Supervisors address personnel matters, hear public concerns

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 15 to address a full agenda of items including the consideration of bids for road rock resurfacing, discussion of Sheriff’s Office use of the County credit card for the purchase of a chlorimeter and consideration of changes relating to the Planning and Zoning Administrator’s contract and driver status.

During Public Comment, Jack Sweeney of Waukon addressed the Supervisors by speakerphone and discussed the recent Board of Adjustment meeting held April 10 at the Allamakee County Courthouse. Sweeney discussed concerns relating to how Chairperson Bernard Pratte conducted the public hearing for the proposed Wennes Communications tower. Sweeney indicated that he was interrupted after 30 seconds and not allowed sufficient time to present information, with Pratte indicating at the beginning of the hearing that everyone would be allowed two minutes to speak.

Sweeney indicated that he is not financially involved in the proposed tower but was in attendance to speak about whether or not property values are impacted by having a communication tower in their vicinity. Sweeney advised that he may petition for Pratte’s removal from the Board of Adjustment due to concerns with the Board of Adjustment’s leadership, how the meeting was handled and the hostile tone of the meeting toward Allamakee County Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Blake. Board of Supervisors Chairperson Larry Schellhammer indicated that due to time constraints for public comment, he would follow up with Sweeney at a later time.

Denny Sweeney of 1662 Silverwood Lane, Waukon addressed the Supervisors about a neighbor’s property that has been vacated and has become a nuisance from a health and safety standpoint. Sweeney indicated that buildings on the property are falling down and that garbage has been disposed of on the property. Gary David further discussed that the property is a health concern with mice becoming a problem and that mosquitoes will be an issue due to stacks of tires at the back of the property. David indicated that water service has been shut off at the property and that the owner only periodically sleeps at the house structure. Chairperson Schellhammer recommended adding the matter to the April 29 Supervisors meeting agenda. Blake indicated that a draft of the updated nuisance ordinance to include nuisance property remedies will be submitted to Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke for review.
Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicated that Eugene Herman was not in attendance for the next agenda item involving the submission of paperwork for flood damage in the Drainage District. No action was taken by the Supervisors.

Quarterly reports for the County Recorder and Auditor were accepted and placed on file. The Manure Management Plan update for Humpal Site #1 was accepted and placed on file. Secondary Roads Department transfers from the Rural Services fund, at $514,498.39, and from the General Basic fund, at $44,312.04, were approved.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick discussed the Sheriff Department’s request to use a County credit card for the purchase of a chlorimeter at an approximate cost of $463. Mellick indicated that the Public Safety Center’s water supply would be tested daily to determine chlorine levels. Allamakee County Environmental Health Director Laurie Moody discussed testing year-round and that the chlorimeter that she uses will likely need to be upgraded in the near future. The Supervisors approved the use of the County credit card for the Sheriff’s Department purchase of a chlorimeter.

Beyer discussed the next agenda item involving the review and approval of a pay request for the Public Safety Center. Beyer indicated that $2,583 is to be paid to See Electric for work completed at the Public Safety Center. The Supervisors approved the pay request as presented.

Beyer discussed the County Auditor’s Office request to hire temporary office help as needed. Beyer indicated that an employee will be out of the office for several weeks with the temporary position to assist during this time. The Supervisors approved the hiring of temporary help as needed.

The Supervisors moved into the review and consideration of the contract and/or changes in driver status for Planning and Zoning Administrator Blake. Based on the discussion held in closed session during their January 22 meeting, the Supervisors approved that Blake would be assigned desk duty in his office until April 22, 2019 and will no longer be allowed to drive a vehicle in a County capacity and that the County’s insurance carrier is to be notified that Blake is an excluded driver, with no further information regarding the basis of those decisions being made available based on the County’s personnel and closed session policies.

At Monday’s meeting, Gericke discussed the option of changing the Planning and Zoning Administrator position to an independent contractor, which would allow Blake to operate a vehicle in the course of his work, advising against this option due to liability concerns and other employment related issues. Moody advised that the independent contractor status would not allow Blake to travel with her as a passenger in a County vehicle. Gericke recommended to not pursue the independent contractor option and that Blake will likely be insurable in approximately 18 months. The Supervisors approved to have Blake continue desk duty until the December 16 Supervisors meeting, at which time his status will be reviewed.

The next Department Head meeting was approved for April 22 at 1 p.m. Beyer indicated that Continuity of Operations/Continuation of Government (COOP/COG) planning will be discussed at this meeting.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided a recommendation of Bruening Rock Products as low bidder in the six divisions of road rock resurfacing. The six divisions and bid totals for Bruening Rock Products include Division 1 - 20,435 tons at $224,355.86, Division 2 – 23,360 tons at $248,527.04, Division 3 – 25,538 tons at $273,231.06, Division 4 – 22,830 tons at $169,832.37, Division 5 – 17,600 tons at $130,926.40 and Division 6 – 12,660 tons at $134,689.74. The Supervisors approved the bids for road rock resurfacing.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of Contract and Bond for Dorchester Drive (A16) culvert extensions. Ridenour discussed that the contract and bond with JB Holland Construction of Decorah was in order for the project consisting of three culvert extensions with a total bid of $357,171.58 with a start date of mid-July, with the project likely to take two months for completion. The Supervisors accepted the contract and bond for the Dorchester Drive culvert extensions project.

Under Department Head Updates, Moody discussed a variety of matters including properties that are homes to feral cats and dogs, nuisance properties and private options available regarding communication tower applications.

Blake addressed the Board of Adjustment meeting discussed earlier during Public Comment indicating that there were a lot of people who were strongly opposed to the proposed communications tower. Blake indicated that the meeting went long prompting Pratte’s decision to further limit speaking times. Blake discussed the public hearing to be held later in the day at the Zoning Commission meeting relating to a zoning change for a cell tower.

Mellick discussed use of a computer program allowing employees to enter information into PDF forms online, advising there may be potential for other departments to use this same program.

Ridenour indicated that the Secondary Roads Department has continued blading and hauling rock and that work continues with the A26 bridge project. Ridenour also discussed some work to take place near Green Valley and Makee Drive.

Beyer indicated that city budgets have been certified and that school budgets have been received and are next to be certified. Beyer discussed that she and Assessor Ann Burckart and Treasurer Lori Hesse will be involved in a presentation at the Meehan Memorial Library in Lansing relating to the distribution of tax dollars Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. Beyer advised that the County Courthouse will be closed in observance of Good Friday April 19.

Prior to adjournment, Schellhammer stated that the Board of Supervisors would like to publicly thank those serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment. Schellhammer indicated that those serving on these boards do so willingly without compensation, have a tough job, are friends and neighbors of those they make rulings for and against and that they do a great job and are underappreciated for their time and effort. Schellhammer shared that the Supervisors appreciate their efforts and that the public should respect the role these boards have.