04/14/25 BOS Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025

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

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

25.131-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve today’s agenda and minutes from April 7, 2025 meeting. 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, Karen Mathis, Val Reinke, Amy Bresnahan, Dave Mooney, Brian Huinker, Laurie Moody, Brian Ridenour, Janel Eglseder, Clark Mellick, Roger Mohn.

Public Comment: Val Reinke gave update on a recent conference and upcoming meetings and events.

25.132-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to open public hearing for FY26 Allamakee County budget. Motion carried.

Auditor Beyer reviewed the change in valuations and levies. No comments from the public were received and no public were present. Supervisors thanked everyone for working together during the budget process and feel we have a well-coordinated effort in the county.

25.133-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to close public hearing for FY26 Allamakee County budget. Motion carried.

Supervisor Clark read the resolution approving FY26 compensation increases for elected officials of 0% for Supervisors and 3% for all other elected officials.

25.134-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to adopt resolution approving FY25 compensation increases for elected officials. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 25.134

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Compensation Board meets annually to recommend a compensation schedule for elected officials for the fiscal year immediately following, in accordance with Iowa Code Chapters 331.905 and 331.907, and

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Compensation Board met on December 10, 2024, and made the following salary recommendations for the following elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025:

Elected Official          Current Salary          Proposed Increase          Recommended Salary

Auditor                       $68,828                             4%                                    $71,582

Recorder                     $68,828                      4%                                    $71,582

Treasurer                     $68,828                      4%                                    $71,582

Sheriff                         $95,748                      5%                                 $100,536

County Attorney       $105,781                      4%                                   $110,013

Supervisors                  $31,127                      4% (+$2,000 Chair stipend)   $32,372 (+$2,000 Chair stipend)

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors approve decreasing the Compensation Board recommendation to 0% for Board of Supervisors and 3% for all other elected officials and approve the following salaries for Allamakee County elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025:

Elected Official          Approved Salary                  Approved Increase

Auditor                       $70,893                                         3%

Recorder                     $70,893                                         3%

Treasurer                     $70,893                                         3%

Sheriff                         $98,620                                         3%

County Attorney       $108,954                                         3%

Supervisors                  $31,127 ($2,000 Chair stipend)    0%

Approved this 14^TH day of APRIL, 2025.

Motion by: Clark           Seconded by: Keatley

AYES: Clark, Byrnes, Keatley                       NAYS: None

ALLAMAKEE County Board of Supervisors                ATTEST:

____________________________                                                    ________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                                                    Denise Beyer, Auditor

____________________________

Dennis Keatley, Supervisor

____________________________

Tom Clark, Supervisor

25.135-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve the following salary/wage increases effective in FY26: 3% for non-elected department heads and non-union employees; $0.50/hour in addition to the 3% for Brooke Schwartzhoff in Treasurer’s office; an additional 2% of Treasurer’s salary for all Treasurer’s deputies; an additional 1% of Recorder’s salary for 1^st Deputy Recorder, Michelle Huinker; an increase to $21.00/hour for full-time Solid Waste employee Tim Smedsrud; an increase to $20.00/hour for part-time Solid Waste staff Lonnie Tysland. Motion carried.

25.136-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve resolution appointing Auditor Denise Beyer as Budget Director for compensation of $4,000 to be paid throughout the FY26 year. Roll call: Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION # 25.136

APPOINTING ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BUDGET DIRECTOR

WHEREAS, Iowa Code §331.434 states the Board of each County shall prepare and adopt a budget, certify taxes, and provide appropriations;

WHEREAS, Allamakee County Board of Supervisors relies on assistance from County Auditor Denise Beyer in preparing the Allamakee County Budget pursuant to Iowa Code §331.434;

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors have determined Denise Beyer, the currently elected Allamakee County Auditor to have the required experience and expertise to assist the Board with the preparation of the Allamakee County Budget pursuant to Iowa Code §331.434;

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors have determined the amount of $4,000 for compensation to Auditor Beyer for time and effort in working with department heads, attending all budget work sessions, preparing all required hearing notices for newspapers, calculating levies, and preparing the final budget, as well as monitoring the budget for necessary amendments;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors to designate their duties to prepare and adopt a budget pursuant to Iowa Code §331.434 to Auditor Denise Beyer, beginning July 1, 2025. The amount of $4,000 shall be allocated to Auditor Denise Beyer throughout the entire FY26 fiscal year.

Adopted this 14th day of April, 2025.

AYES: Clark, Byrnes, Keatley               NAYS: None

_____________________________  _____________          ______________________    __________

Dan Byrnes, Supervisor Chair             Date                            Dennis Keatley, Supervisor                 Date

_____________________________  _____________          ATTEST: _________________ __________

Tom Clark, Supervisor                         Date                                           Denise Beyer, Auditor          Date

25.137-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to set FY26 County support of libraries at $4,000 base per library plus 16.5 cents per thousand and an additional $650 for the 4 smaller libraries – Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin and Waterville and approve the FY26 library contract. Motion carried.

25.138-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve resolution adopting FY26 Budget and Certification of Taxes. Roll call – Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye, Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #25.138

Adoption of Allamakee County Budget and Certification of Taxes

Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

WHEREAS, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors has considered the proposed FY 2025/2026 county budget and certification of taxes, and

WHEREAS, a public hearing concerning the proposed county budget was held on April 14, 2025;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Allamakee County that the county budget and certificate of taxes for FY 2024/2025, as set forth in the budget summary, is hereby adopted and that the Allamakee County Auditor is directed to file said budget and to establish accounting records in accordance with the attached schedules.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson and the County Auditor be and are hereby authorized to sign the approved FY 2025/2026 Allamakee County budget.

Signed and dated this 14th  day of APRIL, 2025.

ATTEST:

____________________________                                                           ____________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                                                              Denise Beyer

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors                                                 Allamakee County Auditor

____________________________

Dennis Keatley, Supervisor

____________________________

Tom Clark, Supervisor

No action taken regarding resolution to set Township Trustee and Clerk compensation. Beyer will have Gericke review resolution.

Brian Huinker, the county’s health insurance agent, reviewed the quotes that were received for FY26 county health insurance. The Health Insurance Committee felt the ISAC plan is the best option for the county due to history, reserves and a wellness feature that would allow the county to lower our renewal rate by 5% in 2 years, which could be a big savings for the county. Huinker is confident in the funding of the partial self-funded insurance account and thanked the HIC for their work. Voluntary vision insurance rates have no change and dental has slight increase. Health Insurance Committee recommendation is to change provider from UHC to ISAC Wellmark on 7/1/2025.

25.139-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve change of health insurance provider from UHC to ISAC Wellmark plan on 7/1/2025. Motion carried.

25.140-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to increase flex carryover amount for FY26 to $640 beginning July 1, 2025. Motion carried.

25.141-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to increase the maximum for FY26 Medical Flex Spending contributions to $3,300. Motion carried.

25.142-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve blood draws for employees to be paid for out of the partially self-funded account. Motion carried.

25.143-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to accept and place on file quarterly reports for Relief, Veterans Affairs and Recorder. Motion carried.

25.144-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve use of county credit card by Sheriff’s office for purchase of electrical connectors for vehicle upfitting not to exceed $95.00. Motion carried.

Roger Mohn gave an updated project estimate for Public Safety Center Water System modifications after receiving updated quotes. This is based on placing tanks in the quonset hut. Total project cost is up to $365,948.77. The quote for getting electrical to that building is $69,318.13, a shocking number. Mohn and Mellick were led to believe keeping the pump above ground would be a less expensive option, but discussion was held on whether they should look back at the underground option. A south side location for the above ground tank was discussed to possibly lower the cost of the electrical quote. Discussion was held on how to move forward.

Engineer Ridenour presented Federal Aid Agreement with IDOT – $2.3 million Federal Aid and $1.9 million Farm to Market for a total $4.2 million project.

25.145-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve Federal Aid agreement with IDOT for asphalt resurfacing project on A16/Dorchester Drive & A11/Pool Hill Drive. Motion carried.

Ridenour presented agreement for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funding of $2,495,480 through Upper Explorerland.

25.146-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve Federal Aid agreement with Upper Explorerland RPA-1 for a concrete overlay on part of A52/Elon Drive. Motion carried.

Ridenour explained the bridge embargo resolution; they went through all bridges this winter and only one change to 17G-2 – Lenz bridge.

25.147-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve Bridge Embargo Resolution. Roll Call- Clark-aye; Byrnes-aye; Keatley-aye. Motion carried.

BRIDGE EMBARGO RESOLUTION 25.147

WHEREAS:  The Board of Supervisors is empowered under authority of Sections 321.236 Sub. (8), 321.255 and 321.471 to 321.473 to prohibit the operation of vehicles or impose limitations as to the weight thereof on designated highways or highway structures under their jurisdiction, and

WHEREAS:  the County Engineer has completed (or has caused to be completed) the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of certain county bridges, in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards and has determined that they are inadequate for two-lane legal loads.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors that vehicle and load limits be established and that signs be erected advising of the permissible maximum weights thereof on the bridges listed, as follows:

Passed and approved this 14th day of April, 2025.

ATTEST:

Daniel Byrnes, Chairperson Board of Supervisors               Auditor

Ridenour presented the FY26 Secondary Road Budget and explained the law changes for due dates. Board approval must be entered by April 30 on budget and May 13 on programs. No action taken on IDOT FY26 Secondary Road budget.

Ridenour presented 5-year plan and went through the projects. No action taken.

Department Head updates: Dave Mooney gave Solid Waste department update; Town & Country has been sold and the new company will be taking over by the end of the month. The new company will honor the current contract. Engineer Ridenour is removing road embargoes today; looked at outside of building where interior wall moisture is a problem. Laurie Moody obtained 2 bids for replacing the administrative assistant desk in their office – about $7,700 with delivery/set-up and take-away and requested the office be painted. Sheriff Mellick gave department update including feral animal call and assisting with mock accident at high school and expressed appreciation of dispatchers during National Public Safety Communications Week. Auditor Beyer gave department update.

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

ATTEST:

__________________________________                          _______________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                        Denise Beyer, Auditor