Supervisors hear updates on Upper Iowa Drainage District, Iowa 9 and 76 improvements in Waukon at regular session

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 19 to address a full agenda of items, including a presentation and discussion on the Upper Iowa Drainage District Alternative Levee System Modifications, a presentation and discussion of the Sidewalk Improvement Project and consideration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Sheriff's Department and County Road Crew.

Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of March 12. The current agenda was amended with the removal of two items involving subdivision plats, which will be added to next week's agenda for review.

During Public Comment, Lori Egan, candidate for Iowa House District 56, discussed concerns relating to backfill payments that have ceased to counties, with taxpayers making up the difference, a fact Egan indicated much of the public may not be aware of. Supervisor Dan Byrnes indicated that the combined backfill total for school districts, cities and Allamakee County equals $365,000 per year in revenue that is not currently being received. Schellhammer indicated that discussions have taken place with several city mayors regarding the impact of the loss of this revenue.

The Homestead Credit and Military Exemption was approved for Darrel D. and Janet C. Koozer.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Sheriff's Department and County Road Crew. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick indicated that Union negotiations have gone well. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed contract changes including the switch for vacation time between President's Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and that a three-year contract has been agreed upon. The Supervisors approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Associate Director Nathan Young with the Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa conducted a presentation providing an overview of potential Upper Iowa Drainage District alternative levee system modifications. Young discussed a variety of mitigation strategies for the area near Morgan Bridge including the repair and raising of the levee, removal of the levee and increasing the capacity of the culvert. The presentation included diagrams of different culvert variations including dual, side by side, three-meter by three-meter square culverts, and stacked and side by side, one-meter width round culverts. Schellhammer indicated that information will be made available to the public and that another meeting will be necessary as a Board and Drainage District to evaluate these options.

David Faber with JCG Land Services provided an overview of the sidewalk replacement that will be taking place during the Iowa Department of Transportation's (DOT) 2019 street project along Highways 9 and 76 through Waukon. Faber discussed that the sidewalk replacement will take place at no cost to property and business owners and that temporary easements will be sought allowing workers to walk on a limited portion of private property necessary for the sidewalk construction process. Faber indicated that a minimum $100 payment will be made to property owners, more depending on square footage required, for the temporary easement for the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks.

Faber also discussed the removal of trees being necessary during the sidewalk replacement project with tree roots being a factor in sidewalk cracking and upheaval. Faber assured the Supervisors that any and all property involved in the sidewalk replacement will be returned to original condition.

Under Department Head Updates, Mellick discussed that there were only three arrests over the St. Patrick's Day weekend with one of those arrests not being related to the holiday celebration. Mellick also advised the Supervisors of the recent purchase and delivery of the search and rescue drone and that a recent meeting with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has generated interest in providing educational programming for inmates including GED and trade classes with the possibility of tele-classes via the internet or classes taught on-site by an instructor in a classroom area at the Public Safety Center.

Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker indicated Severe Weather Awareness week will be observed next week, March 26-30, 2018, and that a full-scale Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) training exercise will be conducted later in the year at Lansing. Ridenour discussed that health insurance quotes are being sought for the Health Insurance Committee to use in making a recommendation and that recent weather conditions have allowed more road rock to be put down on secondary roads.

Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake discussed that the Board of Adjustment has denied the variance and conditional use application for the proposed cell tower southwest of New Albin and that Northeast Iowa Telephone Company (NEIT) has submitted a request to the Planning and Zoning Commission for an exception to the ordinance. Blake indicated that a quarter-mile setback from the bluff is the concern preventing approval at this point, with the Planning and Zoning Commission to provide a recommendation following review.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed a recent Iowa Association of Counties (ISAC) meeting and that there are several options to be considered relating to ADA voting machines, including an upgrade to a 15-inch screen from the smaller seven-inch screen, which is no longer considered ADA compliant and not eligible for software upgrades as a result. Beyer indicated that the 15-inch screens would allow for software upgrades and that a direction on this matter will need to be decided along with budget decisions.

Schellhammer advised that the courthouse breakroom move to upstairs is now complete and that the Makee Manor records that have been in storage at Upper Iowa Insurance Services will be moved into the courthouse, eliminating the rent expense for storage. Schellhammer further discussed leaving Tuesday, March 20 with Byrnes and Supervisor Dennis Koenig for the state-wide Supervisors conference being held at the White House in Washington D.C. March 21. The conference is being conducted by Vice President Mike Pence with President Donald Trump possibly making an appearance at the conference.