Supervisors discuss tower matters, upcoming Bible Reading Marathon

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 30 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of Amendment 3 to Zoning Ordinance L involving exceptions to towers located in the Bluffland setback area, the Roadway Maintenance Agreement with the City of Waukon and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the hiring of a full-time employee for the Allamakee County Engineer’s office.

During Public Comment, Maynard Johnson of Lansing briefly discussed communication towers within the county. Johnson also expressed concerns about road maintenance and the absence of white lines on some County roads. In response to the tower discussion, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick provided details about the Alliant Energy tower and the proposed tower near New Albin for FirstNet, the First Responders Network, a nationwide interoperable network for fire, police and emergency personnel.

Kristi Hager discussed the upcoming Bible Reading Marathon scheduled for August 9-12, which will take place on the lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse. Hager indicated that there may be some noise concerns in using a generator during the event. Hager and the Supervisors discussed the possibility of using an extension cord and electricity from the courthouse. The Supervisors agreed that would need to be added to the next meeting agenda for consideration if that was the preferred power option for this event. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that a request to add this matter to the agenda would need to be made before 5 p.m. Thursday to be included on the next meeting agenda. Supervisors Larry Schellhammer and Dennis Koenig suggested the use of a pick-up truck that has an electrical outlet as a potential power source.

The Supervisors moved into the discussion of Amendment 3 to Zoning Ordinance L involving exceptions to towers located in the Bluffland setback area. Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake discussed that the amendment to Section 302.6 Subsection 9 is a clarification of the exemptions currently allowed under this ordinance and that the current 302.6 Subsection 9 will be replaced with the text “Towers greater than thirty-five (35) feet in height shall not be placed within one-quarter (1/4) mile of the Bluffland Protection District except towers constructed for those uses set forth in Section 302.5(1) of the Allamakee County Zoning Ordinance: Governmental public projects, public utilities and fencing.” Blake indicated that the intent of the current ordinance is to allow these government and public utility projects within the setback area and the amendment is a clarification of that matter.

Blake further discussed that the State of Iowa has opted to be included in the FirstNet First Responders Network and that this is not a substantive change to the ordinance, but rather a clarification that is in compliance with the original intent of the ordinance. Supervisor Dan Byrnes discussed the letter received from the Department of Public Safety, which defined this matter as a governmental public project, and that the Board of Adjustment will meet to discuss a conditional use permit. The First Reading of Amendment 3 to Zoning Ordinance L was approved.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of the resolution proposing to enter into a site lease agreement and tower lease agreement with Interstate Power and Light Company. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour indicated that the notice for the Public Hearing to take place August 6 at 10 a.m. in the Allamakee County Courthouse Boardroom will be published this week (Page 3B in the print edition and e-edition of The Standard). Ridenour discussed that information has been forwarded to the County Auditor regarding the agreements, which will be available for the public to review. The Supervisors approved the resolution setting the Public Hearing for August 6 at 10 a.m. in the Courthouse Boardroom.

Ridenour also discussed the Roadway Maintenance Agreement with the City of Waukon and IDOT. Ridenour indicated that the agreement involves snow and ice control on Iowa 76, otherwise know as West Main Street within Waukon, and that this agreement has been in place the last couple of years. The Supervisors approved the Roadway Maintenance Agreement.

Ridenour discussed the Civil Engineering Technician vacancy in the County Engineer’s office, a position that has been open for over a year. Ridenour provided a recommendation to hire Aaron Konopacki of New Albin as a Civil Engineering Technician at $24.49 per hour with a start date of August 13; the Supervisors approving.

Under Department Head Updates, Ridenour provided an update on road rock resurfacing which will be completed ahead of schedule, the A26 bridge letting produced several quotes and information on the low bidder will be presented at the August 6 Supervisors meeting, and liquid propane (LP) quotes will be presented at the August 13 meeting. Ridenour addressed comments made earlier in the meeting by Johnson regarding road maintenance and white lines on paved roads, indicating that white lines are painted through curves, ending after curves.

Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett indicated that it was a busy weekend at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing with close to 300 visitors and that overall attendance will be close to 19,000 by the Driftless Center’s one-year anniversary.

Mellick discussed that the County Fair went well and that a complaint was received regarding a cross that may have been placed too close to power lines and be in violation of the Bluffland Protection Area. Mellick indicated that he is confident that the 15-20 foot cross is Christian-based, is located on private property and is not associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), as was suggested in the complaint.

Allamakee County E911 Director Chris Fee advised of changes to take place regarding hospital channels to allow only hospital-related pages to be heard.

Beyer discussed that tax statements are nearing completion in the County Auditor’s office and will be arriving in taxpayers’ mailboxes in approximately two weeks. Beyer discussed some of the highlights from the Auditors’ summer school program including election contingency planning, legislation involving absentee voting, signature verification and the requirement of ID numbers on absentee voting request applications.