Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes 4/14/26

April 14, 2026 

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Volz and Tippett 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. Tippett, Volz and Seeman voting aye. Motion carried.  

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the minutes for April 7, 2026 and April 9, 2026. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.  

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve 32 hours of vacation carryover for Mark Erickson to be used by June 30. 2026. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.  

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To grant permission to move forward with hiring part-time replacement driver in the Transportation Department. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.  

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To set land use hearing date of Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 9:15 a.m. for Dylan Felton in part of the NE ¼  NW ¼ of section 21-86-9. Seeman and Volz all voting aye. Motion carried.  

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge the filing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) annual report ending March 31, 2026. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.  

Tippett moved/Volz seconded:. To approve Recorder’s Quarterly Report, ending March 31, 2026. All members voting aye. Motion carried. 

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the Sheriff’s Quarterly Report, ending March 31, 2026. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.  

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #26-23, Abatement of Taxes pursuant to Iowa Code 445.16(3) on Parcel #360-00540 in the amount of $3,270.00. Tippett, Volz and Seeman voting aye. Motion carried. 

ATTEST: 

Melinda Schoettmer, provided an update for the new IDOT program to be livein January 2027, training will start in June. New DOT computer expenses will be covered by the state. Statistics show that 38% of the renewals done in Benton County are out of county residents. The new motor vehicle will be roughly in place sometime in August/September 2028.  

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #26-24, Approval to accept winning sealed bid from Randy Patten for the sale of the Cherveny Wildlife Area in the amount of $20,500 with ownership to be transferred by deed. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried. 

The public hearing was opened for the FY 26 Amendment #3. Auditor Rippel explained the needs of the amendment. Conservation is obtaining a grant for $88,300, so it reflects both the revenue and expenditures for that. The outstanding invoices for juvenile detention and to pay towards our Heartland Insurance Risk Pools surplus needs. Supervisor Volz explained the pool with 10 other counties and how Benton County’s reserves are low and the goal is to have every county have $250,000 in the pool, that way if one is short, they can borrow from others.  There were a few members of the public present. After hearing no other comments, Seeman moved/Tippett seconded to close the public hearing. All members voting aye. 

Tippett moved/Volz Seconded: To approve Resolution #26-25, Adopting FY 26 Budget Amendment #3. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried. 

RESOLUTION #26-25 

BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 25th day of November, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of hearing on an amendment to the current operating budget adopted on April 29, 2025.  There was a quorum present as required by law.  Thereupon, the Board found that the notice of time and place of the hearing had been published.  Thereafter, and on said date the amendment was taken up and considered.  Thereafter, the Board took up the amendment to the budget for final consideration and determined that said budget be amended as follows: 

Expenditures Amendment 

Public Safety $ 0 

Physical Health & Social Services $ 144,000 

Mental Health $ 0 

County Environment & Education $ 88,300  

Roads & Transportation $ 0 

Government Services to Residents $ 0 

Administration $ 65,000 

Non-Program $ 0 

Debt Service $ 0 

Capital Projects $ 0 

Operating Transfers Out $ 0 

REVENUES Amount 

Intergovernmental $ 88,300 

Licenses & Permits $ 0 

Charges for Services $ 0 

Use of Money & Property $ 0 

Miscellaneous $ 0 

General Long-Term Debt Proceeds $ 0 

Operating Transfers – In $ 0 

Proceeds of Fixed Assets $ 0 

Operating Transfers In $ 0 

Dated this 14th day of April, 2026. 

_____________________________________ 

Tracy Seeman, Chairman 

_____________________________________ 

Ronald Tippett 

______________________________________ 

Bruce Volz 

ATTEST: 

_____________________________________ 

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor 

Bruce Volz had a recent historic preservation meeting, and they were going to be reserving hotel rooms, without a county credit card. Auditor Rippel advised that since they are not county employees, they wouldn’t have access to county credit cards, they could get pre-approval from hotel to direct invoice the county. Volz also mentioned the safety inspection is to happen this week also.  

Supervisor Seeman had conservation meeting and mentioned that numerous volunteers are helping with the flower planting and the 350 trees in Atkins by the roundhouse.  

The Board will be having another meeting on Thursday morning, time to be determined.  

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn meeting at 9:42 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried. 

_____________________________ 

 Tracy Seeman, Chairman 

ATTEST: _________________________________ 

Hayley Rippel Benton County Auditor