Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

All right. Good morning, everybody. We'll call the meeting to order. We kick through this. Motion to approve the agenda. I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. Mr. F. I. I. Minutes to the April 21st, 26 board meeting. make a motion to approve

and I'm not seconding it because there's some misrepresentation in it and you two can decide or we can do some corrections. Thank you. what you think was misrepresented statement in here was that um let's see the packet in the meeting reflects his immediation it's in the section on the public hearing set date for public hearing and this is no reflection on Karen so Karen I want you to understand that um but uh Eric himself said that that was not a mediation and that he at that meeting didn't and we did not make any decisions. Well, I'll disagree to that because I spoke to Eric and it was a mediation. That's where we went through the whole thing page by page.

Can I read a statement from him? It says, "We did not conduct the mediation and no decisions were made at the meeting." It's his words exactly. And when did he give you those? uh like yesterday. Okay. When I spoke to him last week, that's not what he said. So, that's fine. And you two can approve the minutes as provided. I'll second the minute. So, all those in favor? I

standard agreement between Wuffalo County Board of Supervisors, Krishna Contracting Manager for Wo County Building Renovation. the standard contracts. Stevie has read through it and approved it and she also did approve the one from two weeks ago. Perfect. I'm going to make motion to approve. I'll second. Those in favor. Release of information policy for Veterans Affairs. Brian, you're on that board. Is this something they ask for? Yes. Mhm. Yeah. I believe she wrote one up for them.

Yes. And do we need to approve that? Is that the I would say the veterans need to approve it, but there was a discussion about having an overall policy. I would think they would have to approve it first, then it would have to be approved through our board second. So let let's let them proceed with with that process. Correct. Okay. So we'll table that till they approve it at their meeting. You take care of letting them know that. Yes, I'll I'll take care of that.

Set public hearing for renewable energy ordinance. This would be setting dates for public hearings where the public can voice their opinions on any changes, amendments, alterations, anything they want to put. And before we can set a date, we have to agree on an ordinance and we have not. So it is apparent that there's no need to set the date. And I can address several issues which like to do. It's not on here to address issues. It's on here to set date. That's why we have public hearing to address issues.

I've not said. So, if you don't agree to what's in there, then we'll I'll vote to set a date. You vote and you're not. So, we're stalemated. We'll go to set public hearing for fiscal year 2526 budget. Any questions on the 2526 budget process?

Definitely question on that. May 19th at 2025 at 9:30 a.m. will be the public hearing. Motion to approve that time. I'll approve it. I'll second. Those in favor? I.

Gio Schneider professional service agreement. Uh we're updating an agreement with Go Snider to include GIS services. It's an additional 28,000 to the services they already provide. And I had to clarify that with Travis just to make sure that's how it was in there. So it's allocated for 22,000. This time I think it stated 26 if I read it right. 27

27 26 something. Yeah, almost 27. So, the annual cost would be $81,549, which includes the services that we already use. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Those in favor? I rocket fuels and food mark cigarette tobacco nicotine vapor per minutes. I'll make a motion to approve and I'll second. Those in favor? Resolution 14-2026 authorize auditor to pay claims. I'm going to make motion to approve.

And I'll second. And just to clarify for the record that Daniel is now our auditor. Those in favor? Thank you. Resolution 152026 appropriations for fiscal year 2627 budget. I'll make a motion to approve. And I'll second. Those in favor?

I I resolution 162026 selecting or setting elected officials annual salaries. uh auditor, county attorney, recorder, and treasurer 75 cents an hour. Supervisors were zero. Their sheriff was a $10,000 increase. And that's the back the blue policy was passed a few years ago. He has to be in a a wage match of other similar positions throughout the state. So, any questions on that?

I'll move to approve. I'll second. Those in favor? I I resolution 18206 Iowa code section 317 noxious weed control. Noxious weed control will go into effect on June 1st, 2026. We approved a policy on noxious weeds uh last year in May. Approval of this. I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. Those in favor? I.

Iowa Community Assurance Pool IAP for fiscal year 2627. We was asking Willie some questions on this before. Is there anything you want to clarify on it? Um yeah, just a couple of things. Um just so you're aware. Is that on? Yep. Not now. No, it's on.

Oh, I see that little headline. Okay. So, uh just to let you know uh aware, I did receive the final department um budget ch or changes for the 26 policy year. So, those were submitted late yesterday afternoon. We will probably have the rating in the next 25 to 30 days. But I can tell you what the base rate changes are. And the important thing about the the two areas that I'm seeing a lot of increase in the base rate for property and autophysical damage is zero and last year was zero as well. However, um the general liability, auto liability and public officials um those rate changes are about 3 to 6%. The general liability is basically rated on your budgetary expenditures. So, from last year, I pulled the DOM um on the budget that's been submitted. It's about a 9% increase from last year. 2025 was 26,94,356. And that's the reestimated um what was submitted for this current coming year 2627 is 29,224,213. Um on your claims um for the last five years the county has had 79 claims that total $849,177. And um Brian and I have talked about looking at different deductible options. So, when we get those new rates in, what we'll do is a trend analysis and look at what your current deductibles are, what the total number of claims that you're averaging for the past five years, and whether it makes sense to increase those deductibles. Um, I've done several for different entities over the past two or three months and for most of them, the

deductible savings did not justify increasing those deductibles because of the increase difference that you would pay out for each claim. Um, your property line is 66% of all claims that's paid out. You had 36 claims paid out over $561,000 over the past five years. General liability is second in line. You had 29% of all claims dollars were in the GL line um with 31,000 or 31 claims paid out $249,390. So that'll just give us some framework and I'll leave all these details for you. So when we get to that point where we have the invoice, we can look at what these numbers are versus what the deductible savings would be on um higher deductibles or adding deductibles. Right now in your general liability, we don't have one. We do have on law enforcement. Now, I can tell you from last year when we did the rating to where we're at this year that we're rating, um, your fleet, which is your auto that we have insured, um, there's a $17,397 increase in valuation, and that transfers to about $1,147 in premium for 26 versus 25. However, your property insured value has increased about 13,258,982 and that's approximately $35,800 increase in premium. So, what we can do there is everything right now is at replacement cost. We might want to go through and say, okay, this is a building we would not replace if something happened to it. So instead of insuring it at replacement cost, we only want to insure it at an agreed amount.

And that agreed amount would be enough for cleanup and disposal and possibly replacing it with a different type of building with a different function, if that makes sense. But we'll have to wait until we get the actual rating back um to determine how what you know action you want to take on everything. But you do have a list of all the buildings now and what their replacement value that are on the the schedule right now. So, you know, beforehand you might want to look back and say, "Oh, we would definitely replace this this this this, but we would not necessarily replace this building or this building or we would not replace it at the current um you know structure how it is like pine quality." So, that's something that we can look forward to as well. Um, what you have now is the supplement and, um, as we mentioned earlier, I've already submitted that because it had to be done last Friday. Um, I can do changes for the next few days, but other than that, um, what we normally do is we put a hold on everything. Um, you have coverage for it automatically, but we will not make those changes until after July 1. Um you know there's a lot of changes that come through on a regular basis weekly but the rating will stand for what we have submitted as of um yesterday late afternoon.

Any questions? There are a couple of places there where we just need you know to sign off and say yes. Okay. I don't have any questions. I'll make a motion to accept as provided for us. I'll second. All those in favor. Thank you. Audit agreement with Anderson Larkin and Company for fiscal year 2526. I am going to make a motion to table this until our current state audit is complete. That's the motion I was going to make to do.

Yeah, because we're currently the state auditors are currently auditing several departments. So, I think it just be in our best interest to table this till they are done. And I'll call today after the meeting, see where they're at on that. Question, Brian. No, I'm just wondering if we can still table it, but we need to check on if that's the right process. Yeah, that's that's why table it and just check and see. I don't know what we should do. That's fine. Two audits at the same time. Was there a motion? Yeah. Yeah, she made a motion. I'll second.

All those in favor? discussion of Wo County dust control policy. All right, Brad, you got the floor. Well, I I was not the one to put this on the agenda for today, but um Yeah, I know. So, I've had a few phone calls. I I'm assuming these other two have, too. So, we're coming into the season where contractors are uh preparing to put down dust control per for per for our policy. We work with two separate companies right now that uh market

two different companies Vincent Stevens out ofa

andron services I believe they're out of metro area I'm not sure which heights I miss the actual address but um and they market their services and um do provide liability insurance uh um evidence to us. So, um there's a few other things they have to go through to be considered approved contractors. Um one thing that came to my attention in uh you know, really the last week or two was uh that there's a large number of individuals that put down dust control of varying types of material on the roads. um that creates none of those come in in the past and got permits that I was aware of. There may have been a few, but generally speaking, they didn't get permits. They just put down maybe the same material that these contractors are providing. Um it could be there's two or three other um not necessarily chemicals but uh products that they put down be waste products from um various other um activities like I think cooking oil um waste cooking oil that have been cleared of any hard matter to the the liquid. Um there's a I think there may have been some of liant sulfanate which is a tree sap essentially um that's been an approved material in the past uh by many counties. um our county uh only thing we could find in a quick search of records was back in 2005 there's a resol resolution by the board approving only calcium chlor calcium

chloride as a chemical for dust control current environment around the world magnesium chloride is a more accepted material it's a little less corrosive as far as uh impacted vehicles um a little bit safer for the environment as well. But calcium chloride, magnesium chloride are really the two chemicals that are prominent in the world. Um they actually soften the roaded to a certain degree to the point where the roaded will absorb moisture and that's how they uh create some dust control. Um that lignant sulfonate tree sap uh forms more of a crust over the top of the road um and controls dust that way. Um there's uh eight or nine 10 something like that uh property owners within the county that have been applying their own that we're aware of. Um as I say various types of materials. So, we sent out a memo last week reminding them that only approved contractors for the policy were allowed to um put dust control down. Um and also stated in that letter with the late notice as comparison to the sign up period for dust control that we would work with the approved contractors, make sure they had an option to do something. So, um had a few phone calls on that. Um but uh some of the people may have only received that mailing yesterday. So I'm not sure what but anyhow that was an attempt to be in compliance with their policy. I said we can we can work with individuals if they want to become an approved contractor. You know they get

appropriately licensed for working in the rightway. And that's the type of coverage that we require for any permit to do work in the rightway. Um even a driveway or um you know tile work outlets into the rightway. Any of that type of activity requires a liability insurance with the county is an additional insured. So it's nothing novel that we're looking at there. It's for the protection of the county from a liability liability standpoint. So what you're saying if an individual wanted to come in and get the go through the procedure to be an applicator, they could do that. It's a little, you know, it's not as or would they be done just as an individual with liability.

Um well, they would there's a couple other steps they have to go through. I'd have to read the actual step by step as long as they were doing the calcium or the magnesium,

right? That those are really the only two products. the lignant sulfate would be acceptable, but there's no one that currently is doing that as a contractor that I'm aware of in this area. I think the material got to be too expensive or um too difficult to work with or whatever. I'm not sure. It just kind of um slowly went away through the process over the last 10 years, not just here, but across the state. It's just kind of dissipated.

So, you do have a permit process in place if somebody individually wants to do their own

project. And I I can't tell you when uh what year this was initiated because the document that we have is updated annually for the application date. So, it's states the year for each each um each season, if you will. Um but that um oh the um resolution that the board passed was in 2005 April of 2005 but it's that stated it's real short um it was by Wo County Board of Supervisors that started immediately calcium chlorine calcium chloride will be the only product allowed to be placed on road in Wo County for the purposes of providing dust control. I think that was probably about the same time frame that used motor oil was strictly forbidden for use on road beds. So, it may have been a um accentuating that uh DNR decision as well. So,

and since you brought the DNR, just to clarify, if the DNR approves a product, doesn't necessarily mean that it's approved put on the road,

right? And vegetable oil is the one thing that comes to mind. Uh had a round table with our maintainer operators this morning. So, this was a big point of discussion in that it sets up real hard. It basically acts as a base stabilizer. They describe it as setting up like concrete. No, it's it's hard. Um, so unless you have extremely consistent application and incorporation into that roaded across the entire width for end length, you end up with a lot of potholes. And that seemed to be the biggest problem with the couple of spots we had was significant number of potholes and they're impossible to to fix without tearing up the entire road. And tearing up the old road was quite uh quite a venture that they had to use the rippers to do it. They couldn't do it with a regular maintainer blade like we typically do on those dust control spots. So

is the power become a liability issue obviously damage to vehicles. Well, or bounce off the road, right? And they can lose control if they hit them at high speeds.

Are these two magnesium and calcium? Are they liquid pellets? I know you can get the calcium chloride in plet form, but typically the contractors that apply it use a a tanker truck with a boom application system. So they get a even spread across the entire well at minimum 20 foot width. Usually they try to get a little bit more than that, but I know the magnesium

I can buy it in a flake like Yes. And so it it's possible for an individual to do some dust suppression, which is what this is considered. You put down the flakes and then you have to wet it to activate it. You're essentially doing the mixing on the ground rather than in a tank.

So you're proposing that we need to do something with a new resolution. Is that correct? Um, well, I think at least allowing the magnesium chloride, which has really been the the industry standard for several years, um, would be appropriate. Um, whether that's by resolution or updating our policy. I guess I would defer to you which means be the appropriate action. We would have to do it by resolution because that according to that resolution, we'd only use one thing. So,

yeah. And I I do think lignant sulfanate is a also a a recognized product statewide Midwest US that is used but it's it's less common now but it it uh it's a little different treatment for us but we can we can manage it and it's not harmful to the road or the environment. And if we was to work with the individuals that want to work with you, liability insurance, I keep hearing you say, would be required.

I think so. I I think if you talk with our insurance carrier, they would agree. It's like any other activity within the rideway, liability insurance is required. uh you know whether it's a a driveway u tile permit or you know they're doing some ditch cleaning of their own brush clearing any of those activities requires liability insurance with the county as an additional insured just clear but not to cut you off but he appointed a willing he's right you would concur okay

it's protection for the county you're using the risk transfer because you have no control over what they are You have no control over the product install.

If somebody put it on without permission or or didn't have the liability, it would 100% fall on us or somebody got bounced off the road. And typically if someone puts it down and we're, you know, without a permit, not coordinating with us, um, number one, we may not realize it was there, but generally speaking, we don't recognize that as something that we need to abstain from blading on. If it's a approved dust control location, we will abstain from blading as long as it's safe. You know, once potholes or other issues start to come up, it's necessary for us to play to maintain the safe road, which is a primary objective.

We have somebody here that has an interest in the mark, you want to come up, you want to speak, ask some questions, Mark. Well, and does maybe this helps you resolve what your issue was, but yeah. Bring it to our attention, please. Yeah. Mark Mark called me last night. I told you come up to meeting here so we can Yeah. Well, I just have a couple questions about it. Turn the mic on, of course. Yeah. State your name for real. Push it one more time there. Mark, the red light didn't come on. There you go. You're on.

So, um, for the past 30 years, I've had death control put down. Sometimes I do it myself and I've always used calcium chloride. And you mentioned in your 2005 ruling, is that what it was? Resolution. Resolution by the board. So, you didn't mention nothing about um a licensed applicator. It just said that you know restriction of what you could use, but it didn't say you didn't mention anything about the licensed applicator. That resolution didn't address that.

Okay. So, can you give me cases and case numbers of when there's any liability that came back on Waffle County, anybody for putting down calcium chloride ever? I'm not aware of any any I mean that's that's the approved product. So,

so and also you're talking about liability for anything I do. So, I I finish mitches and you know I plant flowers alongside the road and everything like that. I mean, where's the control going to stop at? I take care of that. And I actually asked the county to not maintain the road, the little quarter mile strip in front of my road because I got a nice crown in it. And I my family's always rocked that road until the last couple years. The countyy's put rock down. We've always maintained it. And I don't know why that I would have to buy insurance or make improvements for dust control with with calcium chloride.

But the permit process is already in place. Is that correct? Yes. And I'm uh checking around the office. It goes back to the tenure of Brian Moore. So it' be seven, eight years ago at a minimum. Probably much longer than that. Um just really did a quick search this morning. So we didn't want to cross the um the initial dust control policy I think and we can ask this I think the insurance deal is not an probably an additional cost it's just a listing the county as an an insured is that normal or what do you what do we know about that me

yeah anyone that's doing work on county property should always have their own insurance listing the county as aur is Is there an expense to that or is it just a listing? It depends. Probably a homeowner's policy is not going to cover Yeah. application of any chemical. Yeah. And I think there's a difference between the road surface me very well. Okay. I think there's a difference between the road surface and the the mowing of the ditch side of it because the road is what people travel on. So, but are you county? They leave the road a lot of times out there. But on your on your corner especially,

I understand. But, um, I guess I'm I'm looking for, you know, approval of me to go and continue putting my my calcium chloride down without having to worry about liability insurance or being a license applicator because that's getting licensed is not the easiest thing to do. Takes time. Yeah. I'm not I'm not familiar if it uh requires I don't know that we're talking about a license. I think it's the approved individual to do it here. So, we'd have to have some sort of approval process, but we'd have to have a policy. Okay.

We'd have to We don't have anything. That's all this stuff. Brad's been digging through trying to find it and it's I think it's just been overlooked for years and we just had to would have to have some sort of approval. historically they've always said we prefer you to go ahead and put calcium chloride down and I didn't know other people put down like oil and things like that since since they changed the ruling. So I assume that they said, "Yeah, we want you the individual to get chloride down." And now they're telling me, "Yeah." Do you use liquid or pellets or flakes?

Flakes or pellets? And I just use a broadcast spreader and the rain in starts the process. And it works okay. Nothing works as good as the oil did, but that's what we had to work with. And rather than paying three to five or six $700, I I do it for 50 to 75.

It's the cons concern we have with individuals doing it. Not saying that he's done anything uh that would be problematic, but we have lack of consistency across the various applications in Illinois. When you have more than 100 applications throughout the county, uh it's critical that you get some consistency in the way that it's put down, um you know, marking where the application starts and ends so our blade men can recognize that and leave it undisturbed as long as possible. Um, and I mean we we struggle with the uh approved contractors getting their people to leave the markers up and maintain the markers to so that a blade man can recognize it. You know, often times we have a substitute uh operator in the machine and make sure it's covered during vacations and and so forth. And um you know they may not recognize the calcium right off because they're not looking down the road. Usually they're looking down at the road immediately in front of the machine for um adjusting and keeping on course and so forth. So um they end up waiting through those areas um often if we don't have a consistent system for recognizing it.

Let me throw this out there at you. What if an individual bought the the treatment? Do we have a county brought spreader that could put it on? Um, not that I'm aware of. Speaking of, would that eliminate the liability insurance? Willing, what? Like if Mark bought the product, but we had a county employee put it on. Think you're getting messy. Yeah. then we'd have to charge for us being involved if it

we've got more than enough to keep us busy the way it is. But um I don't I think maybe this year we're we're going to have to compromise with uh work with some of the people that for example have already invested in material to put down. you know, we don't want them to have unnecessary expense, but know going forward, we want to try and get to a to a policy that we can live with. Um, decide if it's going to be licensed contractors only or if we're going to allow some some form of individuals put it down. But, um, I consistency is important in in this type of operation. We as a department would just assume there was no dust control because it's a challenge for us to deal with. It's a tends to break down the rock and require more rock in those particular locations over time. Um so it it's an added expense and a complication we just do not have. But we understand why people want dust control. If I was in a situation and I was on the north side of the road, I would definitely want dust control. Not to throw a wrinkle in, like I know there's only two on here, but like Nutrina by a contract they're supposed to do their road.

Yeah, we do have a couple of businesses that are have a special arrangement, but they contract with um usually with a contractor that is qualified to do it. They may not be the same two we have listed. They may have a statewide agreement with somebody in do it, but it's always a licensed contractor with the coverage we talked about. Did Did I hear you right that calcium chloride will break down the rock on the road? That's the way it operates. Yes. Okay. Magnesium chloride

similarly, but not quite as bad. And the magnesium chloride is less corrosive to vehicles and and the environment in general. But they're both still allowed by DNR. So it sound like you're gonna try to work with the ones been doing it. We'll do our best to get something figured out for this year. But going forward, we really want to reach a solution that is kind of consistent.

We'll put on the next agenda, Karen, to update that resolution with the all the approved. I'll I'll get you copies of this year's um copy of the policy which has the the dates for application this year and so forth in it. That's why it says 2026. Would you mind sending me one because in my letter that I got from you, you said it was included.

It didn't get included. That one right here. Anything else, Mark? Okay, I think we have good consensus. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Okay, next up is any other business?

And we got the Bsburg Library. Thanks, Mark. Thanks, Mark. Thank you.

Cheryl Talbert, the director of Blakesburg Public Library.

Eileen Johnson. I'm a treasurer of the Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library. And we are coming today. The last time we were here was back in 2019. Our friends at the library organization purchased a building to renovate for a new library and we are getting to the home stretch of that project. Um the first few pages of this PowerPoint I had put together um is actually just giving you some information about the history of the friends of the library um some of the types of projects that they have funded in the past. Um, but ever since 2017 or 2015 or so, we have actually been focused on getting a permanent home for the library. The library had moved around a little bit. For a while, it was in the community building in Blakesburg. And in 2014, they raised the lease so high that the library couldn't afford it. So, we went into an agreement with the school and we were actually housed in a couple of classrooms at the old school building that was not being used for classes at that time. And then um through generous donations and fundraising, the friends of the library were able to purchase an old automobile repair shop. You can see pictures of that on page five. And um we started working with the Rod Curtis Architect Firm, came up with the floor plans and the renovation for us. And um then uh we got our first grant in 2019. uh the WLO county supervisors at that time gave us a grant for 12,500 to put toward the project and we ended up the first uh project we did in 29 2020 was the exterior of the east end of the building and the roof and that was at a cost of 46,000 some. Um ever since then we have done a complete new sewer line. Um, and we worked with our architect and with our contractor to finish the east end of the building first because that

was where the HVAC system was installed. The restrooms were there, the kitchen was there. All of the real guts of make the building function were in that end of the building. And we didn't know for sure how long we were going to be able to stay at the school. So, we thought by finishing the east end of the building first, we could move into that facility if we needed to while we finished the west end. Um, we did get the, uh, east end finished. We had a nice grant, several nice grants from Atomo Regional Legacy Foundation. Um, and we got a $60,000 uh, Roy J. Carver Trust Foundation grant for libraries. Um, that helped us finish up that east end of the building. We moved into there in July 2023. So, our first fiscal year, FY24, we were in that building. Um Darren attended our open house there with along with former supervisor Jerry Parker. Um we had an open house in the meeting room as it set up as a meeting room and then after that we moved all the library furnishings and shelving and things in there and we're operating um our library out of that small space. um the west end of the building. We finally finished the exterior last winter. Um and we are ready to move forward and get that interior of the west end finished. Um on pages 10 and 11 um we have uh photographs of some of the places that have funded us. We had Autotomo Regional Legacy Foundation, Waffle County Supervisors, Wafflo County Foundation grant, a Cargill Cares Council grant, the Roy J. Carver grant. Um, and so we and then in addition to that, if you look at the revenue underneath there, we have had over $93,000 in donations that those were major donors um ranging from $4,000 up to a $36,000 donation um of individuals. And then we have done a lot

of fundraising. There was over $78,000 I believe in fundraising um that we did as a organization and then also smaller donations. We ran a a fundraising campaign uh Blakesburg the high school was the Wildcats before it uh merged with Eddieville and Blakes or Eddieville Blicksburg and Fremont and became the Rockets. So we were looking for 100 Wildcats with $100 and that raised a total of 8,000 toward our goal. Um, but on that page we have all of the funding that we have raised so far. So, we've raised 384,628. And then on page 11, the chart up there, the graph shows um all of the expenditures that we've had thus far. And um it in the gra in the graphic, it tells you how much each project was and what percentage that of the total that we spent on that section so far. And then down below there there is actual the breakout of all of the um expenditures by category. The HVAC system, the interior finishes for the east end, the kitchen cabinets, appliances, all that stuff. And the total that we spent. Below that we have all the revenue. And then the very last summary is uh revenue minus expenditures and what we still have in the bank to move forward with. Um and then we are here to ask um if we could get some more money um to finish this because we are so close to this. The friends of the library had its board meeting April 27th and they voted we had uh taken bids on the project. We received four bids. They voted on one to go with. Uh the bid came in at 52,000 some um and uh they decided to go with that bid. So now we are working on the um interior project. Um we have that broken down on page

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16. So u the demolition costs, the framing, the drywall, the electrical, the insulation, paint trim, a sus suspended ceiling grid and tiles, the carpet installation, and then the post construction. So all that bid came in at $52,168. So, we have it broken down what we have in phase one. Our library, friends of the library, uh was going to put in the first $20,214 that would take care of all of the demolation, demolition, the framing, and uh running the new electrical in that portion of the building and then a portion of the insulation. What we are asking the WLO County Supervisors for is maybe $16,000 that would finish the insulation and do our drywall. Once we get to that point, we are um also applying for some additional grants from other entities to try to get the remaining 16,000 to finish that building. Um once we get it finished, we'll be moving the library, all the library furnishing, shelvings, collection into that end of the library. And uh then our meeting room will be available. Um, which is really important because our our Flex Community Building, which was where people could rent space there for family reunions, fundraising, bridal showers, whatever, that building has just been sold. And so, the community really needs a public space where they can rent and have those types of events. So, us finishing our building will allow the community to still have that type of space. And then also I was contacted by the uh Wafflo County Genealogology Society. They are looking for a new home. Apparently the Wafflo building is being sold and they're going to be looking for a new home and they knew we were renovating a building and was wondering if we might have space for their collections. Um we're trying to arrange a meeting between their board and the friends of the library board to see exactly what the expectations were. Is there any funding that goes along

with that or whatever to house that collection because that would be taking up space and then we would be paying the utilities for all of that as well. Um so we're trying to work out exactly what their expectations were and I don't know if they're looking I think they are looking into other venues as well but we were one of their options. So um just knowing that we are open 20 hours a week they people would have greater access to that collection so they wanted to do research and things. So um that was one thing. Um, I did have a drawing. The little drawings here are not architect drawings at the bottom of page 16. I have some I really love playing with software and home funny. So, this is my own software that I did that. But, we would have separate areas for teens, adults, um, and the children's areas in the library. And, uh, so that was that. And, um, we do have a couple of fundraising things already scheduled that'll be coming up. So, we're always looking at ways to make money. We're always looking for donations and uh looking for opportunities for the friends um to raise funds because once this building is finished, they will go back to the more traditional role of uh funding special projects. In the past, they have funded our um online circulation and cataloging software. They have funded the purchase of new computers for the library um and things like that. So, they will be still in supporting the library. They have also paid all of the utilities on the building. The library leases the building and very minimal amount, $150 a month. So the friends of the library is picking up all the expens expenses to run utilities for the building. So um that's kind of what we're looking at. Um do you have questions for me? Um I know this isn't going to be voted on today, but perhaps you would put it on the agenda and vote on it future. I wasn't sure if there were funds still available in this fiscal year or whether we'd have to look at the next fiscal year, but the sooner we can get going on this project, the

better. Um, for the for the community and every everybody involved. Do you have an ideal start date that you'd want to start the construction?

We were supposed to meet with the contractor this week sometime and go over a scheduling. Um we have the school because this uh community building sold. We have a school reunion um the last weekend in June and they are going to actually be using the library space uh for their reunion. I don't know whether we could possibly get it done by that time but we would hope this summer or definitely within the next year we want it totally done and she's the money person so she can maybe answer more of those questions. Just to let you know, in the last uh two months, we've had donations totaling about $6,500. So,

no more than that. No, there was one for 5,000, one for 9,000

9,000 went along with the thousand they get had given earlier. So, there was $16,000 just in the last two months from individuals. So, I mean, the community response, they they've attended all the fundraisers. They've come through with donations and a lot of community support for this project. And we took a building that was in disrepair and it is now a beautiful on the outside anyway, beautiful facility. And uh the space that we're going to be finishing up for the library is actually twice as big as the space we're using right now. So, we've got a lot of furnishings and even part of our collection in storage. So, it'll be nice to be able to get all of that back out and have access to it again.

