October 5, 2010

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

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to approve the minutes of September 28, 2010. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to acknowledge the receipt and filing of the annual manure management plans submitted by Dennis Zieser, for the facility located at 5299 33rd Ave. Center Point, Iowa and for McKinley Swine LLC, for the facility located at 3354 King Avenue, Walker, Iowa. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to approve the Auditor’s and Sheriff’s Quarterly reports for the period ending September 30, 2010. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Craig Stuart-Paul, CEO of Fiberight, and Ranae Becker of the Benton Development Group met with the board to give an update on the progress of the facility in Blairstown. Stuart-Paul has been working with numerous federal officials as well as private investors to secure funding for the project, which is estimated at around $30 million. The project is to convert waste into usable fuel products. There is at least a year timeline, but most of the equipment is in place. Supervisor Buch stated he likes the idea of diverting trash from the landfill to the ethanol plant, but is concerned with other landfill issues. Supervisor Vermedahl agreed and also questioned the odor. Stuart-Paul assured them that the waste is all contained within the building and there will be wind fences in place along the premises to hold the odor in. Another concern of Vermedahl was if the plant fails, what will the county do with its remains. Fiberight will start processing approximately 50 tons of waste per day and prove that they can handle that amount before gradually increasing tonnage. Stuart-Paul stated that the facility’s floor would be clear of all waste every Saturday night. The plant will be able to produce 85 gallons of ethanol per ton of pulp produced from waste. They will use methane gas to power everything in the facility and the renewable ethanol can sell for $3.25 per gallon. Myron Parizek, County Engineer, was concerned about utilizing the county’s facility. There will be 15% of waste sent to the landfill from the waste that can’t be converted into ethanol. Stuart-Paul told the board that a recent study of Iowa garbage indicates that 55 % of trash is food waste or paper packaging, all of which can be converted to ethanol. They will optimize the kinds of waste going to the landfill and will meet all compliances.

The Supervisors expressed their hope that Fiberight can succeed. The next step will be for Fiberight to obtain a Memorandum of Understanding from the county, showing support of local leaders for the project, which will help secure funding. There are still certain amounts of unknowns stated Stuart-Paul, as we gain more experience we can talk more details in the future.

Jerry Petermeier and the Board toured the new law enforcement center. The facility is progressing due in part to the cooperative weather.

Todd McNall couldn’t make the meeting to discuss the change orders for the law enforcement center.

The time of 11:00 a.m. having arrived and this being the time and date for a public hearing on disposing of the county’s interest in real property by gift, the board took up the matter for consideration. It was moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to open the public hearing on said matter. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. The chair declared the public hearing open. Rose Rouse, representing the Benton County Historical Society, was present. Rouse explained that the plan was to put the building on the east side of the Depot in Vinton. Vermedahl advised that there has been some vandalism in that area and wanted her to be aware of that. Hearing no other comment, it was moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to close the public hearing. Voting aye were Vermedahl, Sanders and Buch. Nays none. Motion carried.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to adopt Resolution #10-61 DISPOSING OF AN INTEREST IN COUNTY OWNED REAL PROPERTY BY GIFT. Voting aye were Sanders, Buch, and Vermedahl. Nays none. Motion carried.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl to transfer ownership of a one-room schoolhouse to the Benton County Historical Society to be used for public purpose. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

The engineer reported that the balance in the landfill account at the Benton County State Bank in Blairstown on September 30, 2010 was $40,865.75.

The engineer also presented the speed study results for south of Atkins and south of Newhall. After some discussion, the board stated it supported the requests but would like to have Newhall keep the speed consistent in both directions of traffic. Parizek will notify those necessary and present this at a later date.

Engineer Parizek also discussed the leased property south of the landfill. The useable area needs to be reduced by approximately 1 acre. Parizek will determine the estimated footage and approach the renter, who is currently in the 3rd year of the 5-year contract.

Dave Thompson, County Attorney, introduced his new assistant Emily Nydle. She started October 4, 2010. Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to approve the hire of Emily Nydle, as Assistant County Attorney to be paid as an 85% Deputy with an employment contract to be signed at a later date. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1)c. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried at 12:10 p.m.

Moved by Buch, seconded by Vermedahl, to return to open session. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried at 12:35 p.m.

Moved by Vermedahl, seconded by Buch, to carryout the recommendations that were discussed in closed session. All members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.

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

 

_______________________________

Jason Sanders, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Deputy Auditor