Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 3/25/25

March 25, 2025

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Tippett and Volz present. Chairman Seeman called the meeting 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. Full Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve agenda. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the minutes of March 18, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve payroll checks numbered 143739 through 143752, ACH Deposits 60551 through 60708, claims numbered 253133 through 253269 and vendor checks 253270 through 253276. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve fireworks permit for Iowa Pyrotechnic Association for April 26, 2025 and June 7 and June 8, 2025 pending approval of the local fire chief and if there is a burn ban in place, this would become null and void. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Bruce Volz started the discussion regarding elected officials salaries following last week's meeting. He visited with the Auditor and observed who all this affected, he apologized for not educating himself prior to that and he apologized for that. Volz had Auditor Rippel place it back on today's agenda.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-14, Amending Resolution #25-13, Elected Official's Salaries for FY 26. Before Voting on the motion. Sheriff Upah wanted to show his work and listed out details of the departments work since Jan 1, 2025 and pointing out areas they have already provided savings to the county including increasing the revenue coming in from law contracts with the cities and dispatching services. Also mentioned other things and pointing out , they are trying to do what's best for everybody. Tippett told him that his work was appreciated.

Other comments were heard from Treasurer, Melinda Schoettmer along with her deputy Treasurer, Joy Wieditz also spoke up. Treasurer's office also is an office that generates money in addition to taxes from the fees collected from vehicle registrations from citizens outside of the county. Wieditz stressed how the boards actions were not fair last week giving examples and comparing how many years of employment some employees had vs others, along with additional duties and not being compensated, she didn't feel their action was justified.

Recorder Lexa Speidel re-iterated the "show your work piece" and pointing out that the amount of an increase to her department would be $6,720 and a compiled amount from her department along with Treasurer and Sheriff, combined was under the amount of increase granted to the Attorney's office. Speidel was for saving the county money, but if $0 was going to be given, then that should have been same across the board.

After no further discussion the Board voted on the motion as follows: Volz, Seeman and Tippet voting aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25-14

AMENDING RESOLUTION #25-13

ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES

WHEREAS, the Benton County Compensation Board met on January 28, 2025, and recommended the following increases in the salaries of all the elected officials pursuant to Iowa Code Sections 331.905 and 331.907; and

WHEREAS, the Benton County Compensation Board recommended the following increases for FY 26;

Auditor-$3,000

Treasurer and Recorder-$2,800

Attorney-$6,000

Sheriff-$4,000

Supervisors-$0

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors approved Resolution #25-13 on March 18, 2025 and would like to amend that;

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors approve the following:

Official Current Salary Increase Recommended Salary for FY26

Auditor $98,441.46 $3,000 $101,441.46

Treasurer $93,097.07 $2,800 $95,897.07

Recorder $93,097.07 $2,800 $95,897.07

Attorney $140,534,51 $6,000 $146,534.51

Sheriff $136,290.32 $4,000 $140,290.32

Supervisor $51,664.61 $0 $51,664.61

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Benton County Board of Supervisors adopts the salary recommendations for elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as recommended by the Benton County Compensation Board.

Dated this 25th day of March, 2025.

____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

____________________________________

Ronald J. Tippett

____________________________________

Bruce Volz

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve 40 hours of vacation carryover for Mark Erickson, Transportation director to be used within 6 months. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Mark Erickson, Transportation Director also wanted to get clarification on the wage increases that were given last week. Erickson explained how he showed his work justifying the amount of increase he had originally asked for and would like to be treated equally. There was no action taken, the Board will address this next week.

Sheriff Upah presented a resolution that is in place that they would like to make some changes in the area for reserve part-time utility deputies and clarifying security officers in the courthouse. The current wages, with years of service versus union or not, was all over the place and this needs to be cleaned up for liability reasons. Supervisor Tippett agreed this needed done.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-15, Amending Resolution #24-52, Wages and Benefits for Part-time Employees in the Sheriff's Office. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

The Board discussed the quotes received for updating the Benton County, Iowa Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Dean Vrba, Emergency Management Director shared some input on what he found doing some background checking on a few. Although the one was cheaper than others, he didn't hear positive things. He was leaning towards Two Rivers, even though they are based out of Texas, they

have done many in Iowa. The Board wanted to have more time to read through all the proposals and act on at a later date.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To table action on awarding the quote for the update for Benton County, Iowa Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan until April 8, 2025 at 9:45 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Tippett had to excuse himself from the meeting to attend a funeral.

Eric Shares, Weed Commissioner explained the requirements to update the IRVM plan in order to qualify for Iowa's Living Roadways Fundings, this needs to be done every five years.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To approve the 2025 Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) Plan. Volz and Seeman voting aye. Motion carried.

Mona Onken and Sarah Wagner prepared a plan for contingency for when Onken leaves the position and Wagner will take on some of her duties regarding the MHDD of the East Central Iowa's Regional work. This can also be tweaked as we go and learn more how to proceed in the future. The Board and Auditor thanked them for doing so.

Supervisor Seeman reported on his recent meetings including the Landfill Commission. They have approved bids for their new lagoon along with trading in their Compactor. Seeman also reported on the water line that needs done between the Transportation building and Service Center. They may be obtaining quotes for this. Mid -American Energy will start hauling their gas lines south of Vinton around April first, but the work won't start until July.

Bob Cue visited with the Board about the carbon pipeline that is also up for discussion in legislation and wanted to be sure they were keeping up with that and voicing opinions.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn at 10:37 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor