Supervisors hold regular meeting in Postville, take tour of YMCA and Allamakee-Clayton REC

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 2 at the Postville Public Library as part of its intention to meet in different communities within the county throughout the year. The full agenda of items included Manure Management Plan updates, consideration of a vehicle purchase for the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department and tours of the Postville Public Library, the Northeast Iowa YMCA and the Allamakee - Clayton Electric Cooperative.

In the absence of Chairperson Larry Schellhammer, Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Koenig called the meeting to order and the current agenda and the meeting minutes of September 18 were approved. Janel Eglseder, Payroll Clerk with the Allamakee County Auditor's Office, was in attendance to record the meeting minutes and address other matters due to the absence of Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer.

There was no Public Comment heard or read, and during this time in the meeting, the Supervisors toured the Postville Public Library with Library Director Cindy Berns providing an overview of the library's services. Lori Egan, a nurse from Waukon and candidate for District 56 of the Iowa House of Representatives, was also in attendance at Monday's meeting.

The Supervisors moved into discussion of the language used in the advertisement to sell inventory which involves various metal desks and items remaining in the Allamakee County Courthouse's fourth floor office space formerly occupied by the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department prior to the Department's move to the new Allamakee County Public Safety Center earlier this year. Supervisor Dan Byrnes and Koenig made some additions to the language used in the advertisement seeking sealed bids and agreed to move forward with the advertisement.

Manure Management Plan updates for De Su Holsteins, Chestnut Nursery - Dalby Site and Paul Link - Link 3 and W & M Ag were all accepted by the Board and placed on file.

The resolution for the removal of an agriculture exempt legend from property owned by Joseph C. Teff was discussed by Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake, who indicated that the one-acre lot that had previously been surveyed off the property - with a house being built upon that one-acre lot, is being added to another two-acre lot which the owner would like to manage as a regular lot, not used for agriculture. Blake advised that the Allamakee County Planning and Zoning Commission had reviewed the matter and recommended approval. The Supervisors approved the removal of the agriculture legend.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick discussed a request for a vehicle purchase for the Sheriff's Department. Mellick advised that the Sheriff's Department would like to replace a 2011 Dodge Charger with a 2017 Ford Police Interceptor and that a bid from Stivers Ford in Waukee, which handles State of Iowa bids for such vehicles, was received in the amount of $31,557. Mellick and the Supervisors discussed the necessary police upgrades and requirements for the vehicle, and further discussed that local bids will be sought for other future Sheriff's Department vehicles, other than the Ford Police Interceptors. The 2011 Dodge Charger being replaced will be put up for sealed bid. The Supervisors approved the purchase of the 2017 Ford Police Interceptor for the Sheriff's Department.

Koenig discussed the recent County Social Services (CSS) meeting, indicating that CSS Quadrant Coordinator salaries were approved. He also said that establishing CSS as a single employer of record was discussed to provide consistency and that applying for IPERS was discussed as being a possibility for CSS.

Under Department Head Updates, Sheriff Mellick discussed the retirement party held Friday, September 29 honoring Revelyn Lonning and her 38 years of service to the Sheriff's Department, describing it as a well-attended event. Mellick also discussed researching the possibility of a medical contract for on-site services and some in-house mental health services at the Allamakee County Public Safety Center.

Byrnes discussed attending a future Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) meeting. The Supervisors briefly discussed an advertisement for board openings for terms ending December 31, 2017.

Following the regular session business, the Supervisors, Egan and Eglseder toured the Northeast Iowa YMCA in Postville, with Northeast Iowa YMCA Branch Director Jenny Cole providing an overview of the Postville facility's services and programs. Following the YMCA tour, the Supervisors, Egan and Eglseder traveled to the Allamakee - Clayton Electric Cooperative, with Executive Vice President/General Manager Paul Foxwell providing a facility tour and overview of the electric cooperative's services.