Supervisors hear updates on Public Safety Center
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 25 with a full agenda including the consideration of creating a policy for appointing members of boards and commissions, payments and updates regarding the Allamakee County Public Safety Center, and a presentation about Nationwide's retirement savings plan for County employees. There were no comments either heard or read during the scheduled Public Comments portion of the meeting.
The first agenda item involved the plat approval for property owned by Clinton A. Miller. Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake presented information on Miller's request of dividing property into separate lots, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors. The quarterly report for the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Department was also accepted and placed on file.
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator salary recommendation was the next agenda item discussed by the Board. The Conference Board has not provided a recommendation on that salary as of yet, and the Supervisors agreed that no action would be taken at this time, until a recommendation is provided by the Conference Board.
The Supervisors set August 15 as the date for the fiscal year 2017 budget amendment. A notice regarding this amendment and meeting will appear in the August 3 Public Notice section of The Standard.
The Supervisors discussed creating a policy for appointing members of boards and commissions. Several concerns were discussed including how these vacancies should be advertised, term limits and keeping boards gender balanced. Supervisor Dan Byrnes suggested a work session should be scheduled to discuss this topic in more detail. The Supervisors agreed to review Black Hawk County's policy and make notes and suggestions before the work session, which was set for August 8.
Allamakee County Environmental Health Director Laurie Moody discussed water testing with the Supervisors. Moody discussed additional training for testing non-transient water sources including the Public Safety Center's well. Additional training to reach the "Grade-A" water operator level would allow her to handle this and additional testing in the future. The Supervisors requested that Moody should keep them posted as she researches this more.
John Hansen, President of Midwest Construction Consultants, provided a pay request for work at the Public Safety Center. Payment totaling $555,903.27 was requested with $1,621,006.04 billed to date. Architect Rick Weidner was also present and provided some feedback on the project, reporting that things are moving forward well. It was updated that the pre-cast outer walls are in place and that steel work will be starting Tuesday, July 26. Weidner also advised that they are currently evaluating which type of sealant will be used on the building.
Hansen added that the underground plumbing is in place but that similar electrical work is not quite completed yet. He also said that steel work and steel decking should be completed in the next week and a half. Upon completion of the update, the pay request for Midwest Construction Consultants was approved.
Matthew Ring with Nationwide Retirement Solutions provided information on the Nationwide 457(b) retirement account. Currently, County employees have one option available through Allen Knox Associates as an employer-sponsored plan. Ring presented Nationwide's 457(b) as an additional option. Ring works with 54 counties in Iowa and he said Nationwide is affiliated with the National Association of Counties (NaCO). Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Schellhammer suggested adding this to the next meeting agenda for further discussion.
Under Department Updates, Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed that the Wexford Bridge may be open for local traffic soon. He also advised that culverts are currently being worked on as well as the deck repair on the Waterville Bridge. Ridenour further updated that gravel application on secondary roads is roughly 85% complete. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer mentioned that tax notices will be going to the printer soon and will then be mailed out a week later.
