Conservation Board Minutes – November 2024

Allamakee County Conservation Board Minutes November 12, 2024

The Allamakee County Conservation Board met in regular session November 12, 2024 beginning at 1

p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing, Iowa. Board members who were present were: Jeanie Carroll, Marilyn Clark, and Dennis Koenig. Attending from the Allamakee County Conservation Board staff was Ross Geerdes, Brody VanderKolk, Erin Cubbon, and Becca Hefflefinger. Present from the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors was Mark Reiser and Tom Clark. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. and the day’s agenda and minutes from the October 1, 2024 regular board meeting were approved with a motion by Carrol and a second by Clark with all members in favor.

During public comment Director Geerdes invited Tom Clark, newly elected Allamakee County Supervisor, for a tour of the ACCB’s areas to learn more about the projects that the county has completed and has planned in the future.

The board reviewed and approved the claims with a motion by Koenig and second by Clark. All in favor.

Director Geerdes notified the board they had received one bid for the Timber Stand Improvement at the Waterville Farm 55. Dan Jones Logging was the sole bidder with a bid of $7,520. Director Geerdes will notify the successful bidder and work with them on the terms of the agreement. The terms of the agreement sent in the bid package was for 25% of the bid to be paid within 30 days and the remainder to be paid before beginning. A motion was made by Koenig and a second motion by Clark to award the Waterville Farm 55 Timber Stand Improvement to Dan Jones Logging for $7,520. All in favor.

Geerdes asked the board to consider a Quit Claim Deed to adjust a portion of the McDowell Upper Iowa Property. Michael and Diana Lonning, property owners on the South side of the Upper Iowa River, recently were denied a permit for construction of a new deck where they previously had a deck due to the deck extending over the property line. After investigation by the County Assessors Office it was discovered that most likely the property owned by the county was surveyed wrong at the time of the

removal of the old highway bridge and that the portion of the property bordering the Lonning’s was intended for them in the original deed dating back to 1981. The Assessor’s office asked the Conservation Board to consider deeding a portion of the McDowell property approximately .25 acres in size that is completely submerged in water of the Upper Iowa River to the Lonning’s in order to correct the original survey and deed from 1981. A motion was made by Clark and a second motion was made by Carrol to deed through a Quit Claim Deed Lot 1 in the Southeast Northeast lying North of Lot 1 of 2 Southeast Northeast in Section 2 Township 99 Range 6. All in favor.

In information items the board discussed upcoming closures for the Winter Holidays which are observed by the County. The Driftless Center will be closed on the following days: November 21, 22, 23, and 24, December 24 and 25, and January 1. The Director updated the board on the meeting he had with the County Board of Supervisors regarding the boat. No action has been taken by the Supervisors regarding the existing county boat and is not planned until the new boat is received by the Sheriff’s office. A timeline was not known for the delivery of the new boat but it was not expected until Spring. The Driftless Center had experienced a power surge on October 29 during an electrical storm. Dave Cota Electric was called and asked to replace breakers that were damaged. The copy machine was also damaged and had to be repaired by TriState Business Machines. Shumacher Elevator was contacted to help with resetting the elevator over the phone. Becca Hefflefinger introduced herself to the board and the other staff members gave updates on activities they had been working on in the previous month.

 

The next meeting was set for December 3, 2024 beginning at 1 p.m. in the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center.

With no additional business the meeting was concluded at 1:33 p.m. with a motion by Clark and seconded by Koenig to adjourn. All in favor.

Posted: November 12, 2024 in 2024 Conservation Board Minutes & Agendas

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