08/04/25 BOS Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ALLAMAKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2025

(UNOFFICIAL)

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

 

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

25.276-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve today’s agenda and minutes from July 28, 2025 meeting. Motion carried.

 

The following people were present at various times throughout the meeting in person and/or by zoom: Joseph Moses – Waukon Standard, Denise Beyer – Auditor and Clerk to Supervisors, Destiny Kapler – Postville Herald, Val Reinke, Michael Coyle, Amy Bresnahan, Brock Stortz, Hank Stortz, Alyson Stortz, Tyler Stortz, Brian Stortz, Charlie Smith, Ashley Earheart, Laurie Moody, Shawn Ramler – Martin Equipment.

 

Public Comment: Val Reinke reported on Corn Days and Star City Music Festival and upcoming events this week; community meeting at Red Barn in Lansing regarding the Lansing Black Hawk bridge.

 

Michael Coyle, Veterans Memorial Hospital CEO, gave quarterly update: June 14 was go-live date for new Epic system; new roof is installed; HVAC system is next; received new ambulance a few months ago and they will begin planning for replacement of the next ambulance; explained the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the significant impact on hospitals across the country regarding funding and Medicaid changes over the next 5-8 years.

 

Supervisor Byrnes reviewed each amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.

25.277-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve second reading of Amendment #16 to Zoning Ordinance L to change the Zoning District Boundaries and change the Zoning District of the Official Zoning Map of Allamakee County at 1252 Old Rossville Rd, Waukon, Iowa 52172 from R-1, Rural Residential District to A-1, Agricultural District. Motion carried.

 

25.278-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve second reading of Amendment #17 to Zoning Ordinance L to change the Zoning District Boundaries and change the Zoning District of the Official Zoning Map of Allamakee County at a parcel legally described as S 6 AC SW NW of Section 24, Township 98 North, Range 6 West of the 5th Principal Meridian of Allamakee County. This amendment will change the zoning district of the parcel from A-1 Agricultural to I-1 Industrial. Motion carried.

 

25.279-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve second reading of Amendment #18 to Zoning Ordinance L by changing the Zoning District Boundaries and changing the Zoning District of the Official Zoning Map of Allamakee County a parcel legally described as SW EX PT S OF RD & EX LOT 1 SW SW & EX LOT 1 NE SW; SW SE LYING N OF RD; NW SE EX PT LOTS 13 & 15 OF CREEK VIEW SUBDIV & EX LOT 1; PAR IN NW COR OF SE SE; NE SE LYING S OF HWY 9 EX LOT K of Section 25, Township 99 North, Range 4 West of the 5th Principal Meridian of Allamakee County. This amendment will change the zoning district of a portion of this parcel from A-1 Agricultural to R-1 Rural Residential District. Motion carried.

 

Steam trap project bids for 109 steam traps and 78 thermostatic TLV control valves were opened and read by Supervisor Tom Clark:

Bowker-Pinnacle bid $90,929; their bid contained other options as well

Winona Heating and Ventilation bid $79,702

Ace Refrigeration – Cedar Rapids bid $72,756

A work session will be scheduled to review the bids for consistency and accuracy.

 

Supervisor Byrnes notified the public that the following have filed electronic Manure Management Plans – Wayne & Shelly Weber Farm, Gruber Ridge LLC, Millerway, Enyart Dairy, Long View Ridge, GLH Pork.

 

25.280-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to set August 25, 2025 at 9:10am for public hearing for the construction permit application for Gav-N View Farms, LLC. Motion carried.

 

Sheriff Mellick shared some quotes and options for body cameras and in-vehicle cameras and computers. Companies providing bids were Getac, Axon, and Motorola and bids varied from 5-year contract options with computers included with replacement of in-vehicle systems included in the annual cost for Getac to prices that do not include in-vehicle computers and computers having to be purchased separately; first-year costs were included on one bid with year one being higher than years 2 through 5. Supervisors will hold a work session on Monday, August 11 to discuss and understand the differences in quotes.

 

25.281-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to approve use of county credit card for renewal of software not to exceed $210. Motion carried.

 

Brian Stortz spoke about the fences that were fixed at the county farm pasture land; Stortz assumed he could offset the rent payment he owed with what the county owed him for the fencing; he missed signing the e-signature for the cashier’s check to pay his rent and thought it was taken care of until the Supervisors voted to terminate the contract. Original due date for pasture rent was May 15. Supervisors agreed to consider a second chance with consideration to be added to next week’s agenda. Supervisors also expressed to Stortz the importance of the rent due date, reminded Stortz of October 15 due date for next rent payment and if the decision next week is to grant a second chance, there will not be a third chance. Stortz expressed understanding.

 

Engineer Ridenour reviewed Volney Bridge Repair project bids; one correction on Minnowa Construction bid from $425,631.40 to $438,824.00 due to calculation error; low bidder is Cramer and Associates Inc; bids are over estimate; the project is not an emergency; tough decision, but if all bids are rejected Ridenour would like to bid the project again at a later date. Discussion was held on possible outcomes of rebidding the project.

25.282-Motion Keatley/Second Clark to reject all bids. Motion carried.

 

Ridenour presented bids for a new 2025 wheeled excavator – bids from Ziegler: one for Cat M318 and one for M320 and Martin Equipment bid for John Deere. Martin Equipment quote for 2025 John Deere 190GW-FT4 is low bid.

25.283-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve purchase of 2025 John Deere 190GE-FT4 from Martin Equipment at $296,200. Motion carried.

 

Ridenour presented a set of plans for bridge over Patterson Creek on Ellingson Bridge Drive and explained the project.

25.284-Motion Clark/Second Keatley to approve bridge replacement plan on Ellingson Bridge Drive over Patterson Creek. Motion carried.

 

Department Head Updates: Laurie Moody, Weed Commissioner, received a letter from an individual about Japanese knotweed problem and a GPS program he created to track where it is located in each county; he is requesting help in locating this weed to add the GPS coordinates to his program to bring awareness to the state of the problem; also a program to work with landowners regarding the knotweed. Moody and Engineer will be looking into a complaint about an open septic system in Lafayette township. Engineer Ridenour added comment about the open septic encroachment on right-of-way; gave project updates; referenced Letter to the Editor about Black Hawk bridge and maintenance of Army Road to maintain river access; reported a retirement within his department. Sheriff Mellick reported Friday was the deadline for Deputy Sheriff applications with several applications received from both certified and non-certified officers; dispatcher/jailer position still open with very few applications. Auditor Beyer reported that tax statements have been sent to the outsourcing company.

 

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

 

ATTEST:

__________________________________                          _______________________________________

Dan Byrnes, Chairperson                                         Denise Beyer – Auditor

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Posted: August 6, 2025 in 2025 Board of Supervisors Minutes & Agendas

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