01/02/2026 BOS Minutes (Organizational Meeting)

MINUTES OF THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026

(UNOFFICIAL)

Board members present: Byrnes, Keatley, and Clark. All members voting “AYE” unless noted.

Meeting called to order by Auditor Denise Beyer, followed by Pledge of Allegiance. Beyer asked for motion to appoint 2026 Chairperson and Chairperson Pro-Tem.

26.001-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to appoint Tom Clark as Chairperson of Board of Supervisors for 2026. Motion carried.

26.002-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to appoint Dan Byrnes as Chairperson Pro Tem for 2026. Motion carried.

26.003-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to approve today’s agenda and minutes from December 29, 2025. Motion Carried.

Chairperson Clark took over as Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

The following people were present at various times throughout the meeting in person or via Zoom: Joseph Moses – Standard newspaper, Denise Beyer – Auditor and Clerk to Supervisors, Clark Mellick, Ross Geerdes, Val Reinke, Nicki Smedsrud, Mike Hohenbrink – Postville Herald.

Public Comment: Val Reinke gave update on events. Ross Geerdes announced he has a new employee starting Monday.

26.004-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes for Board of Supervisors to meet on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. in 2026 with the first 10 minutes for Public Comment time. Motion carried.

Supervisors reviewed the list of their Board/Commission appointments.

26.005-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to appoint Board of Supervisors as members to boards/commissions/committees as follows –

Dan Byrnes – Chairperson Pro-Tem, Allamakee County Revolving Loan Fund, Allamakee County Board of Health, Allamakee County Substance Abuse Board, Iowa Workforce Development Chief Elected Officials Board, Northeast Iowa Community Action Transit Board, Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund, Regional Upper Explorerland Revolving Loan Fund, Allamakee County Farm, Alternate: Emergency Management Commission, Alternate: RPA-1 DOT Policy Board, Alternate: County Social Services Board of Directors;

Tom Clark – Chairperson, Courthouse, Allamakee County E911 Board, Upper Explorerland Regional Housing Authoriry, Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Board, Allamakee County Conservation Board, 28E Board, DECAT Empowerment, Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health Board, Northeast Iowa Juvenile Detention Board, Alternate: Emergency Management Commission, Alternate:  Board of Directors of Judicial District Dept of Corrections;

Dennis “Corky” Keatley – County Social Services Board of Directors, Northeast Iowa Response Group, Board of Directors of Judicial District Dept of Corrections, Resource, Conservation & Development Board (RC&D), RPA-1 DOT Policy Board, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission Board and UERPC Executive Board, Emergency Management Commission, Alternate: Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund; Alternate: Northeast Iowa Juvenile Detention Board.

All Board of Supervisors are represented on the following Boards/Commissions/Committees – Allamakee County Conference Board, Allamakee County Economic Development, Roadside Management, Allamakee County Solid Waste; Allamakee County Planning & Zoning Board, Allamakee County Historical Society.

Motion carried.

26.006-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to name the Postville Herald and Waukon Standard as official newspapers of Allamakee County for 2026. Motion carried.

26.007-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to approve resolution to set county mileage reimbursement rate for 2026 at fifty-five cents ($0.55)/mile. Roll call: Keatley-aye; Byrnes-aye; Clark-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 26.007

SETTING 2026 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE

FOR ALLAMAKEE COUNTY

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Supervisors approve reimbursement for mileage for use of a personal vehicle for work-related travel; and

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Employee Handbook adopted on May 16, 2016 states in Section 5.2.3 Automobiles:

1. The amount of the reimbursement for use of a private vehicle on County

business shall be established on an annual basis by a resolution adopted by the

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Allamakee County, Iowa, that the 2026 mileage reimbursement rate be set at  fifty-five ($0.55)   cents per mile.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of January 2026

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD

                                                                         OF SUPERVISORS

__________________________________

Chairman

Attest:

_______________________

Denise Beyer

Auditor Clerk

26.008-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to approve 2026 bounties for coyotes at $5.00 each and gophers at $0.50 (fifty cents) per pair for front feet, and feet must be in clear bags with no more than 10 pair per bag. Motion carried.

26.009-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to appoint Corey Snitker as alternate voter for Board of Supervisors on NE Iowa Response Group. Motion carried.

26.010-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to appoint Laurie Moody as Allamakee County’s 2026 Weed Commissioner. Motion carried.

26.011-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to approve paying the following 2026 wages for Precinct Election Officials: $15 per training for election trainings; regular PEOs $200 per day and precinct Chairpersons $250 per day; alternate PEOs $15 per training and $50 on-call pay if they are not called to work; Health Care Facility team and Absentee Board members $12/hour and HCF and Absentee Chairpersons $15/hour with minimum pay of 2 hours for all HCF and Absentee Board members each time they are required to report; plus mileage for all positions. Motion carried.

26.012 -Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to adopt the Construction Evaluation Resolution/Master Matrix for February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 for Allamakee County. Roll call: Keatley-aye; Byrnes-aye; Clark-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #26.012

CONSTRUCTION EVALUATION RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Iowa Code section 459.304(3) sets out the procedure if a board of supervisors wishes to adopt a “construction evaluation resolution” relating to the construction of a confinement feeding operation structure; and

WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution can submit to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) an adopted recommendation to approve or disapprove a construction permit application regarding a proposed confinement feeding operation structure; and WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution and submitted an adopted recommendation may contest the DNR’s decision regarding a specific application; and

WHEREAS, by adopting a construction evaluation resolution the board of supervisors agrees to evaluate every construction permit application for a proposed confinement feeding operation structure received by the board of supervisors between February 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027 and submit an adopted recommendation regarding that application to the DNR; and

WHEREAS, the board of supervisors must conduct an evaluation of every construction permit application using the master matrix created in Iowa Code section 459.305, but the board’s recommendation to the DNR may be based on the final score on the master matrix or may be based on reasons other than the final score on the master matrix;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY that the Board of Supervisors hereby adopts this construction evaluation resolution pursuant to Iowa Code section 459.304(3).

_____________________________________     ATTEST:____________________________

Chair, Board of Supervisors                                                                              County Auditor

Date:_________________________

26.013-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to approve resolution authorizing Engineer to execute the Certification of Final Completion of Work for all Farm-to-Market and federal or state aid construction projects. Roll Call: Keatley-aye; Byrnes-aye; Clark-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 26.013

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Allamakee County, Iowa, that Brian T. Ridenour, the County Engineer of Allamakee County, Iowa, be and is hereby designated, authorized and empowered on behalf of the Board of Supervisors of said County to execute the certification of completion of work and final acceptance thereof in accordance with plans and specifications in connection with all Farm-to-Market and federal or state aid construction projects in this county.

Dated at Waukon, Iowa, this 2^nd day of January 2026.

Board of Supervisors, Allamakee County, Iowa

_________________________________                            _________________________________

Tom Clark, Chairperson                                         Dennis Keatley, Board Member

__________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Board Member

_______________________________________

ATTEST:  Denise Beyer, Auditor

Board appointments were discussed and applications reviewed.

26.014- Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to appoint Janet Ellingson to Board of Health for 3-year term; David Blocker to Conservation Board for 5-year term; Marcia Rush and Carolyn Clark to Historic Preservation Commission for 3-year terms; Vicky Peterson to Board of Adjustment; and Fern Rissman to Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. Motion carried.

26.015-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to name the following as deputies to the elected officials: Treasurer: Timothy Fish, 1^st Deputy; Rita Troendle, 2^nd Deputy; Kimie Berns, 2^nd Deputy; Michelle Gress, 2^nd Deputy; Recorder: Michele Huinker, 1^st Deputy; Lindsey Bieber, 2^nd Deputy; Auditor: Janel Eglseder, 1^st Deputy; Lori Cahoon, 2^nd Deputy; Kim Engrav, 2^nd Deputy; Sheriff: Stuart Bloxham as Chief Deputy; Karson Hennings,  Barry Olson, Steve Wilkes, Kevin Reinhardt, Ted Jacobsen, Chris McCartney, Ed Schoenthal, Jarrod Olson and Jacob Dougherty as Deputy Sheriffs. Motion carried.

26.016 -Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to appoint Dr Schwartz and Dr. McMullan as Medical Examiners; Jacob Dougherty and Chris Dahlstrom as Medical Examiner Investigators. Motion carried.

Supervisors discussed setting dates for 2026 meetings at Veterans Museum and county libraries.

26.017-Motion Byrnes/Second Keatley to have meetings at alternate locations in 2026 as follows: May – Veterans Museum; June 15 – Postville Library; July 20 – Waterville City Council Chambers; August 17 – Lansing Library; September 21 – New Albin; October 19 – Harpers Ferry; November 16 – Robey Library, Waukon. Motion carried.

Department Head updates: Ross Geerdes thanked Supervisors for their appointment to the Conservation Board; new staff Melissa Hermsen starting Monday. Treasurer Nicki Smedsrud gave department update including mailing elderly credit forms this month. Sheriff Mellick reported a smooth holiday for his department; water project building has been constructed with progress to continue. Auditor Denise Beyer gave update on valuations being filed and upcoming meetings.

26.018-Motion Keatley/Second Byrnes to adjourn. Motion carried.

ATTEST:

__________________________________                          _______________________________________

Tom Clark, Chairperson                                          Denise Beyer, Auditor