Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 5/4/21

May 4, 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)

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To approve minutes of April 27, 2021. Motion carried.

Marc Greenlee explained the Iowa Code Section 459.304 to the Board, where it gives the county the option to contest a decision to issue a construction permit for Geno Source LLC Site. The master matrix review for this was held on April 6, 2021.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To not act on appealing the DNR's preliminary determination to submit the construction permit to allow Geno Source LLC to expand their existing dairy building in the NE ¼ of Section 25, Leroy Township. Voting yes were Primmer and Seeman, Bierschenk voted no. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the Class C Liquor License for MidWest Sips for use at Kacena Farms. Motion carried.

Auditor Rippel explained Iowa Code 331.210A "Temporary County Redistricting Commission". This is done every 10 years along with the Census data outcome. Voting districts could change depending on the results. So the county will need to address the Supervisor's 3 Districts. Cities such as Vinton and Belle Plaine with more than one ward will have to do the same.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To appoint Gina Edler, Nick Volk and Gary Bierschenk to the Benton County Redistricting Commission.

Historic Preservation members provided an update to the Board. They want to attend some training to be held October 2, 2021 in Van Horne. Also mentioned renting space at the Shellsburg Big Day flea market.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To authorize chairman to sign a contract for a statewide camp meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission to include specialized training. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Mona Onken, Benton County Mental Health Coordinator, to have supervision over Adreionn Hennings, who is the new office administrator in the Rural Access Center. The Sheriff was overseeing this position in the past Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Approve Resolution #21-30, Employee status change for Adreionna Hennings to be the full-time office administrator in the Rural Access Center at hourly rate of $22.53 effective today. Voting aye were Bierschenk and Primmer, Seeman voted nay. Motion carried.

Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: To Approve Resolution #21-31, Employee status change for Lydia Wieneke and Leha Larsen, to move from part-time communication specialist to full-time with an hour rate of $17.39 effective today. Motion carried.

Approving the Atkins City Law Enforcement Contract was discussed again. Currently Atkins contracts 18 hours with Benton County and were wanting to increase that to 40 hours. As Sheriff Tippett explained at a previous meeting, that would require the hiring of another full-time deputy sheriff. Tippett explained how these law enforcement contracts have not made the county money in the past, they were recently increased. He would like to make sure the contract would cover the cost of wages. Primmer pointed out its not just the wages, but benefits, training and the expense of a county vehicle. Bierschenk added with the rate of which Atkins is growing, he could see them getting their own enforcement in the future. Supervisor Primmer felt it was not fair to county taxpayers to subsidize municipalities with this. County Attorney David Thompson stressed that it is the municipalities' responsibility to provide law enforcement protection for their citizens.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the regular 18 hours of contracted law enforcement with City of Atkins, and address the proposal for additional hours at a future meeting. Motion carried.

Ben Turnis, IT Director brought up the need for a Geographical Information System (GIS) Committee again. Turnis felt the current system is on idle, and he feels we can take it to the next level. The discussion varied from on-line permits from the city, to having cities all get on board and utilize the data for things such as recent derecho damage to all the county's road signs. The Board agreed with the need and urged Turnis to get this committee back together.

Supervisor Rick Primmer had asked to discuss the old transportation building. It was his understanding the weed department had been given use to its office space in addition to the garage areas. The weed department and Sheriff's department is currently using the building for storage. The flood insurance costs were brought up, considering that was why the transportation moved to its new location because of it being in a floodplain. The Auditor questioned who budgeted for all the expenses such as insurance, utilities, gas, internet hook-ups and how these expenses would be covered. Ben Turnis explained there was no network connections or computer desktops available for this office space. Ben Bonar, Weed Commissioner thinks he can make it all work within is approved FY 22 Budget.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To allow the Weed Department to utilize the old transportation building and office area for their department. Motion carried.

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

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor