MINUTES OF THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025

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

Meeting called to order Byrnes, followed by Pledge of Allegiance.

25.085a-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve today’s agenda and minutes from March 3, 2025. Motion carried.

The following people were present at various times throughout the meeting in person or via Zoom: Joseph Moses – Standard newspaper, Denise Beyer – Auditor/Clerk to Supervisors, Lori Egan, Val Reinke, Destiny Kapler – Postville Herald, Rachelle Howe, Michael Coyle, Clark Mellick, Stephanie Runkle, Jim Pladsen.

Public Comment: Val Reinke reported on community events.

Rachelle Howe (UERPC) and Michael Coyle (Veterans Memorial Hospital) would like to apply for Ashley Hinson’s FY26 Community Project Fund grant. Their request is for Allamakee County to be the applicant/passthrough for the money if VMH is awarded the grant.

25.085-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve resolution for Allamakee County to be the applicant/passthrough for Veterans Memorial Hospital application for FY26 Ashley Hinson Community Project Fund grant. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25.085

A RESOLUTION of the COUNTY of ALLAMAKEE, IOWA AUTHORIZING the SUBMISSION of the COMMUNITY PROJECT FUND to CONGRESSWOMAN ASHLEY HINSON office under DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY FACILITIES on behalf of VETERANS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL and the EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS to be applied for the hospital’s rehabilitation of the Postville Clinic.

WHEREAS, the County of Allamakee supports Veterans Memorial Hospital as a county-owned facility and

WHEREAS, Congresswoman Hinson’s office is requiring the County of Allamakee to pass a resolution authorizing the application submission and support and

WHEREAS, the County of Allamakee will submit the Community Project Fund grant application to Congresswoman Hinson’s in the amount of $829,505_and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the County of Allamakee, Iowa as follows:

1. The County supports and endorses this Community Project Fund application; and
2. The County authorizes appropriate UERPC staff to submit this application on or before March 12, 2025; and
3. The County will be the applicant and serve as the pass through agency.

Passed, approved, and adopted this _____ day of _______________, 2025.

_____________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chair

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors

ATTEST:

_________________________________

Denise Beyer, County Auditor

Allamakee County, IA

25.086-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to open public hearing for Amendment #15 to Zoning Ordinance L regarding Solar Utility. Motion carried.

Stephanie Runkle explained the process of writing the ordinance, which started in July 2024. Runkle defined personal solar utilities, community solar utilities, and utility scale solar and explained the setbacks and acre limits. Every condition can be addressed, if needed, by an application to the Board of Adjustment. Runkle explained how the Planning & Zoning Commission came to the1500 acre limit and that the limit could potentially be changed in the future once there is some experience.

25.087-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to close public hearing for Amendment #15 to Zoning Ordinance L regarding Solar Utility. Motion carried.

25.088-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve the first reading of Amendment #15 to Zoning Ordinance L regarding Solar Utility. Motion carried.

25.089-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to set March 17, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. for the 2^nd reading and March 24, 2025 at 9:15a.m. for the 3^rd reading of Amendment #15 to Zoning Ordinance L regarding Solar Utility. Motion carried.

25.090-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve the resolution to update the Planning & Zoning fee schedule. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25.090

A RESOLUTION BY THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE OF NON-REFUNDABLE FEES TO DEFRAY ADMINISTRATION, INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY ZONING, SUBDIVISION and FLOOD PLAIN ORDINANCES

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors have adopted ordinances establishing zoning, subdivision and flood plain development regulations;

WHEREAS, said ordinances require the Board of Supervisors to adopt a resolution establishing fees;

WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission have reviewed the existing fee schedule and recommend the Supervisors adopt a new schedule of fees; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors to approve and adopt this Resolution establishing the following fees at the stated level:

1. Zoning Ordinance: Building Permit
   1. Sliding scale based on estimated construction cost
      25. Up to $9,999                                  $25.00
      26. $10,000 – $49,999       $50.00

• $50,000 – $99,999       $100.00

200. $100,000-$199,999       $200.00
201. $200,000-$499,999       $300.00
202. $500,000+ $500.00

• Signs, On/Off Premise $25/$50

1. Renewable Energy Projects

(BESS, CSES, USSES, & WECS)        $1,000.00

2. Flood Plain Development Permit for Structures           $100.00
3. Construction in the Bluffland Prot. District $150.00
4. Zoning Ordinance: Amendments, (rezoning and text amendments) $250.00
5. Zoning Ordinance: Variances, Conditional Use, and Appeals $150.00
6. Subdivision Ordinance: Subdivision Plats
   50. Minor, Non-Agricultural                           $ 50.00
   51. Major, Preliminary and/or Final (one fee) $150.00
   52. Special Meeting Fee                                                                                           $300.00
   53. All aforementioned fees shall be tripled for any (late) application submitted after construction or change in use has commenced.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this new schedule of fees shall take effect immediately.

PASSED AND APPROVED on this 10th day of March 2025.

Signed: _____________________________________________ Chairperson

ATTEST: _____________________________________________ Board Secretary

Notification of eMMPs filed for Gibbs Dairy, West Ridge Ag and EY1.

Keatley talked to Attorney Gericke, Beth Manley at ISAC and Jason Howes – nothing needs to be done with the MHDS Data Release form right away. Beyer asked Manley to pull the Allamakee request that was previously submitted, and she confirmed. Keatley recommends waiting to take action until the situation is more stable with more concrete direction on what is needed.

Auditor Beyer presented a listing of warrants over a year old, or issued in previous fiscal year, to be voided. Accounts Payable deputy has obtained bonds against double indemnity for those needed to be reissued.

25.091-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve voiding warrants over 1 year old and warrants issued in previous fiscal year needing to be voided and/or reissued. Motion carried.

Sheriff Mellick presented a listing of amounts owed to sheriff’s office employees for missed increases not given per union contract. Mellick will meet with union employees and come back for approval.

25.092-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to adjourn as Board of Supervisors and convene as Board of Canvassers. Motion carried.

Supervisors performed first-tier canvass of the results of March 4, 2025 Postville Community School District election. Next week there will be a second-tier canvass adding in Winneshiek and Clayton results, with action to declare winner of race to fill a vacancy and declare the Revenue Purpose Statement public measure passed.

25.093-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to adjourn as Board of Canvassers and reconvene as Board of Supervisors. Motion carried.

Engineer Ridenour requested approval of resolution to post embargos.

25.094-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve resolution for embargoes on some asphalt secondary roads. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 25.094

WHEREAS, weather conditions will soon cause some of the secondary roads in Allamakee County to deteriorate to an extent that heavy loads will cause considerable damage, and

WHEREAS, it will be necessary to reduce and restrict the gross axle weights of vehicles using certain secondary roads in Allamakee County,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Allamakee County Engineer be authorized and instructed to post an embargo on certain secondary roads as he deems necessary with restricted axle load limits of 5 tons per single axle and 7 tons per tandem axle.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that signs setting forth this restriction be posted at both ends and at the approaches of intersecting roads for each and every secondary road for which the restriction is deemed necessary.  This resolution is to be effective upon posting of the signs and is to be in accordance with Section 321, Code of Iowa 2025.

Dated at Waukon, Iowa this 10th day of March, 2025.

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY                                   ATTEST:

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

__________________________________                 _______________________________________

Daniel Byrnes, Chairperson                           Auditor

__________________________________                 _______________________________________

Dennis Keatley, Member                                Tom Clark, Member

Ridenour presented a resolution to change FY2025 County Five Year Program with project name and number change and change the funding amount for Suttle Creek Road bridge over Yellow River.

25.095-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve resolution to amend the Secondary Road Project in the 2025 County Five Year Program. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

R E S O L U T I O N # 25.095

Resolution to amend a Secondary Road Project in the 2025 County Five Year Program

Allamakee County Secondary Roads

WHEREAS, unforeseen circumstances have arisen since adoption of the approved Secondary Road Five Year Program and previous revisions, requiring changes to the sequence, funding, and timing of the proposed work plan.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Board of Supervisors of Allamakee County, Iowa, in accordance with Iowa Code section 309.22 initiates and recommends modification of the following project in the State Fiscal Year 2026, for approval by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), per Iowa Code section 309.23 and Iowa DOT Instructional Memorandum 2.050.

The following project shall be AMENDED in Priority Year FY2026 for funding type and funding amount:

BROS – Bridge Replacement off System

DGA – Discretionary Grant Application on any system

Passed this 10th day of March, 2025.

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors:                                                ATTEST:

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                                                              County Auditor

Dennis Keatley, Member                                                                              Tom Clark, Member

Department Head updates: Engineer Ridenour explained the process for amending the Five Year Program and gave department update including upcoming 6-county meeting. Sheriff Mellick gave department update. Auditor Beyer gave department update.

Supervisors moved into a budget work session to discuss FY26 budget carryovers.

25.096-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to adjourn. Motion carried.

ATTEST:

__________________________________                           _______________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                        Denise Beyer, Auditor