Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 3/23/21

March 23 2021 The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Bierschenk and Primmer present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the conference room at the Benton County Service Center. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session and livestream at https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa.

Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

(https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa)

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve minutes of March 16, 2021. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: Approve payroll checks numbered 141792 through 141814 ACH deposits numbered 44785 through 44924, vendor checks 238295 through 238302, claims numbered 238303 through 238414. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To accept the resignation of Toni Parizek, Veterans Affairs Director. Her last day of employment will be May 14, 2021 to ensure that there is enough time to post the position and hire replacement. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To approve fireworks permits for Chuck Yedlik for the dates of: May 22, 2021, May 29, 2021, May 30, 2021, April 10, 2021 and October 23, 2021. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-20, Adopt a new Procurement Policy. Motion carried.

Tracy Seeman reported on the tonnage fee at the landfill will be reduced at the scale from $50/ton to $46 as of July 1, 2021. The construction materials would remain the same at $60 per ton.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date for a land use hearing for Matt and Tiffany Rolling in part of the SW1/4 SE1/4 of 25-85-9. Rolling's were not present. One member of the media was present along with an adjoining property owner-Elizabeth Sanders. Marc Greenlee presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Rolling's would like to propose a change of 3 acres into a residential non-ag use. CSR is 50, surrounding land use is residential, some pasture along with crop and timber. This sight will need a new driveway constructed, the existing driveway is not compliant and the old one will eventually be removed. This site will need a new septic and well. The required notification was sent to the adjacent landowner's and published in the official newspapers. One phone call received was regarding their concern with setbacks in the county, which there is none. Elizabeth Sanders who was present, spoke on her concern about the distance regarding hunting that is proposed on her property. It was agreed they met the sight distance to be safe. Hearing no other further comments, Greenlee did not have any major concerns, the public hearing was closed.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve land use change for Matt and Tiffany Rolling in part of the SW1/4 SE1/4 of 25-85-9. Motion carried.

Melinda Schoettmer, Treasurer wanted to discuss her office hours when the courthouse re-opens to walk in traffic. These hours will go into effect when the courthouse doors get unlocked. Motor Vehicle and property customers will be 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Driver's License will still have their normal hours of 8:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only.

The Sheriff presented a draft of an employee contract with Adrieonna Hennings. This will be brought back in on next week's agenda to allow time for the county attorney to look over and to discuss budget concerns. No action was taken.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #21-21, Temporary Road Closure from the N ¼ corner of Section 11-T82N-R9W thence easterly 1.5 miles to the center of Section 12-T82N-R9W along 75th Street and 33rd Avenue Drive between 32nd Avenue Drive & 75th Street Drive in Florence Township. Motion carried.

A group of concerned citizens who live near Hannen Park in Blairstown filled the conference room to bring up concerns they have about the wood chips being brought into their area. The effect the trucks doing the hauling have caused to these roads and making it dangerous when trucks are driving down the center of the road and parking on the sides of the roads. Deb Drahos explained that those at the meeting did not get a say in the project before it happened. They because aware of the project on Monday, March 1, when they heard a bulldozer running. No one had been contacted by Benton County Conservation about the project and she was the closest neighbor. Paul Stults, also a Blairstown resident expressed concern over the impact on the road, as well as trash and garbage debris found at the site. He added that the money received for this will not compare the road damage costs for taxpayers. Shelby Williams, Conservation Director explained that the company hauling chips works with secondary roads on when and how to drive on the road as well as what routes. Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek also explained the history of work on the roads. As for the current project, his office recommended using paved roads instead of rock roads. The contractor had expressed interest in helping with some of the costs for road repairs, but no negotiations have been held. The contractor is also using fewer trucks than what they had planned when the project began. Supervisor Primmer explained that the conservation commission is its own board and made the decisions they did. The only control the supervisor have is the budget. These are public roads they are all using. Drahos also asked why the location in Vinton was denied, if it was because of the concerned citizens. She wished there had been more conversation about this, adding that she supports the parks, but the southern part of the county seems neglected compared to the rest. It is estimated that this project could take another 30 days, and is expected to provide $120,000 to Benton County Conservation. And an estimated cost of road replacement could be $200,000 per mile. As all roads, the Engineer puts them on a schedule for repairs and monitors the roads closely and will determine when the trucks can haul on the roads. Barriers are now in place to keep drivers away from the dangerous sections.

Katie Schmitt and Ryan Verven, with Group Benefit Partners provided a presentation by Zoom on the county's health insurance renewal. Schmitt and Verven went over all aspects of the plans and what the difference regarding the savings would be. The renewals amounts were previously provided back in December when the board took action but didn't sign the renewal paperwork. They also addressed a concern regarding secure benefits and some claim delays paying providers when they don't have enough information where to send the payments. The Board agreed with Group Benefit Partner's plan of action to resolve this. The checks would be mailed to the employees with an explanation of what medical bill it pertains to and the employee will be responsible to pay the providers directly.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize and approve the chairman to sign the renewals to change from Plan 11E and switch to Plan 17 in regards to health insurance, and keep the dental and eye plans as is. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried.

_______________________________ Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST:

_________________________________ Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor