On split vote, Supervisors approve RAGBRAI® ordinance allowing rural vendor sales, set date for public hearing on the matter for May 22

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 8 to address a full agenda of items, including the discussion and consideration of a Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) ordinance pertaining to vendors outside of city limits, recognizing May 8-13 as Economic Development Week and an update for County Social Services (CSS).

During Public Comments, Allamakee County ATV/UTV Club President Chip Lamb addressed the Supervisors regarding the County ATV/UTV Ordinance. Lamb provided three examples from other counties and discussed the ATV/UTV Club's request for the ability to access the nearest gravel road via County blacktop and the recent legislative changes allowing the crossing of State roads. Dennis Blocker of the ATV/UTV Club discussed the need for access to the Driftless Education and Visitors Center and the ability to enter and exit Lansing by ATV.

The RAGBRAI ordinance pertaining to vendors outside city limits was discussed. Jake Simmons with Backpocket Brewing Company of Coralville advised that his company has built a business model for RAGBRAI that involves selling Iowa brewed craft beer along the route, which will be adversely affected by Allamakee County's proposed ordinance declaring it a "dry" (no alcohol sales) county outside of city limits.

Simmons suggested that if forced to operate within cities, RAGBRAI would suffer, with Backpocket Brewing being in competition with bars and beer gardens and not being able to provide the unique experience and low-key atmosphere for relaxation that is created through sales outside of towns on farmsteads. Simmons discussed two proposed locations on the route, three miles after Waterville and seven miles before Waukon. County Attorney Jill Kistler advised that the removal of Section 7 of the current draft of the ordinance would allow vendor sales on the route, outside of cities. Following discussion, the Supervisors approved the ordinance, with Section 7 being omitted, by split vote with Supervisor Dan Byrnes voting against and Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Dennis Koenig voting in favor of. The board also approved setting May 22 at 9:40 a.m. as the public hearing date for the ordinance.

Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development addressed the Supervisors regarding setting May 8-13 as Economic Development Week. Reinke advised that 2017 has been declared "The Year of the Economic Developer" and is the 91st anniversary of the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional development organization serving the economic development field. The Resolution for Economic Development Week was approved by the Supervisors.

Manure Management Plans for Cyclone 1 and EB Ag, the Quarterly Report from Veterans Affairs and the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Services Commission Fiscal-Year 2016 Audit Report were all accepted and placed on file. The Supervisors also approved the schedule of fees associated with implementing the Allamakee County Zoning, Subdivision and Flood Plain Ordinances.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that, following an audit, it was recommended that the County adopt an Intangible Asset Policy, which was then approved at the meeting with a threshold of $50,000. The Intangible Asset Policy will deal with easements, rights-of-way, trademarks, etc., although the auditing firm advised that the County does not currently have a significant amount of those.

The Supervisors approved a change to Resolution 97.154/13.486 regarding the sale of a squad card. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick advised that the Fayette County Sheriff's Department is interested in purchasing a high mileage 2010 Dodge Charger from the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department to use as a transport vehicle and to include the Sheriff's striping kit, light bar and police radio at $2,000, which was approved by the Supervisors. Mellick advised that this vehicle has been replaced with a new vehicle and a 2011 Dodge Charger will be used as a transport vehicle.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed the bid from Iowa Plain Signing, Inc. of Waterloo and the contract and bond for painted pavement markings. Ridenour advised that the contract and bond were in order with a certificate of insurance, with work likely to be done in late May into June. The Supervisors approved the contract.

Ridenour discussed setting a letting date for paving some of Breezy Corners Road. May 22 at 10 a.m. was approved as the letting date and time for the project, which will involve eight inches of concrete paving.

Projects Director Paul Berland with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC & D) discussed the agreement between Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties regarding the Upper Iowa Watershed Management Authority. Berland advised that the Upper Iowa River Watershed was awarded close to $4.2 million to put flood reduction structures within three to four selected sub-watersheds, with at least one of those to be located within Allamakee County, and that the resolution indicates that Winneshiek County will be the lead-county in the agreement with Allamakee and Howard Counties. The resolution was approved by the Supervisors.

Regional Coordinator of Disability Services Todd Rickert provided an update regarding County Social Services (CSS). Rickert discussed the transition that CSS is currently going through with case management being taken back in-house by AmeriHealth Caritas, CSS's primary contractor for those services. Rickert indicated that many of CSS's former case managers are now working for AmeriHealth, which provides familiarity and consistency for those served as they transition from traditional county case management services to in-house Amerihealth services. Rickert discussed CSS's role with helping school districts and the prison population and advised that eventually the Coordinator of Disability Services position, recently vacated in Allamakee County by Kim Waters as part of this transition, could be filled again.

John Hansen with Midwest Construction Consultants provided an update on the Public Safety Center construction project. Hansen indicated that contractors will have the project completed prior to the May 20 public opening, with the E911 switchover to take place May 23. Hansen presented change orders to the Supervisors for various expenses in addition to the current billing at $235,567.22, all of which were approved. The total billed to date on the project is $4,692,008.57 with $30,470.96 remaining in contingency funding.

Under Department Head Updates, Sheriff Mellick indicated that several staff members are attending correction officer training. Engineer Ridenour advised that he will provide some updates for the ATV/UTV ordinance, that concrete is being applied on the road near the Driftless Education and Visitors Center and that spraying weeds will begin soon. Ridenour also discussed the part-time roadside mower position and the May 25 Six-County meeting.