Supervisors discuss solar project at County Farm, approve funding for libraries and salary/wage increases for elected officials, other employees of the county

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 22 to address a full agenda of matters including the Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2025 Allamakee County Budget, the consideration of Adopting the Resolution approving Fiscal-Year 2025 compensation increases for elected officials and the discussion and consideration of a potential solar project at the County Farm. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) noted several events that took place Saturday, April 13 including the Spring Fling Market held at the Waterville Community Center to benefit both events and Community Center improvements, the Geology in the Driftless program and the Harpers Ferry Fire Department’s Wild Game Feed. Reinke made note of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum program relating to Marvin “Bud” Strike’s service during the Korean Conflict which was held Saturday, April 20 and that the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing reopened over the weekend. Reinke said that Waukon’s Spring Style Show is scheduled for Friday, April 26 at the Waukon Event Center and that Waterville’s Daddy-Daughter Dance is scheduled for Saturday, April 27 at the Waterville Community Center.

The meeting moved into the Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) Allamakee County Budget. The Public Hearing was opened with County Auditor Denise Beyer providing an overview of the FY25 County Budget noting total expenditures of $19,565,614 with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding being included, among other specifics. The Public Hearing was then closed. The Supervisors later approved the Resolution adopting the Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) Budget and Certification of Taxes.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of Adopting the Resolution approving Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) compensation increases for elected officials. Keatley read aloud the Resolution noting the Compensation Board’s recommendation for proposed salary increases for county elected officials including six-percent increases for the County Auditor (current salary $66,823 with no stipend), Recorder (current salary $66,823), Treasurer (current salary $66,823), County Attorney (current salary $102,700) and Supervisors (current salary $30,222 with no Chairperson stipend), and an eight-percent increase for the Sheriff (current salary $92,065).

Those recommended salaries with increases include Auditor ($70,833 plus a $2,000 stipend), Recorder ($70,833), Treasurer ($70,833), Sheriff ($99,431), County Attorney ($108,862) and Supervisors ($32,034 plus $2,000 Chairperson stipend). The Resolution noted the Board of Supervisors’ decision to decrease the Compensation Board’s recommended increases by 50-percent for elected officials to include the following, with three-percent increases for the Auditor ($68,828 with no stipend), Recorder ($68,828), Treasurer ($68,828), County Attorney ($105,781) and Supervisors ($31,127 with a $2,000 Chairperson stipend), along with a four-percent increase for the Sheriff ($95,748). The Supervisors approved the Resolution.

The meeting moved into the consideration of salary/wage increases for other department heads and non-union employees. Keatley motioned to approve the Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) three-percent increase for non-elected department heads and union employees and an additional one-percent of the Recorder’s salary for 1st Deputy Recorder Michele Huinker. The matter was approved by the Supervisors.

The consideration of the Resolution appointing the Allamakee County Budget Director was addressed next. Keatley read aloud the Resolution which notes that Beyer has been determined to have the required experience and expertise in budget preparation with $4,000 to be designated as compensation for her time and effort in working on budget preparation throughout the fiscal-year. The matter was approved.

Consideration of setting cents/thousand County support for libraries and approving the Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) library contracts was next addressed. Byrnes noted the board’s support of libraries located in Waukon, Postville, Lansing, New Albin, Harpers Ferry and Waterville within the county with an additional $650 for each of the smaller libraries to include Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin and Waterville. Following discussion, the Supervisors approved FY25 library contracts and funding support of $4,000 per library, 16.5 cents/thousand for all six county libraries and $650 for each of the four small libraries.

The meeting moved into the opening of bids for the Public Safety Center proposed water system modification. At the March 25 Supervisors meeting, County Sheriff Clark Mellick had advised that the project has been divided into five divisions including: 1) Well house modifications; 2) Fire suppression storage tank; 3) Potable water pipeline modifications; 4) Fire suppression system modifications; 5) Removal of the water tower. At the April 22 meeting, Civil Engineer Roger Mohn of Mohn Surveying, Inc. provided an overview of the project relating to water system modifications at the County Public Safety Center including the elimination of the water storage tower, and separation of the potable water system in the building from the fire suppression system, with fire suppression to be supplied by an underground tank. Mohn noted that the project has been divided into five divisions. Reiser opened the bids received including Division 1: A-OK Well Service at $8,277.38; Division 3: A-OK Well Service at $13,622.22; Division 5: Hartong Repair at $30,000 and Skyline Construction at $117,500. No action was taken with the bids to be reviewed.

The meeting moved into the discussion and consideration of a potential solar project at the County Farm with Co-Founder John Morton of FieldWorks Power providing an overview of the proposal via Zoom web-conferencing. Morton noted that proposed legislation at the state level relating to community solar programs would allow groups like FieldWorks Power to construct and operate solar projects on up to 30-40 acres of property with electricity to be sold directly to residential customers and small businesses.

Morton advised that this bill did not pass this year but is likely to do so in 2025 or shortly thereafter with discussions of community solar programs ongoing and the concept gaining more traction. Morton further advised that property at the County Farm is of interest and that a lease option is possible in anticipation of this program opening up. A five-year option for site exclusivity was discussed by Morton to allow for studies and the permitting process to take place before entering into a long-term lease to include fixed annual payments to the county for use of the land.

The Supervisors and Morton further discussed specifics with Morton noting that the typical lease would be 20 years with five-year extensions available up to 40 years in total. Reiser provided his recommendation for the County Farm to continue as agricultural use. Keatley advised that more information is needed before making a commitment like this and that the county needs to see if this bill moves forward in the Iowa Legislature.

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