Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 3/1/22

March 1, 2022

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman and Primmer present, Bierschenk called in. 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/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the wage increase for Rodney Clark, Transportation driver who obtained his Class C License with passenger endorsement effective February 19, 2022 at the hourly rate of $15.40. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of February 22, 2022. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Class C Liquor License for Terra Hills Country Club. Motion carried.

Mona Onken, provided a brief update regarding the approval of the proposed fund balance projects that were addressed at the Mental Health Regional board meeting that was held on Thursday the 24th.

Discussion about the pay for township officials was had. The Auditor was recently approached in the regards that there hasn't been an increase since 2007. Currently they receive $15 an hour, or a minimum of $25 a meeting. No action was taken, but the board did throw out a few figures and will act on this at a future meeting.

Auditor Rippel also mentioned the need for an appointment for a Benton Township trustee due to vacancy.

The time of 9:10 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date for a land use hearing for HGP LLC in part of SE1/4 NE1/4 of 34-85-9. Jim Hicks was present, along with some adjacent property owners, no media was present. Marc Greenlee presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance which included talk about the septic systems, wells, soil erosion and drainage control. HGP LLC would like to propose a change of the 17 acres and replat lots 8 through 13 from the Hidden Meadow Subdivision into 8 lots to be called the Sunset Estates. Hidden Meadow was previously approved in 2017 for 5 residential lots and 1 commercial. CSR average is 52. There will need to be new driveway. Adjacent land use is crop land and other subdivisions. Notice was sent to 12 adjacent owners and published in the newspapers. There was one inquiry prior to the meeting, not for or against, just asked the details. There were 3 adjoining neighbors present who all had a chance to voice their concerns. One questioned how the wells would be affected in the area, and two stated they liked their isolated homes and didn't like the idea of having more homes. A further concern was the view of sheds instead of nicer homes to match the ones that are currently in place. Another question that arose was the covenants and home owner association rules. Greenlee reported that covenants are required and that HGP Land had them prepared in preparation for final plat approval. The residents were reminded that originally this was platted for a commercial lot and residential prior to today's hearing, so the only thing that was changing was eliminating the commercial need. The public hearing was closed.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the land use change and final plat of Sunset Estates Addition to Benton County, Iowa, A Replat of Lots 8 through 13, Hidden Meadows Third Addition. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #22-17, Approve Variance to the Sub Division Ordinance for HGP LLC to waive Article VII: Section 7.01 Other Provisions for property in SE1/4 NE ¼ of 34-85-9 Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #22-18, Authorizing and approving a certain Loan Agreement and providing for the issuance of $5,025,000 General Obligation Emergency Communications Bonds, Series 2022 and providing for the levy of taxes to pay the same. Motion carried.

Greg Walston was unable to attend for the Old School Produce discussion, so it will be rescheduled.

Bierschenk moved/Seeman seconded: To approve pay increase for George Haefner per employment agreement, he obtained his Class A CDL license along with his pesticide license. His pay will be $21.64 an hour effective March 1, 2022. Voting aye were Seeman and Bierschenk. Primmer abstained. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Seeman seconded: To approve advertisement for seasonal hiring for the weed department for the intern position in the range of $15-$18 an hour and for seasonal truck drivers for $19-21 an hour. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To Approve Resolution #22-19, Destruction of noxious weeds for 2022. Motion carried.

Resolution #22-19

DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

Be It Resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa that pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 317, Code of Iowa, it is hereby ordered:

1. That each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Benton County shall cut, burn or otherwise destroy all noxious weeds thereon, as defined in this chapter, at such times in each year and in such manner as shall prevent said weeds from blooming or coming to maturity, and shall keep said lands free from such growth of any other weeds as shall render the streets or highways adjoining said land unsafe for public travel. Noxious weeds shall be cut or otherwise destroyed on or before May 1st, 2022 and as often thereafter as is necessary to prevent seed production:

Primary Noxious Weeds: Destroy by: May 1, 2022 Secondary Noxious Weeds: Destroy By: May 1, 2022

Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) Butterprint, Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) Cocklebur (Xanthium commune)

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Wild Mustard (Brassica arvensis)

Bull Thistle (Cirsium lanceolatum) Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) Sour Dock (Rumex crispus)

Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Smooth Dock (Rumex altissimus)

Perennial Peppergrass (Lepidium draba) Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Russian Knapweed (Centaurea repens) Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Buckthorn (Not to include Rhamnus frangula) Wild Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)

Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum) Teasel (Dipsacus spp.)

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor)

Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

2. That each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Benton County infested with any of the following noxious weeds shall adopt a program of weed destruction described by the Weed Commissioner, which may be expected to destroy and will immediately keep under control such infestations of said noxious weeds.

(a) Primary Noxious Weeds: Quackgrass, Perennial Sowthistle, Canada Thistle, Bull Thistle, Musk Thistle, European Morning Glory or Field Bindweed, Horsenettle, Leafy Spurge, Perennial Peppergrass, Russian Knapweed, Buckthorn, Tall Thistle and all other species of thistles belonging in general of Cirsium and Carduus, Palmer Amaranth.

(b) Secondary Noxious Weeds: Butterprint, Cocklebur, Wild Mustard, Puncturevine, Teasel, Wild Carrot, Buckthorn Plantain, Sheep Sorrel, Sour Dock, Smooth Dock, Poison Hemlock, Wild Sunflower, Multiflora Rose and Shattercane.

3. That if the owners or persons in possession or control of any land in Benton County fail to comply with the foregoing orders, the Weed Commissioner or his designee shall cause this to be done and the expense of said work, including costs of serving notice and other costs, if any, shall be assessed against the real estate.

4. That the County Engineer is hereby directed to cause notice of the making and entering of the foregoing order by one publication in each of the official newspapers of the County.

Dated this 1st day of March 2022.

______________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

______________________________________

Rick Primmer

______________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Bids were received as follows for a track loader for the weed department:

Case-$57,200

CAT-$76,987

Kaboda-$54,400

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the purchase for the weed department's track loader from Case, TR310B Track loader with high case at the cost of $57,200. Motion carried.

Chairman Seeman made a phone call regarding bids received for the parking lot for clarification. City Wide had an error on the dimensions, but they honored the price and corrected the dimension. The Department of Human Services will pay a portion of this and amortize it over 10 years, and the Mental Health Fund is also able to pay a portion o

Bids were received as follows:

Wirtanen Concrete-$175,250

City Wide Construction-$171,593.12

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To award the bid for concrete project at the Benton County Service Center to City Wide Construction in the amount of $171,593.12. Motion carried.

Committee Reports were had.

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

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor