

Dated this 5th day of August, 2025.
_____________________________________
Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________
Ronald Tippett

______________________________________
Bruce Volz
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor
Jill Marlow, former county auditor came to re-address issues she asked about during the FY 26 budget hearing. She had asked about where they were cutting spending, and what measurers were implemented to reduce? She also made a public records request on the collections department and wanted to be sure the county wasn't subsidizing other counties' collections. Supervisor Volz stressed to Marlow that they can't discuss any department or individual specifically. He cautioned that this should have been listed under public comments. Marlow told him that is why she got put on the agenda, so that it wasn't just a public comment. Volz explained that the Board did cut 2.5% spending from the budget and warned departments to be ready to have more cuts next year. Supervisor Tippett stressed that the county is service-oriented, and their biggest expense is employees. Tippett also said that they have asked department heads to conserve. Marlow warned them about the DOGE committee at the state level, and if Benton County doesn't get ahead, they will lose.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-67, Wage and Classification change for Jakob Long in Secondary Roads to an hourly wage of $29.91 effective August 7, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve and authorize signature on commercial lease agreement between Squiers Storage Rentals, Belle Plaine and Benton County, Iowa for the transportation department. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
Mark Erickson requested his employee evaluation be done in closed session.
Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To enter closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)i: to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and 3 / 3the individual requests a closed session. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried at 10:06 a.m.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To exit closed session at 10:23 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.
No action was taken after closed session.
The Board also discussed some of their committee meetings such as Volz meeting with the wellness committee. Stressing the importance of getting the employees to do the online assessment's and get their physicals. The county can qualify for savings off the health insurance premiums if we meet a certain threshold. He would like a department head meeting scheduled for the following week. Supervisor Tippett had a mental health regional meeting, things will be separating there soon. Tippett also attended the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention meeting in Eldora, IA.
Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To adjourn meeting at 10:37 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.


_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________________
Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor