Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

At this time I would entertain a motion to adjourn the special canvas of the special West Des Moines election. So moved. Roll call.

Altschuler? Yes. Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. We're adjourned and at 10 30 we'll go ahead and convene the regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order. Go ahead and call the regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order. Roll call.

Altringer. Yes. Hawkins-Smith.

Here.

Here. Holm. Here. McCoy.

Here. Action on the minutes from the previous meeting. Move to approve.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer. Yes. Hawkins-Smith.

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Any special claims?

None.

Action on the bill list is submitted by the county auditor. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. We'll go ahead and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First public hearing.

The first public hearing is on disposal of county interest in real estate.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone here wishing to speak to this item? If not, I'll ask for a motion.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes.

I'm sorry, this is for number six, a resolution approving a quitclaim deed to Bovian and Dongsay Kamani for a vacant parcel located behind 3334 Dubuque Avenue, Des Moines. Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is also on disposal of county interest in real estate.

Is proof of publication on file? Yes. Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item? If not, I'd close the hearing and ask for a motion. So moved.

Second.

This will be for number seven, resolution approving a quitclaim deed to Broadlawns Medical Center for a vacant parcel at 1941 Francis Avenue, Des Moines.

Roll call.

Altsringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. We've reached the point in the meeting where we have public comments. At this time, we would accept comments from anyone. Please just state your name and address and step forward.

My name is Ray Sears, 1795 Watersheds Drive, Pleasant Hill, Iowa. I know that you're going to be dealing with an item later on in property tax, but I wanted to inform you that I will be submitting the proposal to this board through your county administrator. with some suggestions about how you can accomplish not raising property taxes the next year. The economic climate of your constituents, they don't need anything else. And I'm not talking about tax rates. I'm talking about actual dollars that you collect. I believe the number is about $231 million this year. My proposal would be you don't collect any more than $231 million next year. Tax rates are insignificant. It's how much money you actually collect. And so I will be submitting by email to the county administrator some of my ideas. how you can backfill that without affecting services to the citizens of this county. They need help. They don't need more taxes. Thank you.

Thank you, Ray. Anyone else? If not, we'll move on to permits.

Number nine, renewal application for Class C retail alcohol license for Stans Part 2, located at 4275 Northwest 2nd Street, Des Moines. And number 10, renewal application for special Class C retail alcohol license with outdoor service for Animal Rescue League of Iowa, located at 5452 Northeast 22nd Street, Des Moines.

Roll call.

Holtringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes.

Holt?

Yes. McCoy? Yes. Petitions.

Number 11, petition suspending taxes and special assessments and authorizing chairperson to sign the application and affidavit for redemption of parcel for those listed on the agenda.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Resolutions.

Numbers 12 and 13 are resolutions approving the reserve at Cherry Glen major preliminary plat and the final plat of Seidel commercial plat two. And number 14, resolution authorizing auditor's office to publish notice of public hearing on April 7th on disposal of interest in county-owned real estate for a vacant parcel located between 4623 and 4575 Northwest 62nd Avenue Johnston to the city of Johnston. So moved.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 15, resolution allowing bodies, race, company use of the River Place parking lot. 16, resolution approving agreement with Accel Mechanical for removal and replacement of the grease trap at the Northwest Community Senior Center, Des Moines. 17, resolution approving contract with Kempt Companies for exterior cleaning of the Polk County Administration Building. 18, resolution approving contract with the Jorgensen Contracting for installation of ADA handrails at the Polk County Administration Building. And number 19, resolution approving contract with the Iowa Department of the Blind for vending services.

Move collectively. Second.

Roll call.

All in favor? Yes.

Huckinsmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 20, resolution approving position modifications within the Polk County Conservation Department.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? McCoy?

Yes.

Number 21, resolution approving second amendment to the District 5 disability access point contract with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 22, resolution accepting HUD lead-based paint hazard reduction grant award and amendment.

I'd like to recognize Julianne Van Loo. Julianne, would you please come up and talk a little bit about some of the good news around this grant and what we're doing today?

Absolutely. Thank you for the opportunity. Julianne Van Loo, Polk County Health Department director. I think we should certainly acknowledge this as the really big deal that it is. We are receiving a $6 million grant from HUD over the next four years to continue to support the vast majority of our lead home hazard remediation program. So we have a team of three lead inspectors who work with contractors in the communities to inspect homes that were built before 1978 when we used a lot of lead based paint and to remediate those homes and make them safe. And so this program is really targeted at families and homes that have kiddos under the age of six. because that's really when the biggest hazard and risk to that kiddo is happening in terms of the ability to lead to brain damage, to learning disabilities, to long-term violence, perpetration, all sorts of adverse health outcomes over the life course happen through that early lead exposure. So we're incredibly excited to do another 160 homes over the course of the next four years. and at least 60 of those we hope more will get additional healthy homes assessments where we're looking beyond lead because there's a lot of environmental health exposures for kiddos in the homes and without this grant we simply couldn't do that so I want to give a huge shout out to Lori Gust and our team of lead inspectors HUD grants are incredibly notoriously difficult to write and to manage they require an incredible amount of documentation and reporting and really making sure every single dollar we get is well spent and put to use in these homes. And so the fact that this is our fifth HUD grant like this in a row is really tremendous and speaks to the quality of our team. There's a lot of municipalities who have historically gotten this grant in the past who didn't this round. And so again, just want to make sure we understand how big of a deal this is and what a huge investment it is for Polk County and our kiddos, especially in the areas with our lower housing stock. So I also want to acknowledge and appreciate all of you. We have to put in a 10% investment from the county. And so you all have approved that $600,000 investment again over four years, which largely pays for our staff time so that the HUD money can really just go to that remediation. So proud of the team and excited to be able to accept this money. Thank you.

Thank you, Julie Ann. And again, I think this is great news. It's my understanding that we've completed 500 homes under the five grants. And with this program, we can ensure that at least another 160 homes will be completed. We appreciate your staff. We appreciate the work that you've done in this area and for making Polk County a safer place for our children to live. So thank you.

Absolutely. You know, we've been doing this for at least 15 years on this lead based abatement. And so I'm proud of the fact that it's carried on as long as it has and used to be out of public works. We moved it to the health department. the department has grown and to have the lead folks there and I know they work with other nonprofits once we see other things that are wrong in the household we try to I know we work with rebuilding together home Inc and other nonprofits to make sure that the home is safe, not only for the lead remediation, but other things that are in the house. So it really is a one-stop shop when we are in those homes. As I said, we've done this for at least 15 years now. So I'm proud of the work that's been done in our community and not just the lead base, but all the affordable housing units in that when we look in those homes. So not only are we saving kiddos, but we're really saving lives. So thank you for all the work that we've done and our commitment to the community.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 23 and 24 are resolutions approving contracts with Fab Rehab to address lead hazard repairs at 3707 Wright Street, Des Moines, and 2414 Welbeck Road, Des Moines. And number 25, resolution approving agreement with Every Step Care and Support Services.

So moved. Second. Roll call.

Altschringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes.

Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 26, resolution approving elected official salary for fiscal year 26-27.

I would move that with the modification that we, the board supervisors, received 0% increase, and everything else remains the same.

I'll second. I just got to make a comment. I agree to the 0% raise to the board, but I want to point out that this is a difference of like $5,000 for each of us. I'm not sure why you guys are all patting yourselves on the back since you both have another job and getting paid full time. So I know $5,000 isn't much, but we didn't take a raise last year because it was a big stink, and we're not going to take a raise this year. I'm fine with that. But just so you know, I think it's crap. But I'm going to go for it.

I'd be happy to lower the salary, too.

Well, that's fine, too.

Vote on the amendment.

So the amendment would be for the raises to be approved for elected officials, but setting the raise for Polk County supervisors at zero.

So the vote on the amendment, which was moved by Holm and seconded by Altsringer. Altsringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

then we'd need a motion and a second for the resolution itself.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly?

Yes.

Holm?

Yes. McCoy? Yes.

Number 27, resolution approving fiscal year 26-27 general increases for non-bargaining unit employees.

So moved.

Second.

I just have one question. Frank, what are we doing today? And can you just describe what we've achieved here with this pay increase?

Sure, so this is a recommendation from Human Resources. We use external objective data to get to this point from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation's been about 2.7%, so this maintains stability with our workforce. Part of your effort to reduce the budget in other ways is to allow us to continue to compensate our staff who provide the great service to Polk County. As you know, it's very competitive, so in order to recruit and retain talent, it's important that we at least maintain with what's going on in the private sector and other public sector. And so, again, this just maintains with inflation and the purchasing power and to ensure that that's not eroded. So the recommendation is 3% across the board, which aligns with AFSCME bargaining unit. And it also avoids any salary compression as we consider management positions as well.

Thank you very much. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 28 and 29 are resolutions approving position modifications in the Department of Community, Family, and Youth Services and within the Health Department. Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 30 and 31 are resolutions approving the recommendations of the Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners for allowances and disallowances of the Natural Resources Exemption and for allowances and disallowances of the Impoundment Structures Exemption. And numbers 32 and 33 are resolutions approving the recommendations of the Polk County Assessor for allowance of the Military Service Tax Exemption and for disallowance of the Disabled Veteran Tax Credit.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 34, resolution approving memorandum of understanding with the Iowa Department of Management for County Attorney Public Data Dashboard. Move. Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 35, resolution authorizing auditor's office to publish notice of public hearing for April 21st on proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. 36, resolution fixing date for a meeting on the authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance of not to exceed $1,500,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-1, of County of Polk State of Iowa for essential county purposes and providing publication of notice thereof. 37, Resolution fixing date for a meeting on the authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance of not to exceed $1 million general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-2, of County of Polk, State of Iowa, for essential county purposes and providing for publication of notice thereof. 38, resolution fixing date for a meeting on the authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance of not to exceed $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-3, of County of Polk, State of Iowa, for essential county purposes and providing for publication of notice thereof. 39, resolution fixing date for a meeting on the authorization of a loan agreement in the issuance of not to exceed $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-4, of County of Polk, State of Iowa for essential county purposes and providing for publication of notice thereof. And number 40, resolution fixing date for a meeting on the authorization of a loan agreement in the issuance of not to exceed $9,000,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-5, of County of Polk, State of Iowa for essential county purposes and providing publication of notice thereof.

Move collectively.

Second. Roll call.

Altringer. Yes. Hockensmith.

Yes.

Connolly. Yes. Holm. Yes. McCoy.

Yes.

Numbers 41 and 42 are resolutions approving subordination agreement Highland Park Flats and amended agreement with Global Spectrum doing business as OVG Group. So moved.

Second. Roll call.

Altringer. Yes. Hockensmith.

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 43, resolution approving Platinum Sponsorship Award for Drake University.

Second. I just wanted to say a word or two about this, and I know we also have Tim Tazar from the Athletics Director Department at Drake University. But the Drake Relays have been a part of our community. And I know that Drake Stadium is going to be celebrating its 100th anniversary. And so under the platinum sponsorship, the new type of sponsorship for community betterment grants and awards, This this this. outstanding event that occurs every spring and brings lots of visitors and tourists to Des Moines is a way we kind of celebrate Drake, the relays, athletes across our state, as well as integrating high schools from across our state, outstanding track and field to this event. And so again, it is new, but it is exciting to think about partnership with Drake as a platinum level sponsor and I just wanted to acknowledge this under a new platinum sponsorship program roll call Altschuler yes Hawkins-Smith yes Connelly yes Holm yes McCoy yes

Number 44, Resolution Approving Community Development Grant Award for Hospice of Central Iowa Doing Business as Every Step. And numbers 45 and 46 are Resolutions Approving Community Betterment Grant Awards and Community Sponsorship Awards. So moved. Second.

Roll call.

Altringer. Yes. Hawkins-Smith.

Yes.

Connelly. Yes. Holm. Yes. McCoy.

Yes. Communications.

Number 47, formal notice of constitutional opposition to property tax levy increase.

Refer to the Board of Supervisors and the County Attorney.

Number 48, City of Des Moines notice of public hearing on Sixth Amendment to Oak Park Highland Park Urban Renewal Plan.

Refer to Public Works and County Attorney. Budget actions, any budget actions?

None.

Appointments? Move.

Second.

Roll call.

Alteringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Any board comments?

The only comment I have is I had asked Frank last week, and I think Erica Johnson had reached out to Supervisor McCoy about the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, if we're going to get that resolution on. Is there a time frame on that?

I'm gonna refer to Frank on that.

Yeah, just speaking for myself, I'm still waiting on the proposal. So once I have that proposal, I can review it, analyze it, and then I would bring it back to you guys just for analysis and see what you think, but I don't have it yet. Okay.

If you get that proposal, the document that we were all handed at the last meeting, I'd like to get that to you for your review, if you don't mind, Jessica, because it appeared to me when I was reading it that their interpretation was different from what I was reading, and I'd just like you to take a look at it. Thank you.

Yeah, and part of our analysis would be legal review as well, so that's a good point, and we wouldn't bring a recommendation until it was fully vetted.

Very good. I just want to remind everyone that tomorrow will be, as part of our severe weather preparation, tomorrow will be a statewide tornado drill at 10 a.m. All employees in this building will go to the basement to the north side of the building. and let's prepare for severe weather and keep each other safe.

Mr. Chairman, Supervisor Hockensmith, I tried to get in on board comments and I didn't get through in time, but I just wanted to just reopen this discussion we had a few weeks ago because it's caused, I don't know about any of the rest of the board members, significant problems with nonprofits in my district Um, and I'll tell you, I'll give you an example. Um, the ALS foundation had come in to see me the day before we allocated 600 and some thousand dollars of caring hands. So we've got the ALS foundation going through our grant process. I had our grant administrator in the room and they're begging for, you know, $10,000 or 15,000. And they got to meet all the requirements in order to buy wheelchairs, get wheelchairs for people afflicted by that terrible disease. And it, And then the next day, the ALS watches over $600,000 go out the door. And it wasn't a grant. And Frank Morasco said it's not a grant. It's not a grant. It's an allocation. So I'm going to need to know when I have other nonprofits want to know how they can get one of those their allocations. I'm gonna have them call Frank. That work.

Yes. Any other business? If not, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second. Roll call.

Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes.

McCoy? Yes. We're adjourned.

Thank you.