Government : Benton County Supervisors Minutes 4/21/26

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Volz present Tippett was absent. 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

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the agenda. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the following claims numbered 257108 through 257224, 4/23/2026 payroll checks numbered 144067 through 144071, ACH Deposits 65044 through 65209 and vendor checks 257225 through 257232. Seeman and Volz both voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz Moved/Seeman seconded: To approve the Vinton Parks and Recreation application to use of the courthouse grounds for July 16-17, 2026 and October 31, 2026. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #26-28, Approving variance to the sub division Ordinance #72 for Ellis and Lisa Tomlin for division of property in between Lots 10 & 11 of Lodge Log Estates. Volz and Seeman voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #26-29, Approving variance to the sub division Ordinance #72 for David Crees for property line adjustments between two parcels within the NW ¼ of 6-85-12. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To set land use hearing date of Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 9:15 a.m. for Nathanial and Grace Holub within the N ½ of the SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section 2-84-12. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To set land use hearing date of Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. for Nick and Kaylee McQuilkin within the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 3-86-12. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve and sign the letter in opposition to Alliant Energy’s proposed Morgan Valley Energy Plant and also file copies with the Iowa Utility Board, Alliant Energy, City of Atkins, Benton County. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Seeman moved/Volz seconded: To approve the minutes for April 16, 2026. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #26-30, Hiring of Benton County Sheriff Deputies: Timothy Locke, start date of April 29, 2026 and Richard Dvorsky with start date of May 13, 2026 both with a starting hourly rate of $37.59. Seeman and Volz. Voting aye. Motion carried.

Josh Karsten, Deputy Sheriff also mentioned the federal inmate contract has been approved with the increased daily rate and is on the agenda next week.

FY 27 Budget Hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. and the time arrived and was declared open by Chairman Seeman. The public was able to provide input. Jill Marlow addressed the board about the budget, the reserves and unspent balances also referring to the Iowa for Tax Relief’s report. She mentioned freezing hiring with a moratorium and asked the board if they had officially set the number of employees per office. Marlow went on to say that employees are the county’s best asset and didn’t want them to balance the budget on the backs of their employees. Marlow addressed the sheriff’s department’s budget and IT, asking why expenses weren’t going down if the equipment had been bought. Sheriff Deputy Josh Karsten explained some of changes made and stressed how they have worked hard to generate more revenue and how they have implemented other procedures to help lower their expenses including jail medical costs. Marlow ended by advising the Supervisors that they need to drive the change with cutting expenses and not push their expenses onto other tax entities.

After no further public comments, Seeman called the public hearing closed at 9:53 a.m.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #26-31, Adopting FY 27 Budget. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #26-31

ADOPTION OF THE FY27 COUNTY BUDGET

BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 21st day of April 2026, the Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Iowa, met in session for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year

2026-27 as filed with the Board. There was present a quorum as required by law. The notice and place of hearing had, according to law and as directed by the Board, been published in the Gazette, Cedar Valley Times, and Vinton Eagle, the official newspapers published in Benton County.

The budget was then taken up and considered. The public was provided an opportunity to speak.

The County Compensation Board recommendation for FY27 salaries for elected officials and as set forth and adopted in Resolution #26-18 is included in the FY27 budget.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a committed fund balance designation of the ending fiscal year fund balance be established for the following purposes:

General Fund-$647,000 equipment/vehicle replacement, Emergency response, infrastructure

Rural Services Fund - $47,000 land use administrator vehicle replacement

EMS Revolving Loan Fund – $125,610 for emergency services loans

LOSST Fund - $115,000

FURTHER the commitment of fund balances indicates that Benton County prefers to use available financial resources for the specific purposes set forth above, and although committed, the funds are to remain an integral part of the spendable or appropriable resources of Benton County.

The budget as adopted will approve the following property taxes for fiscal year 2026-27 (without gas and electric):

General Basic $6,649,665

General Supplemental $4,189,080

Rural Services Basic $4,224,768

Debt Service $ 798,116

Voted Emergency Medical Services $1,291,935

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that the FY27 budget is hereby adopted.

Dated this 21st day of April, 2026.

_____________________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________

Ronald J. Tippett

______________________________________

Bruce Volz

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #26-32, Establishing Benton County Precinct Election Officials and Support Staff Compensation Policy effective April 21, 2026. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve Resolution #26-33, Bridge embargo removal for structure (FR-1510) located 0.5 mile east of the NW corner of Section 8-83-9 on 69th Street. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve utility permit for City of Blairstown in Leroy Township. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve utility permit for Century Link in Taylor Township. Both members voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve utility permit for USA Communications in Taylor Township and Benton Townships. Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To approve out of state training for Allison Hicks, Jimmy Wheeler and Phil Borleski, all members of the Benton County Historic Preservation to attend the National Historic Preservation Conference in Minneapolis, MN July 22-26, 2025. Volz and Seeman voting aye. Motion carried.

Terry Reicks addressed the Board of Supervisors regarding the condition and maintenance of secondary roads specifically near the Urbana territory. Reicks asked about training the maintainer operators receive. He encouraged reactive and proactive maintenance. Reicks asked if it takes getting on the agenda before they receive effective results. The Board urged him to communicate with the Engineer or to contact Chairman Seeman.

Committee Reports: Supervisor Seeman reported on the most recent conference Board and the Assessor’s budget hearing. Supervisor Seeman reported on a recent call for a request to house a systems navigator at the Service Center a couple days a week, that they want to come tour our facility and see if it will work out for their needs.

Jane Scheer, Benton County resident along with a Linn County resident voiced their gratefulness for the Board of Supervisors drafting their letter of opposition for the Morgan Valley Energy Plant.

Volz moved/Seeman seconded: To adjourn meeting at 10:49 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor