Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes April 1, 2025

April 1, 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 25, 2025 and March 26, 2025.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To acknowledge Nancy Jorgensen's retirement in the Auditor's Office, her last day will be May 30, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Sheriff Dave Upah brought along three invoices for the last of the vehicles purchased this year. Since it fell this week and not a normal claim run, he needed the permission for the check. Upah also mentioned he was trading in 3 Durango's, an Impala and a pick-up truck for $10,000 off the total price.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the handwritten claim for Thys Motors for (3) sheriff vehicles in the amount of $123,692. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To set the FY 26 Budget Hearing for Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-16, Abatement of Taxes on mobile homes for a total amount of $3,721 pursuant to Iowa Code 562B.27 and Chapters 555C.2B. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

The Board re-visited the wage clarification for Transportation Director Mark Erickson. Erickson had asked for a 14% increase and the board approved $2,800 which was just under a 5% increase. Supervisor Volz commented, that if we moved forward with a 14% increase , that we will have a line out the door of other employees and residents of the county who want to come play pin the tail on the Supervisors. The comparisons Erickson provided was nice to look through, but also doesn't say how long that person has been in the position. Volz also noted that reducing the budget and operating more efficiently was appreciated and he would expect out of all our departments do the same and save money.

Erickson asked if they wouldn't be using the comparable information for salaries in the future. Supervisor Tippett explained that comparables are used for determining the elected officials salaries. Supervisors also pointed out this is Erickson's first year in the job. Supervisor Volz also appreciating the reduction in budget and operating more efficiently and that he would expect out of all our departments to do the same and save money. No action was taken.

County Attorney Ray Lough talked with the Board about the mental health advocate and public health. Lough introduced Bethan Wheaton, who has been the county's advocate for several years. With the mental health region being non existing after July 1st, Lough said by statute the counties are still required to have an advocate. He explained what the advocate does and how it is important to have these people to follow up on services. Lough would like to find her a place in the county instead of working out of her home, so was talking to Grace Schmidt to see about placing her under the Public Health Department. Lough would be meeting with the County's Public Health Board on this next week. Mental health is a big issue not only in our county, but every county.

Lough also discussed the need for a county-wide training coordinator and would like to assign that duty to his Assistant Attorney. Alisha Stach-Lorang has an emphasis on law enforcement and could be a benefit. Lough mentioned training in areas such as being in a courtroom in a contested trial, help them prepare to be ready. Along with other things such as search warrants or the mandatory arrest requirements. Lough added he would like to fund the additional $5,000 for salary and $2,500 for supplies and things needed for the trainings for the next 2 years to come out of the Attorney's collection incentive fund.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-17, Establishing a training coordinator and appointing Alisha Stach Lorang. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve the amended employment contract with Alisha Stach-Lorange to include the added duties of county-wide training coordinator along with the additional salary over the next two years. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

The Board opened the public hearing for the FY 25 Budget Amendment #3. Auditor Rippel explained the areas that needed to be amended. Like Lough mentioned earlier, the dissolving of the Mental Health Region, there was funding for the last quarter for employees retention pay and indirect costs. We want to be sure we get all that paid out and reimbursed before it all ends July 1st. The other $172,100 amount was need was to follow up with the Sheriff's new hires, added spending for their withholding amounts, the need for equipment for the new vehicles purchased along with some body cameras. The last area between non-program and capital projects for $600,000 was to fix an error from the last amendment. Spending authority was noted in the wrong service area so that needed to be tweaked. No public comments were heard in regards. The public hearing was closed.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To approve Resolution #25-18, Amending FY 25 Budget. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25-18

BE IT REMEMBERED on this, the 4th day of February, 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 23, 2024. 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 $ 172,100

Physical Health & Social Services $ 0

Mental Health $ 0

County Environment & Education $ 0

Roads & Transportation $ 0

Government Services to Residents $ 0

Administration $ 57,420

Non-Program $ 600,000

Debt Service $ 0

Capital Projects $ -600,000

Operating Transfers Out $ 00

REVENUES Amount

Intergovernmental $ 0

Licenses & Permits $ 0

Charges for Services $ 0

Use of Money & Property $ 57,420

General Long-Term Debt Proceeds $ 0

Operating Transfers - In $ 0

Proceeds of Fixed Assets $ 0

Operating Transfers In $ 0

Dated this 1st day of April, 2025.

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Tracy Seeman, Chairman

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Ronald Tippett

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Bruce Volz

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Supervisor Seeman brought up the mailbox carrier need at the Service Center. The cost was more than he was quoted. He is going to revisit the catalog and find something that maybe could just be added on to the current box. No action was taken.

Committee reports were heard from Ron Tippett who participated by zoom in the HACAP meeting. He reported great things they were doing for the community. Bruce Volz reported how he really enjoyed the recent Heartland Insurance Risk Pool Meeting. It was nice that the trustees are all representative from other counties. Supervisor Seeman had an ECICOG and East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund meeting and mentioned the retirement of Tracey Achenbach. She will definitely be missed. Supervisors Volz and Tippett also attended the dedication for the Wildcat Park's improvements that was held last Saturday.

Volz moved/Tippett seconded: To approve Resolution #25-19, Wage and Classification change for Ron Ragen, equipment operator who carries a labor grade classification IVD. His hourly wage is to be set at $28.84 effective April 1, 2025. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

Supervisor Seeman and Engineer Myron Parizek gave an update after their recent meeting with the Vinton City Council in regards to the box culvert extension for a curve on the east side of Vinton. Parizek suggested the city pay for 75% of this, as it is 95-100% inside the city limits of Vinton. An agreement was approved by the Vinton City Council and the cost is just under $55,000.

Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser was in attendance at the meeting and he brought along the new City Administrator, Scott Flory to formally meet the Board.

Tippett moved/Volz seconded: To adjourn at 10:04 a.m. Tippett, Seeman and Volz voting aye. Motion carried.

_____________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor