Allamakee County Board of Supervisors considering changing its meeting dates

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 25. Among the later agenda items for the meeting was consideration of changing the day on which the Board holds its regular meetings.

Currently meeting Mondays of each week, and having done so for decades, Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler advised the Board that Monday meetings do not work for her to be in attendance on a consistent basis due to court obligations those days, suggesting that Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays have fewer court conflicts. Board members suggested that the Monday meetings have allowed for newspaper coverage of the meetings to take place within a more timely manner, instead of having to wait a full week for meeting coverage to be published for the public to read in the weekly publications deemed as Official County Newspapers, both of which currently print Tuesdays each week.

The Board will continue discussion on the matter before making a decision at its traditional organizational meeting held in January each year.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Under the Public Comment portion of the meeting, Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Director Heather Homewood updated the Board on the arrangement with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to switch office locations. Homewood said Vicki Hendershot and another DHS representative will be coming to Waukon Wednesday, November 27 to tour both current office locations to discuss details of the swap.

Also under Public Comment, Jack Knight offered to the County the research and other information compiled by the Allamakee County Protectors organization in regard to frac sand mining for any upcoming discussion or decisions involving the mining process. The Board has been invited to a tour of the Pattison Sand Company in Clayton December 5.

TREASURER

Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse addressed the Board on a couple of items, the first of which was a personnel item recommending a change in title for employee Tim Fish, who has served the Treasurer’s office in a part-time capacity as a clerk. Hesse explained that Fish has received Department of Transportation (DOT) certification for Iowa driver’s license driving requirements and was requesting Fish’s job title be changed from Clerk to Second Deputy. In response to Supervisor Sherry Strub’s question of where this change will “fit in the budget,” Hesse said the change will be in title only, not in compensation. The Board approved the title change.

Hesse also reviewed the County’s investment policy, which requires review every two years. Hesse said there has been no change in the policy in the past two years since its previous review.

CSS MEETING

Jan Heikes, Central Point of Coordination (CPC) Administrator for Allamakee County Mental Health and Disabilities Services, previewed with the Board the agenda for the upcoming County Social Service (CSS) 28E Governing Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 27 in Cresco. Heikes discussed the agenda items listed for the meeting, including a request by Emmet County to join the current CSS organization, commenting that she feels the group is “too big already,” but also questioning, “will one more county manager make that much difference?” in the overall scheme of the organization. She also discussed funding and other budgeting issues that will be addressed as agenda items during the meeting, including levy considerations to fund the services offered.

MEDIACOM PROPOSAL

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer presented a proposal from Mediacom for telephone and long distance services for the courthouse and outlying County facilities. A Mediacom representative had visited the courthouse recently and after analyzing current telephone services submitted a proposal suggesting it could save the County approximately $400 per month providing services equal to what the County currently receives.

Board chairperson Larry Schellhammer suggested that Beyer alert current providers of such services that the County is considering proposals for those services to see what other options may be available. The Board will take such proposals under consideration at budget time.

COLUMBUS PROPERTY

Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett presented to the Board a contract agreement with the City of Lansing for connecting to the City's water and wastewater services at the Columbus property for the planned construction of an education and visitor center at that location. Janett reminded the Board that the recommendation to connect to the City of Lansing services was made by an engineering consulting firm in comparison to on-site water and waste water options.

Janett further advised that the initial agreement drawn up by Lansing's City Attorney had been approved by the Lansing City Council and had some small changes made to it by Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler before being approved by the Allamakee County Conservation Board. Janett was seeking approval of the agreement by the Board of Supervisors - which he received - before it would be brought back in front of the Lansing City Council.

SECONDARY ROADS

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour presented the Board with a funding agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for Federal funding of a concrete overlay project for the current paved portion of County Road W60 from Old Highway 9 north to its intersection with Liddiard Bottoms Road. The agreement provides for $1.44 million of the $1.8 million total project cost.

Ridenour also presented a supplemental agreement for a credit in the amount of $800 in contract payment for consultant work with the Iowa DOT in regard to emergency road repairs. The Board approved both agreements.

The Board approved the hiring of Matt Jones to the Maintenance Man II position as a maintainer operator at the Rossville location for the County's Secondary Roads Department at a rate of $16.70 per hour, beginning December 9. Ridenour advised that Jones lives in the Rossville area, has 12 years of experience operating heavy equipment, and also has his Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

Approval was also given by the Board to diesel and gas margin quotes submitted for the calendar years of 2014 and 2015 for the Secondary Roads Department. Approval was given to the low margin bids submitted by Fauser Oil of Elgin for diesel at the Waukon shop (.0615 per gallon), gasohol at the Waukon shop (.135) and .1465 per gallon for diesel at the Waterville, French Creek, Churchtown and Rossville department locations, with Sweeney Oil of Waukon being awarded the contract for diesel at both the Dorchester and New Albin locations with its low bid of .150 per gallon.