Supervisors hear funding requests, other updates at pair of meetings

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s time Tuesday, January 21 following the closure of the Allamakee County Courthouse in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday Monday, January 20. The board met Tuesday, January 21 and met again Monday, January 27, with coverage of both meetings appearing below:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
During the Public Comment portion of the January 21 meeting, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed recent ABC News coverage of the Iowa Caucuses with interviews taking place in locations within the county that are scheduled to air February 3 (see adjacent news story in shaded box). Reinke provided an update about the Regional Welding Academy, a partnership between Allamakee Community School District (ACSD), Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), which is being featured in Trade & Industry Development magazine. Reinke discussed several recent events including the Ninth Annual New Albin Fire and Rescue Ice Fisheree, which took place Saturday, January 18.

Quarterly reports for the County Sheriff, Environmental Health, Auditor and Relief Office were accepted and placed on file. The Manure Management Plan update for Saffron LLC was also accepted and placed on file.

The Supervisors reviewed the list of appointed members to the 2020 Compensation Commission, which was then approved.

The Supervisors discussed establishing the occupancy expense for County Social Services (CSS) in the Allamakee County Courthouse. A preliminary monthly figure based upon a percentage of courthouse space occupied by CSS was discussed. The matter was tabled for further discussion at the next Supervisors meeting.

Director Cindy Berns of the Postville Public Library, Director Heather Bente of the Waterville Public Library and Director Derva Burke of the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library each provided an overview of their respective library’s operations and thanked the Supervisors for the County’s support. Berns discussed the Postville Library’s summer reading program, using funds to purchase books and recent library layout changes made in conjunction with carpet cleaning. Bente reported that things are going well with the Waterville Library with extra funds going towards programming with an increase in e-book use being a trend. Burke discussed the importance of programming and provided an update on the accreditation process, policies and planning. The Supervisors indicated that a schedule of meeting dates at county libraries in 2020 will be added to an upcoming meeting agenda.

Director of Development Angie Purdy with the Riverview Center, an organization providing sexual assault services in a 14-county region of northeast Iowa, provided an overview of the organization’s services and $3,500 Fiscal-Year 2021 funding request. Purdy discussed services provided to survivors of sexual assault. Bilingual Sexual Assault Advocate Lupita Solis provided an overview of services, presentations and support groups made possible by the organization. Purdy discussed her role in fundraising with state, local and corporate funding being important to the organization, with Allamakee County’s contribution benefiting those within the county.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick addressed the next agenda item relating to the consideration of a dog impoundment contract. Mellick indicated that the current contract provides for a guaranteed monthly payment to the dog impound facility whether or not the service is utilized. Mellick indicated that the need has decreased with more animals being able to be quarantined on the owner’s property and more rescues being handled with the cooperation of the Humane Society. Mellick discussed that there may not be a need for a county pound with this service not being utilized in quite some time. Mellick provided a recommendation to terminate the dog impoundment contract with DuWayne Snitker, which was approved by the Supervisors with the matter to be turned over to Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke to provide notification to Snitker.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided an overview of the final payment voucher for the French Creek Bridge replacement on Mays Prairie Road. Ridenour indicated that the contract amount was $501,833.35 with the actual cost being $499,406.46, approximately a half percent under contract. Ridenour indicated that this comes out of the Farm Market Account through the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). The final payment voucher for this project was approved by the Supervisors.

Under Department Head Updates, Ridenour indicated that it was a busy weekend with a full crew out Saturday, January 18 and a partial crew out Sunday, January 19 removing snow on secondary roads. Ridenour reported that he is reviewing assistant mechanic job applications and work continues on construction plans for various projects.

Mellick indicated that it has been quiet in the county recently and provided an update on a search warrant execution.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer provided an update on the budget process and indicated that work continues relating to township budgets. She also discussed passing passport testing and that work will be done relating to city and school budgets. Beyer provided an update on a levy notice with some data yet to be determined.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27
During Public Comment at the January 27 meeting, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) briefly discussed the recent Allamakee County Recovery Planning Workshops and the recent announcement that Dairyland Power Cooperative in Genoa, WI would be ceasing operations in mid to late 2021, impacting 80 jobs. Reinke indicated that Iowa Works would be available to provide some limited services for Allamakee County residents employed at Dairyland Power but Wisconsin Workforce Development would be taking the lead due to the power plant’s location. Reinke also provided an update on the Harpers Ferry Youth Ice Fishing Clinic, which has been rescheduled for February 9 due to rising water levels on the Mississippi River.

Jack Knight, Chairman of the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board, discussed the amount of increased rain over the last several years which has caused damage and erosion events. Knight discussed interest in having the Supervisors approve an official proclamation relating to soil conservation prior to springtime crop planning with an informational soil conservation article to be submitted to the newspaper.

Harpers Ferry Mayor Jerry Valley and council member Tom Diggins were present to discuss the property at the intersection of State Highway 364 and Lansing Harpers Road. Valley indicated that this area has been maintained by the City for over 40 years and there is interest in acquiring a section of this property to be used as a site for a digital sign visible from the intersection. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour indicated that the County has jurisdiction and right of way relating to this property in which a small portion is being used for tourism signage, which has been proposed to be replaced by a digital sign. Ridenour provided an overview of options including leaving the property as is, lease to the City or vacate.

Ridenour further discussed concerns relating to this location including sight visibility, proximity to the railroad and being next to the Great River Road and Scenic Byway, which may restrict the digital sign’s content to include only official City announcements and non-profit events. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Ridenour discussed turning the matter over to Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke for a legal opinion. Supervisor Dan Byrnes recommended that engineering is necessary to determine safety and that the digital sign placement could be done through agreement, rather than vacating the property to the City. Ridenour added that the sign would be within the city and would be Harpers Ferry’s responsibility and that a licensed engineer would need to sign off on this matter. The Supervisors advised that Valley and Diggins consult with Director Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), as Waukon’s digital signage has faced similar content restrictions due to placement next to a State road.

Humane Society of Northeast Iowa Board of Directors President Jill Kistler discussed the organization’s Fiscal-Year 2021 funding request. Kistler provided an overview of the Humane Society’s services in a five-county region including Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Kistler indicated that the organization is supported entirely through donations and grants to provide care and adoption services for over 400 animals annually. Kistler discussed the organization’s work with animal control officers and law enforcement. Kistler indicated that a $1,500 funding request is being made of each county served by the organization.

The Quarterly Report for Veterans Affairs was accepted and placed on file.

The Supervisors discussed the schedule of Board of Supervisors meetings at libraries within the county in 2020. The Supervisors approved to use a June through November schedule similar to last year with meetings at libraries to take place the third Monday of the month. This year’s schedule will include New Albin in June, Lansing in July, Harpers Ferry in August, Waterville in September, Postville in October and Waukon in November.

The Supervisors moved into the review of plat requests with the Roger L. Strelow Estate being discussed first. Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake requested that this matter be tabled due to signatures still being needed on documentation. The Roger L. Strelow Estate plat was tabled. The Roger and Mary Kay Colsch plat request was approved, and the Mark Lomen plat request was also approved.

The occupancy expense for County Social Services (CSS) within the Allamakee County Courthouse was discussed. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicated that at a recent meeting, CSS has agreed upon a formula to be used in calculating the occupancy expense for office space. Beyer indicated that CSS is occupying four percent of the Allamakee County Courthouse and using the CSS formula, the occupancy expense would be $125.75 monthly with an additional charge of $64 in total per month for two phone lines. Beyer will be factoring in a percentage of the phone bill to this cost with this matter to be addressed at a future meeting.

Under Department Head Updates, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed that six County Recovery Planning Workshops took place last week January 21-24 and that a tabletop exercise is planned for February 8, which will include representatives of the Rural Electric Cooperative (REC), Alliant Energy, city and fire department personnel and Emergency Management Services (EMS).

Blake discussed attending one session of the County Recovery Planning Workshops and that work continues by Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) in updating the comprehensive plan with a draft of the plan to be ready by the end of March. Blake discussed ongoing work in enforcement and compliance and that applications will be reviewed for the shared Zoning and Environmental Health administrative assistant position.

Justice Coordinator Jason Howes provided an update about his department’s activities and provided a request to have the Supervisors sign a replacement title necessary for the transfer of a vehicle to CSS.

Beyer provided a brief update relating to ongoing work in her office.

Following the meeting, the Supervisors held a work session relating to the Fiscal-Year 2021 budget.