Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes October 21, 2025

October 21, 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 the Agenda. All members voting aye. Motion carried.

Chairman Seeman called the public hearing open for this being the time and date set for a public hearing on the status of funded activities for the Benton County Conservation Tree Replanting project as assisted by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program Contract #20-DRI-025. Alyssa Comer, Grant Administrator through ECICOG provided the update. The CDBG Disaster Recovery Tree Replanting contract in the amount of $750,000 was awarded to Benton County from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for removal of stumps and replanting of trees in the Atkins Roundhouse Area. A release of funds was issued on April 22, 2024. For the removal of stumps in the Atkins Roundhouse Area, a pre-construction meeting was held on November 18, 2024, work began on January 28, 2025, and was completed by March 27, 2025. For the replanting of trees in the Atkins Roundhouse Area, a pre-construction meeting was held on August 25, 2025, and planting began on October 8th, 2025. Work is ongoing.

For a summary of funding of the activity and source of funds, and a total funds spent thus far by source, as of October 20, 2025, a total of $33,441.25 has been invoiced and paid for project delivery service and newspaper publications, and $237,203.85 in project costs has been invoiced and paid, all using CDBG funds.

For a general description of remaining work, remaining work on the project is weekly watering, maintenance of land to support tree growth, and hand planting along the property line of the Atkins Roundhouse Area, as well as required monitoring and site visits conducted by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

For a general description of changes made to the project budget, performance targets, activity schedules, project scope, location, objectives or beneficiaries, the project is currently on schedule to be completed before September 2026.

Shelby Williams, Conservation director reported that there have been 255 trees planted. They have about a year warranty if need any to be replanted.

After no further comments, the public hearing was closed with no action needed.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve both sets of minutes from Tuesday, October 14, 2025, October 15, 2025 and October 16, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve payroll checks numbered 143885 through 143895, ACH Deposits 62855 through 63014, payroll vendor checks 255316 through 255322, handwrite 255323 and claims 255324 through 255462. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

The time of 9:15 a.m. having arrived, and this being the time and date set for a land use hearing for Scott Schulte in part of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ Section 17-82-9. Matt Even presented the technical information with the Benton County Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance. Schulte’s would like to change the use of approximately one acre to allow for a single family dwelling. This site has a CSR of 40. The site is currently a timbered area and has not been used for agricultural production. This will require a new septic system and the applicant plans to utilize rural water. Surrounding area includes timber to the north and east. Six notices were sent out and there have been no comments in regards. The property will continue to use the existing driveway which was reviewed and approved by secondary roads department and the applicant is planning to widen it by 30 feet to the north. The surrounding area includes agricultural row crops and to the south is the City of Norway. Hearing no other further comments, the public hearing was closed.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve the land use change for Scott Schulte in part of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ Section 17-82-9. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Volz reported he has a Heartland Insurance meeting on Thursday. Supervisor Seeman had attended the landfill meeting last week, and they will be hooking up the old lines into the new lagoon soon.

Mike Elwick, was on the agenda regarding the dog pound hearing from last week. Elwick read a statement thanking the board and assistant attorney for their help in resolving their concerns over a water line. According to the city of Vinton documents, the water line they were referring to was installed in 2001, and the one related to the dog pound was from April of 2002 between Merchants and City of Vinton. So they admitted their mistake and realized two different water lines. They will plan on working with the city of Vinton to abandon the unknown water line this fall before the ground freezes. Elwick also mentioned they would begin harvesting the trees adjacent to the dog pound that according to the survey presented last week, was on their property and thanked the board for their time and help clarifying the issues.

Tippett Moved/Volz seconded: To approve a utility permit for USA Communications in Iowa Township. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-86, Temporary Road Construction Closure from 75th Street thence south 1 mile to 76th Street along 32nd Avenue Drive in Florence Township. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-87, Temporary Road Construction Closure from 27th Avenue Drive thence east 1.5 miles to 29th Avenue along 52nd Street in Polk Township . Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Engineer Myron Parizek, shared an update on the Van Horne corner. The past 10 days there has been some activity and hopefully by the end of this week, all of that should be done in regards to the rumble strips and the beacon lights.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To adjourn meeting at 9:48 a.m. Volz, Seeman and Tippett voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor