Supervisors hold budget amendment hearing, approve road and bridge embargoes at holiday- delayed session; hear audit report, renew insurance coverage at regular Monday session
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of regular sessions within this past week due to the President's Day holiday falling on the board's usual Monday meeting date February 20. Coverage of both the Tuesday, February 21 and Monday, February 27 regular meetings of the Board appears below.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, February 21 due to the President's Day holiday Monday, February 20. The Supervisors addressed a full agenda of items including an insurance quote presentation by Upper Iowa Insurance Services, consideration of a bridge embargo and a public hearing for a Fiscal-Year 2017 budget amendment.
During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer discussed a recent facility tour of Prairie Industries in Prairie du Chien, WI. Schellhammer, Lansing Mayor Mike Brennan, Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke and Main Street Lansing Executive Director Craig White visited Prairie Industries, which has expressed interest in expanding its operations to the former Blumenthal Lansing facility. Schellhammer advised that a job fair has been scheduled and Prairie Industries is seeking 30 employees initially for the Lansing facility with further expansion a possibility.
Supervisor Dan Byrnes advised that he recently discussed with Representative Kristi Hager about having Palmer Amaranth added to the noxious weed list. From his conversation with Hager, Byrnes indicated that Palmer Amaranth is still in some CRP seed bags and the existence of Palmer Amaranth on CRP land could be an issue if designated a noxious weed. Hager indicated that information is being collected, with the matter scheduled for review in the next legislative session.
The Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2017 budget amendment was opened with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour providing an overview of revenue and expenditures for the Secondary Roads Department. Ridenour advised that income from FEMA funds will be coming in for flood damage repairs for secondary roads and bridges and briefly discussed road use tax revenue and expenditures including road construction projects and equipment. The public hearing was closed without any comment from the public and the Fiscal Year 2017 budget amendment and the associated appropriations resolution were both adopted.
Ridenour discussed the Bridge Embargo and Road Embargo resolutions and explained updates to these resolutions from the prior year. Supervisor Dennis Koenig asked about bridge embargoes being permanent and road embargoes being temporary until road conditions no longer require them, which Ridenour confirmed as being correct. Ridenour discussed bridge maintenance and prioritization of projects and repairs. The Bridge Embargo resolution and the Road Embargo resolution were both adopted.
The Manure Management Plan update for Saffron, LLC was accepted and placed on file.
Allamakee County Coordinator of Disability Services Kim Waters provided a preview of the County Social Services (CSS) meeting agenda and an update for Case Management. Waters indicated that CSS continues to evolve organizationally with plans to shift the organization from a county-based to a more program-based structure, which will, in turn, specialize functions, increase service capacity and allow CSS to maintain lower administrative costs. Waters discussed her request to represent CSS on the West Union Residential Facility Board, which provides community-based corrections.
Jane Regan of Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Jason Lanza of Argent, a division of West Bend Insurance specializing in worker's compensation insurance, provided an insurance quote presentation which involved coverage for the County's insurance needs including property, liability and worker's compensation. The Supervisors will open sealed proposals from Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Kerndt Brothers Insurance, which provided an insurance quote presentation the week prior, during an upcoming work session.
Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed the need for a County Policy for Disclosure of Security Related Information. Snitker explained that this policy will include guidelines for the use of closed meetings and when video surveillance will not be public record. Snitker will be working on a written policy and will present it to the Supervisors for approval.
Under Department Head Updates, Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed that work on the budget continues and will be finalized soon.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 27. Among the agenda items addressed were the Review of the Fiscal-Year 2016 audit report, an Introduction to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northeast Iowa Organization and the discussion and consideration of property, liability and workers compensation insurance proposals.
During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Allamakee County ATV Club President Chip Lamb and Dennis Blocker of Waukon were present to provide feedback on the County's ATV Ordinance. Blocker discussed a recent email from Iowa House District 56 Representative Kristi Hager describing a bill that had passed out of sub-committee and committee that has support from the Iowa Department of Transportation and, in essence, would authorize cities and counties that have an ordinance in place to allow ATVs to travel over state roads connecting to county roads. Lamb suggested that this legislation would allow ATVs to enter towns more easily and provide better access to gas stations.
Neil Schroeder, CPA for Hacker, Nelson & Co., was present for the Review of the Fiscal Year 2016 audit report. Schroeder commented that he received good cooperation from all the County offices involved and that they were forthcoming with all information requested. Schroeder presented audit reports to the Supervisors and provided an overview that included 2016 financial highlights and a Comparative Schedule of Revenues by Source and Expenditures by Function. Schroeder commented on the ten years of historic data in that report showing increased expenditures during years where flood damage repairs and projects were necessary.
Alicia Trout with NAMI provided an introduction and overview of the organization's services and goals. Trout discussed NAMI's presence nationally and within Iowa and presented a budget specific for Allamakee County including operating costs, training expenses, and offerings that include the In Our Voice presentation for the general public, the Connections Support Group for people living with mental illness, and the Hope for Recovery course providing information about mental illness, treatment, coping strategies, communication skills, crisis management and suicide prevention.
The Supervisors moved into the discussion and consideration of property, liability and workers compensation insurance proposals. Presentations and proposals were previously made by Kerndt Brothers Insurance and the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), which is a member-owned self-insurance program for Iowa public entities; and Jane Regan of Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Jason Lanza of Argent, a division of West Bend Insurance specializing in worker's compensation insurance. Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer explained the decision-making process, his research of past decisions and the possibility of change or fluidity of the Board and how that affects the issue at hand, whether to renew with Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Argent or to switch service to Kerndt Brothers and ICAP.
Supervisor Dan Byrnes discussed the decision process as a learning experience that has provided a better grasp of the County's coverage. Byrnes indicated that the cost is close for both options but viewed ICAP as a permanent move; not impossible to quit the program but coming with a cost to do so. Byrnes explained that Jane Regan is an agent that is familiar with the County's needs and Argent has issued rebates on the County's workers compensation policy. Byrnes recommended staying with Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Argent.
Supervisor Dennis Koenig agreed that the comparisons were close and the presentations were appreciated. Schellhammer stated that he agreed with Byrnes' recommendation to renew with Upper Iowa Insurance Services and Argent and he thanked Regan and advised her to expect the County's renewal.
Quarterly reports for Veterans Affairs were accepted and placed on file. Manure Management Plans for EY1 Eric Weymiller, DJ Keehner Farms, Inc. and Manderfield Ag LLC – 1 and 2 were reviewed individually, accepted and placed on file with a single vote. A plat approval for Charles E. and Mary A. Andregg was reviewed and approved by the Supervisors. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided information for the consideration of detour routes due to various parades in Waukon including the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Memorial Day Parade, Dairy Days Parade and Waukon's Holiday Parade, which were approved.
Coordinator of Disability Services Kim Waters provided an overview of the February 22, 2017 County Social Services (CSS) meeting. Waters indicated that the reorganization vote ended in a tie, 10-10, and did not pass. Waters had previously discussed that the CSS meeting would involve plans to evolve organizationally and to shift the organization from a county-based to a more program-based structure, which would, in turn, specialize functions, increase service capacity and allow CSS to maintain lower administrative costs.
Under Department Head Updates, Ridenour discussed the ATV Ordinance, changes that have been recommended and signage. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that budget information has been forwarded for newspaper publication.