I would certainly be interested in seeing how the Genealogology Society kind of develops with you and perhaps the funding project on our part could be tied to something that is related to what they're doing. Yeah. So, that could be a something we explore.

That would be wonderful. I mean, we enjoy partnerships that we do a lot of partnerships with other nonprofits in our community. fundraising. For example, we've worked with the historical society and the food pantry um the last several years doing a a winter Christmas themed event and that's brought money into all three organizations. The food pantry also provides snacks uh for afterchool programs for people coming into the library um because kids are always hungry when they get out of school and they come into the library and so the food pantry has worked with us. uh person who's on the food pantry is also on our library board. Um and in a small town as small as Blakesburg 274, you've got the same people working on all of the historical society and the food pantry and the library board and the corn carnival and the garden club. So all the all the entities really work well together. And again, it's a lot of the same people in the same organiz different organizations. So

yeah, the volunteer list it's smaller. It does. And we're all getting older. I think we need to do some research on where we're at on some of our accounts. Yep. This is something we can use loss for. We'll have to come up with an amount and we'll add an amount to the agenda next next meeting. Okay. That Thank you very much for your time. We really appreciate it. Thank you for coming. We have any other new business?

Yes, a different topic. Um, Carrie, you've been involved with the board for Mark Rose organization. Um, at some point I'd like to kind of get an update from you on how that's going and how our new investment is being used to help economic development. So, absolutely. I'd like to have an update sometime. Yep. Thank you. To tap on that, I don't know how much play they had in, but Elden has three thriving businesses and one new one open, right? Um, so Whiteies is going to reopen. Yep. And then the ice cream shop in the old city hall. New ice cream shop and I understand the coffee shop. She does great.

Yeah. What's the name of that? Necessities. Necessities. Yeah. A lot of times standing room only. So, Elden is getting some businesses kicking again. So, Chad, you got anything? Yeah, I got a couple things for you. Only two.

Only two. So, I was wondering if you guys had any u any thoughts on the property tax bill that went through the the Iowa legislature over the weekend during their all-nighter. Um, looks like there's a 2% cap on growth for cities and counties, which um, doesn't sound very good. They're increasing some exemptions and credits as well that I doubt we'll probably have any backfill associated with them as you have to make that allowance. Um, you know, they spent a lot of time on it obviously. Um what are your what are your thoughts I guess before it goes to the governor's desk

that 2% across the board on the overall budget our increase in fuel cost electric costs and insurance costs will probably eat all of that. So I don't know it it just seems more and more like they're pushing the consolidation because if there's no no budget to increase growth there is no growth. So do you kind of anticipate then I I think this is supposed to kick in next fiscal year 28. Um

yeah I didn't get all the way through this. I don't know if you did, but they were keeping 718 and and renewing it, which was is a disaster from the beginning. Do do you anticipate with these changes that they've made that preparing your budget for next year will be as difficult or even more so than it was this year with all the cuts that had to be made, the money that was moved around. Um, like you said, Darren, your growth is going to be pretty much swallowed up and, you know, expenses, insurance, and whatnot. Um, it's just is it just going to get tougher, do you think?

It it's going to get tougher. That's gonna be harder and harder to keep keep good people employed with the county because you can't increase their wages to match match the growth because the cost of living is going to go up regardless. I bet you the cost of living goes up more than 2%.

Yeah. What about like the the exemptions and the credits that they're, you know, increasing? I know a lot of it is done with the homeowner in mind by, you know, increasing the exemption on on properties, so they're not as um there's not as much sticker shock, I guess, when there's increased valuation. Um but then again, you know, how does the county benefit from that other than, you know, increasing those exemptions for whether it's senior citizens or or or whatever? How does I mean how do you you know when money's already tight and you have to do these how do you how do you kind of make up for that?

That's what the state has isn't allowing us is any backfill on those exemptions. So the 2% increase it's they're going to make it smaller with the exemptions because we're going to lose more revenue there too. But some of those exemptions should be in place. They should have been in place a long time ago. But they can't decrease. They're just taking more money away that they're giving you and allowing you less to get. Yeah.

The other thing I had a question on is um you know where does this renewables ordinance even go now? What what are the next steps that you guys can do? Because you couldn't get a public hearing set you know date set today. There's obviously big disagreements on the language that's in it, the figures that are in it. So, what are what do you see as the next steps now? Because there's probably people and I, you know, I don't really have skin in the game, but I'm sure there's people that want a little bit of finality on this one way or the other, whether it's the ordinance that's been revised or there's no ordinance at all. Um, what do you do now when when you do have a a work a document but no hearing date set and plenty of disagreement still? Um, you know, how how do you work through that to try to get something to where you can get to a vote?

That's a question I I actually asked a couple different attorneys and I don't have an answer yet. Maybe such thing as a public vote maybe on the ballot. How do you you can't put an ordinance on a ballot? So, it' be a yes or no. And then that that doesn't leave a whole lot of leeway. Yes or no? So, so we need to figure a way to work it. And I don't know. But what's interesting is the proposed ordinance that we're supposed to have at the public hearing is actually an advocate of wind turbines in the county. And so my position of doing nothing actually is in is in favor of those people that don't want any wind turbines at all. So, you know, it's like I feel this topic should have been covered 15 years ago. That's what everybody tells us. The worst case scenario is we continue as we are. Is that all that bad? I think it is because I would like to have the economic development. Speaking to your first issue, the economic development of this would grow our revenue and so we would solve our problems as a county that way. We have other economic development opportunities. I agree. One that I was excited about is Miranda's announcement that we've got 26 housing applications compared to six last year. That's new real estate tax dollars paid to the county in the future. I like that kind of good news. Is there just a situation though where you could set a date for a public hearing and it be your first reading? Brian, you could vote it down. It fails automatically. It's probably not going to pass on the second or third reading either. that way. I mean, there's no

ordinance in place at all, you know? I I don't even know how that would even look. Um because I mean, right now it looks like if this ordinance came to a vote between you two, it would fail. Um I just I don't I don't I'm I'm just curious what what it looks like when it looks like it's just kind of bound to fail. I mean, obviously this ordinance wouldn't pass most likely at any reading, but do you go back to the draft? Do you have nothing? I mean, what what what does it look like, you know, and and you know, how how can the ball keep advancing a little bit, so to speak?

We spent $36,000 on an ordinance and we tend to ignore it. So, yes, I'd be fine to go back to that document, make some adjustments. I think we could do that in good faith together. Um I have, you know, I've read through the material provided on the proposed ordinance and there's some real issues that need to be resolved. 90 95% of it there's no issue. we just ain't where is it a stalemate of where we're going to be on quantity sizes all that language. So,

but those are all those are all the key numbers and and and guidelines you know th those are the mo most important pieces of you know because you know landowners need to know how far these things can be set back from non-participating properties or homes or whatever. Um but there seems to be such a gap in where you're at between those distances. I mean, is there even room for I guess fur, you know, compromise further or I mean, how is it just going to take more, you know, work behind the scenes or what's it going to take, do you think, to kind of come to some sort of agreement if he can get there?

At some point, we're going to have to come to an agreement. So, we're just going to have to bite it down and figure it out. was have to come up with a time that because right now there's been no back and forth just this way or that way

and I would not be opposed to a public hearing standpoint of just doing that but we've been doing that for some time without progress. Um but the real issue is still amazes me that nobody even knows. I still have people, I didn't know this was on a thing, you know, and there we go back to we have no way to notify everybody except for a mailing because you don't reach everybody. Radio don't reach everybody. Social media don't reach everybody. And so there we have it. Darren and I just agreed on that.

Yeah. I don't the only solution I've ever come up with from talking to other supervisors was winter set. They just did a countywide mailing. That was the only way they could figure out to do it. They sent up postcards. Mhm. Because that's the only thing that actually reaches everybody in the county.

Yeah. So, is is this an is this just kind of an open-ended timeline for when you want to get this done or I mean, you can't really put a date on it, but at at this at this point, if you know when you when you can't set public hearing dates because there's too much agreement on what's in the ordinance, always too much disagreement on the key parts of the ordinance. Um, you know, it's it's been three years. I mean, it's been, you know, that Dusty Fox has been here for three years. You guys have had some sort of an ordinance for pushing a year now or pretty close to it. Um, you know, what uh is this kind of open-ended right now or or as far as when you want to get this done or or do you have a a at least a a a deadline, a date or in your mind about, you know, when you'd like to see this wrapped up or

sooner sooner the better, you Wish I had an answer for that. And I'm one, but I don't because we're representing two different groups of people and the two different groups of people obviously don't agree either. So So you got two sides, the wants, the not no wants. But I have respect for the the opposition and I think we can mutually as a citizens of Wel County work on this and reach conclusions that are good for all of us and that involves some compromise. I have hope.

All I got. It's all you got. Yeah. Thank you. One two questions. Sorry. two two different subject or two different topics two different subjects. Thank you. All right. Motion to I'll make sure to adjourn. I'll second. All those in favor? Hi. Hi. Downloaded it.