Supervisors advised of December 7 webinar with DNR to discuss Master Matrix and December 20 meeting to discuss clean-up of Big Slough
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 28 to address a variety of topics, including the 2017 holiday schedule for County offices, a personnel matter in the County Sheriff's Office and plat approvals for two properties. Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order. The current meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes from November 21 were approved.
During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, New Albin resident Ed Weymiller addressed the Board with his questions regarding the fundraising and expenses for the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center being constructed just south of Lansing. Weymiller discussed a fundraising letter that he recently received and expressed concerns about tax dollars being spent on the Driftless Center. Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett and Board Chairman Schellhammer provided answers to Weymiller regarding his fundraising concerns.
Janett explained the letter in question is part of a current phase of the fundraising campaign. Schellhammer discussed the revolving line of credit for the Driftless Center, which will be paid back to the bank as scheduled grants and pledges are received for the project. Janett also provided information on the geothermal heating system and that existing Conservation staff members will be staffing the Driftless Center upon its completion. Janett discussed that 73 counties in Iowa are utilizing similar facilities with great success and this center will be an asset to Allamakee County.
Janett also discussed the Clear Creek Bridge that Lansing is planning to replace, noting that a temporary easement will be needed for completion of the project next year. The Supervisors advised Janett to discuss the matter with Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler to determine what Board approval is necessary, if any.
The 2017 Holiday schedule for County offices was approved to include January 2, February 20, April 14, May 29, July 4, September 4, November 10, November 23-24 and December 25-26. The Manure Management Plan update for Grove 5 was accepted and placed on file. Allamakee County Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Blake presented two plat approvals to the Supervisors. The plat for Karen Anne Lonning and the plat for Derek Bentien were both approved by the Supervisors.
Allamakee County Coordinator of Disability Services Kim Waters provided an update on the November 23 County Social Services (CSS) 28E Governing Board meeting. Waters discussed that the meeting included setting priorities for the coming year including Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for law enforcement to better assist with mental health crisis situations. Waters discussed that changes with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act were tabled until the next meeting due to legal challenges regarding this law. Waters explained that after the review of regional salaries, she recommends that the base salary of bachelor level care coordinators be established at $18 per hour. This will affect one case manager working in Allamakee County with nine in total being affected regionally. Waters further discussed that CSS and Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) have recommended that a new service coordinator position for Winneshiek County could be integrated into the Lifelong Links Center as an employee of NEI3A and a contractor of CSS.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick discussed that Dispatcher/Corrections Officer Natasha Wilkes has submitted her two-weeks notice with November 30 as her final day. The Supervisors accepted Wilkes' resignation. Mellick advised that he will be advertising the open position. The Supervisors discussed setting a date and time for the next Department Head meeting with budget time as the next tentative meeting time, rather than in December.
Under Department Head Updates, Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed that the next Board of Supervisors meeting will be held Monday, December 5 at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. Beyer also explained that the public is welcome to attend the webinar with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) December 7 at NICC Waukon Room 113 at 1:30 p.m. The webinar will detail the Master Matrix used to evaluate the siting of permitted animal confinement facilities and the criteria that must be met to reduce adverse environmental and community impact.
Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed that a meeting has been scheduled for the Big Slough clean-up project December 20 at 10 a.m. in the Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing. Snitker also advised that the next Hazard Mitigation meeting has been scheduled for December 14 at 7 p.m. at the Waterville Fire Station.
The meeting agenda was amended at the beginning of the meeting to include discussion of the courthouse heating system and to include viewing of the Public Safety Center. John Hansen with Midwest Construction Consultants was in attendance with Engineers Dennis Bennett and Dave Larsen. Larsen discussed that this is the initial visit to begin the process of evaluating the County Courthouse heating system. The engineers will be providing recommendations regarding repairs and upgrades to the boiler system and piping throughout the building.
Immediately following adjournment of the meeting, the Supervisors toured the Public Safety Center with Hansen, Sheriff Mellick and Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour. After completing the tour of the Public Safety Center, Ridenour and the Supervisors toured flood damage and ongoing projects in northern portions of Allamakee County.
