Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called 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. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Rick Primmer reminded that all public comments be limited to three minutes during meetings.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the minutes of November 7, 2023 with corrections. Motion carried..

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve use of the courthouse for Vinton Unlimited on November 16, 2023. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Law Enforcement Contracts with City of Mt Auburn and City of Shellsburg. Motion carried.

Ben Turnis, IT Director, presented a quote for speaker system and a licensed radio system for the Benton County Service Center. Turnis stated he received a quote from RC Tech for $4,755.63. He thinks it will be cheaper since they won't have to go under the building to drill holes. RC Tech requires 70% down once the quote is accepted. Pandora is a licensed radio station that if they pay yearly they get a player for free.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve speaker system quote for up to $4,755.63 and monthly licensed radio station for the Benton County Service Center. Motion carried.

Gina Edler, Deputy Auditor, presented the results of the Post- Election Audit for the Belle Plaine precinct. Post-Election Audit reported no discrepancies.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, Election Deputy Gina Edler and the board proceeded with canvassing the November 7, 2023, regular City/School Election.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the write-ins for the City of Garrison City Council for Joe Earle, Joel Earl and Joseph Earle all be counted as the same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the write-ins for the City of Mt Auburn City Council for David McGarvey and David McGarvy all be counted as the same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the write-ins for the City of Norway City Council Vacancy for Darrell A. Schulte and Darrell Schulte all be counted as the same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the write-ins for the City of Van Horne City Council for Mitch Schulte, Mitch Schulty, and Mitchell Schulte all be counted as the same person. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve the write-ins for the City of Walford City Council for Katheryn Diane Jones and Katheryn Jones all be counted as the same person. Motion carried.

The following City Officials were elected:

City of Atkins: Council-Trevor Dursky and David Fisher

City of Belle Plaine: Mayor-Lyle Morrow, Council at-large-Garrett Landuyt, Council District 2-Charmaine Wickwire, Park Commissioner-Lonny G. Weber

City of Blairstown: Mayor-Rodney C. Kubichek, Council-Scott Metz and Nicholas T. Mokas

City of Garrison: Mayor-Garrett Flickinger, Council-Doug Kearns and Marvin Trimble

City of Keystone: Mark W. Andresen, Council-Mike L. Stoner and Rebecca Andresen

City of Luzerne: John W. Brandt, Council-Jeani Brandt, Kyla Buttikofer, Joel D. Buttikofer, Kelly W. Kendall and Barbara Shields

City of Mt Auburn: Mayor-Austin Brase, Council-Mercedes Bickel, Jared Helms, Cody Lundry, Shelby Williams and David McGarvey

City of Newhall: Mayor-Doug Boddicker, Council-Bruce Cross, Rachelle Messner, Douglas Rinderknecht, Ben Seeck and Douglas Wendel

City of Norway: Mayor-Loras Schulte, Council-Michael Schulte, Christopher J. Van Horn, Council-Vacancy-Terry L. Pickart

City of Shellsburg: Mayor-Phillip Travis, Council-Scott Hepker and Brian Reeves

City of Urbana: Mayor-Gary Benson, Council-Amanda Vaske and Jeff Bendull

City of Van Horne: Mayor-Pat Gorkow, Council-Todd Donald and Mitch Schulte

City of Vinton: Mayor-Bud Maynard, Council at Large-Tamara S. Stark, Council Ward-2-Andrew Elwick, Council Ward-3-Vacancy-Zach Parmater, Council Ward-4-Bethany Gates

Public Measure BG: Passed

Public Measure BH: Failed

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To declare the canvass of the City/School Election to be complete and the votes cast to be official. The official results are to be recorded in the office of the County Auditor. Motion carried. School officials and the City of Walford officials will be certified in the second tier canvass which will be held on November 21.

Edler reported that the Auditor's office received paperwork requesting a recount for Vinton City Council Ward 2 race. To proceed with the recount the Board of Supervisors needs to approve a written order by resolution.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adopt Resolution #23-81, Order a recount of the Vinton City Council Ward 2 per request of Dakoda Sellers, candidate. Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adopt Resolution #23-82, Approve hire of Chad Galli as Equipment Operator in Secondary Roads for a starting wage of $25.50 an hour effective November 14, 2023 . Motion carried.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve members to the Benton County Health Board the following applicants were as follows: Lori Mott, Tai Burkhart, Karl Holmes, Jessica Fairbanks and Mike Barnes. Doug Cook asked for a point of order and debated with the board, " you haven't had the hearing yet for the other board of health and if you haven't had that rectified yet how can you go ahead appoint members when that isn't taken care of yet?" Primmer stated I don't have an answer for that, I don't have a problem with tabling until we get legal counsel. Motion failed.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To table appointing Board of Health members until next week (November 21st) agenda where legal council will be available. Motion carried.

Supervisor Seeman gave a brief update on the radio towers. Seeman attended the Conservation meeting on November 13, the Hannen shop is 99.9% done and they are starting to move in this week.

Supervisor Bierschenk stated he attended the Decat board meeting and they worked on paperwork that needs to get signed by the end of the month.

Myron Parizek, Benton County Engineer, presented the board quotes on a new tandem dump truck.

Bids were received as follows:

GATR of CR-Mack Granite 64FR-$236,735

Truck Center Companies-Freightliner 114SD Plus-$225,851

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve quote/purchase of the Freightliner tandem dump truck from Truck Center Companies in the amount of $225,851. Motion carried.

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

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Gina Edler, Deputy Benton County Auditor