Supervisors meet in special session to discuss Vet’s Club options; hear funding requests and address other matters in regular Monday session

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of meetings this past week. Coverage of both a January 9 special session and the board’s regular meeting from Monday, January 13 appears below

JANUARY 9
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Thursday, January 9 in special session to discuss options relating to the Vet’s Club building located on Allamakee Street in Waukon and the lease involved with the building. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig listened to comments and suggestions from various stakeholders.

Schellhammer opened the discussion by outlining options available including keeping the Vet’s Club’s operation the same, County ownership of the building, City ownership of the building, developing a joint venture between the City and County, or negotiating a new contract with a private entity.

Representing the Allamakee County Historical Society and Museum as the group’s president, City of Waukon Attorney Jim Garrett indicated that a Historical Society Board meeting would be taking place later in the month and would be an opportunity to discuss the matter in more detail. Garrett advised that he did not believe the Historical Society has a need for the Vet’s Club building with the museum, log cabin and red school building being priorities for the Society, but that discussion will take place with the board relating to the potential for the Vet’s Club space to be used for meetings, special programs or exhibits.

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden indicated that the City is likely not interested in the Vet’s Club building without any office or meeting space needs beyond the current City Hall building and City Council Chambers. Tom Regan of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter and Boden discussed the use of a portion of the City Hall basement for the storage of flags and for meeting space, with Boden indicating that the City would likely be supportive of that ongoing use.

VFW member Virgil Thorstenson discussed the need to downsize with the Vet’s Club’s operation not being financially sustainable. Thorstenson indicated that lockers for the various veterans groups, flag storage and meeting space are necessary.

VFW member John Regan discussed concerns relating to the restaurant portion of the building with management turnover being an issue. He further discussed maintenance expenses and ongoing income from the upstairs apartment with Thorstenson adding that stairs into the upper level make the apartment less desirable to potential tenants who are elderly.

The condition of the building was discussed with the roof and heating system being well maintained. Koenig advised that dissolving the current lease between the Vet’s Club, Inc. and the County would not be an issue and would be a mutual decision. John Regan discussed the organization’s current debt of approximately $9,000, which could be addressed through the sale of bar and restaurant equipment from the building.

Estimates of $2,500-$3,000 were discussed as the minimum cost per year for heat and water for the Vet’s Club building. Byrnes indicated that due to budgeting, July 1 would be the earliest that the County could assume ownership of the building. Thorstenson indicated that the hall portion of the building could generate some income until July with Schellhammer advising that public fundraising should be considered.

Schellhammer further discussed the idea of the Vet’s Club kitchen finding a new use as a community kitchen. Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development indicated that possibilities could include a business incubator or educational opportunities relating to the culinary arts.

VFW member Jim Magner suggested that the historical value and preservation of the building should be considered with the building’s continued use in mind. Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke addressed the lease of the land with the purchase or conveyance of the building needing to be agreed upon. Gericke advised that the financial burden to maintain the building be determined in considering this matter and in planning for the next use of the building.

Schellhammer indicated that conveyance of the building will need to be added as a meeting agenda item with Byrnes adding that the building would need to be conveyed to the County July 1, Gericke will need to proceed with the related legal documents and John Regan’s assistance will be needed in budget planning relating to the building’s utilities and maintenance costs.

JANUARY 13
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, January 13 to address a full agenda of items including funding requests from several organizations for Fiscal-Year 2021, approval of election employee wages and board and commission appointments, and approval of detour routes for Waukon parade events.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an overview of several recent and upcoming events within the county. Reinke indicated that ABC News would be in the area later in the week for interviews and business visits as part of their coverage of the Iowa Caucus.

Executive Director Paul Berland with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) presented information relating to the organization’s Fiscal-Year 2021 funding request. Berland thanked the Supervisors and the County for past support and provided an overview of several projects including the Upper Iowa River Watershed Management Authority Flood Resiliency and Reduction Plan, a Community Facilities Grant for Waukon, Brownfield Assessment for Postville, development of a Farmers Market Management Tool Kit and ongoing work with the Driftless Area Scenic Byway, among other projects. Berland discussed RC&D’s operation supported by grants and contract work with nine full-time employees.

Housing Department Head Katie Nolte with Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) thanked the Supervisors and the County for past support and provided an overview of the organization’s activities with 105 completed projects in Allamakee County dating back to 2010 involving various housing needs including roofs, siding, windows and structural repair. Nolte discussed the need for a 25% match for Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) funding to allow NEIRHTF to meet the housing needs of this region including Allamakee, Clayton, Howard and Winneshiek Counties.

Executive Director Andy Kelleher of Main Street Lansing discussed the request to proclaim the Chili Cook-Off scheduled for February 29 in Lansing as an official County event. Kelleher indicated that the February 29 date has been chosen for the seventh annual chili cook-off with additional details yet to be determined at an upcoming planning meeting. The Supervisors approved the Seventh Annual Chili Cook-Off in Lansing as an official County event.

Regional Coordinator Kristie Wiltgen of Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) addressed the next agenda item relating to the agency’s Fiscal-Year 2021 funding request and thanked the Supervisors and the County for past support. Wiltgen provided an overview of NEI3A’s services and programs that fall within four key concepts: connecting individuals to services to remain independent, promoting active aging with health based programs, providing caregiver support and enhancing health through nutrition services. Wiltgen discussed popular programs including Tai-Chi and Fresh Conversations and the delivery of meals to the senior meal site and directly to homebound seniors.

The Quarterly Report for the County Recorder was accepted and placed on file. The Quarterly Report for the County Sheriff was tabled. The Semi-Annual Treasurer’s Report was accepted and placed on file.

The next agenda item relating to the contract for dog impoundment was tabled. The Supervisors advised that Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick was in the process of renegotiating this contract and that it would be preferable to hear feedback on this matter from Mellick, who was not able to be in attendance at the meeting.

The Supervisors approved Secondary Roads Department transfers of $12,093.03 from the General Basic Fund and $138,316.00 from the Rural Services Fund. The Manure Management Plan update from Saffron LLC was tabled.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer addressed the next agenda item relating to setting wages for Absentee and Special Voters Precinct Board and Health Care Facilities (HCF) team for elections. Beyer provided a recommendation to set the wage at $8.50 per hour for these election employees and $10 per hour for the Chairperson with the Supervisors approving the hourly wages as recommended.

Beyer provided a clarification relating to board and commission appointments approved at the January 2 Supervisors meeting. Beyer indicated that the appointment of Supervisor Dan Byrnes as an alternate for the Department of Transportation (DOT) Policy Board and the appointment of Mary Koopman to the Executive Board of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) would need to be approved. The Supervisors approved both appointments.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided an overview of the detour route request for Waukon parade events in 2020. Ridenour discussed that permission is being requested to use X12/Ninth Street and Iron Mine Drive as a detour for primary roads State Highways 9 and 76 being used as parade routes for St. Patrick’s Day March 15, Memorial Day May 25, Waukon Corn Days August 13 and the Holiday Parade December 7. The Supervisors approved the parade detour route for these Waukon parade events.

Under Department Head Updates, Ridenour discussed that plows were used in the southern portion of the county over the weekend dealing with some snow, less than what was projected, and that plows were busy earlier this morning due to snowfall in the early morning. Ridenour discussed receiving assistant mechanic job applications with review of those applications to begin soon.

Beyer provided an update on budget-related activities. Following the Board meeting, the Supervisors moved into a budget work session for Fiscal-Year 2021.