Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

cuz then we'll get reimbursed. But that's just Is that a quarterly fee? Yes. Okay. I believe so. You don't. Not enough money. No, but it's a quarterly amount, isn't it? No. I thought we did. It's like a 100,000 a year or used to be. I don't know that. I'm not for sure, but Okay. Cuz I assume that was that's the nurse and everything. Here, I can look at the invoice.

That would be a deal if it was. $15,970. Sorry, it's taking a minute. Sorry.

A little slower when I load it on here. Come on site contract. I think it is a monthly average.

Yeah, I just recall seeing that March 1st to March 31st. So, they were paying our last for the month. But yeah, that's the nurse and the doctor and all that everything. Yeah, on-site medical contract. So, okay. But I think we allocated 60,000 towards it. So out of the opioid out the opioid fund. Yeah. Okay. Which be probably one year thing, but at least it'll help. Yeah. Justify if they're using it enough. The only question I have. I'll make a motion to approve the claims. I'll second. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet. I

team and I number five. discuss act on resolution 26-16 to appoint Eric Marsh, deputy attorney. Ray, you want to take it?

Jack's been here about 20 months now and he's definitely demonstrated that he is much more talented than entry- level attorney. I think his work over here speaks for itself. I want a longl lasting relationship with him in my office. This was one way to ensure that you there's such a shortage of young talented lawyers out there that we we got to take care of this guy. I would make a motion to accept resolution 2616 that um makes Derek a uh uh Derek Marsh a what is he what is there what's the terut deputy [laughter]

deputy county attorney thank you deputy county attorney uh I would second that motion okay call for a vote tippet I human I I thank you, gentlemen. Did you want to stay at all for that Julie Davidson's coming about for our um the disability access point employee? Do you have any concerns on that at all? Not that I can think of, but Okay. We may switch places over. Okay. cuz it sounds like as of July 1st, we won't have our person at all.

At all. Then what? So that's what I'm not sure. I'm hoping we can get some answers to our direct contact easier. We'll get it figured out. I hope so.

Thanks, Ray. Have a good day, Ray. I'll give you a sign copy to put it in the file. Awesome. Okay. Number six, discuss and approve resolution 2617 amending resolution 2513 for the elected officials FY26 salaries.

Yep. So, I found that typo when I was preparing for next week's resolution. I had when they originally did the count board, they had zero on a few. I had the amounts corrected in the up above in that middle part and on the budget, but if you look at the chart, I did not on the original. So, this is just correcting that. So, I wanted to make sure we had it corrected in our minutes somewhere. So, in order to correct a resolution, we have to adopt a new one. And that's this fiscal year that we're on right now. Current year. Yep. Yep. And then next week I'll have the fiscal year 27.

Okay. I would move to approve resolution 2617 as a correction for 25 13 amending resolution 2513. I'll second.

Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet I name and I rules I [clears throat] sir Discuss authorized filing of the FY 25 audit from Ed Bailey or the state auditor. So, we are done with that. Um, so you guys have your binders. I'll get you yours first and then, um, I have to pay a filing fee with this state auditor $850. So, it's in the frame run today. And so, then I go and we upload all that to the state. So, it's all final. And then we also will do the the federal audit. So, I just got that file and I have to go out on the it's called like a clearing house for federal audits for all of our passroughs and state bridge swaps all that if we were 750,000 or more with that we have to do the federal audit too. So, that's all done as well

and we should be over that because the tree grant correct. Yep. That was federal. And then with ARPA, we were the last we've probably done it the last actually all nine years I've been here, we've had the federal audit because of the watershed. Yep. ARPA. Yep. And then uh as for the federal audit, this Ed Bailey's audit. Yes. It covers both. Covers both. Yep. Perfect. Yeah. Their fees and stuff. Yeah. Yep. This is done how often? Every year. Every year.

Yep. And the findings like those are they're all every every year we have the same findings and and I always ask him why you know like you try to dispute some of them but he goes you know we're not doing our job if we don't find something like the one with segregation of duties not just you know like sheriff's recorder. It's just hard. You can't just have one person only doing the people are gone. And then the other one was like a miscellaneous receipt entry, journal entry we had to do. So they just bar nothing major. If you actually look through that, it is good because it'll explain to you the different funds I mean where they like the spending and commit like why it's so important that we keep it all.

Mhm. Very true. And then we do like an MDNA go over like compared last year to this year and then we already look I'm already putting stuff in there for what we're expecting to increase for next year. [clears throat] So, can I get a motion to approve the filing?

I will make the motion to approve the filing of the is it 2526 audit or is this 2425? Yeah, it was ending June 30th. I would I would make the motion to approve the uh audit. I will second. Okay. Offer vote. Tippet I I discuss that 26 budget amendment hearing date.

Yep. So as you know we have to amend um for one reason alone is just the juvenile detention. and I did reach out to them and they are aware that I'm going to amend and get them paid. Um, so there was a few other things and I talked to Judy Haka. Mhm. But we're going to do a little bit this year and next year I think. Yeah.

So those are the two things, but I'd like to possibly wait and do it like April 14th cuz what I'd like to do is end of this month, March, we will have one quarter left for the fiscal year. and I would do some service area reports, reach out to those. I feel like maybe I'll look at the service areas a little closer and hopefully that would be our last and only amendment for fiscal year 26 cuz this is our third amendment already. We've had a bunch. So

mainly for the one reason. If I'd have known all those, you know, delate ones from years back, we would have had it in the last meeting. So, if you want, are you okay with April 14th at 9:30? That way I would still have time to go through the March and get my publication in the paper. I am fine with it. And we also said 9:30. Yeah.

And then looking forward to setting our fiscal year 27. We wouldn't want it on the same date. So anybody can do it the week after that, but I'll have that on next week.

Do we need a motion to set that budget amendment? Yes, we do. I'll make a motion to set the uh FY26 budget amendment hearing date for April 14th at 9:30 a.m. Second that motion. Okay, call for a vote. Jump it. I rolls I we're going to do the next one on the Yeah, but we can't actually set that until after the maximum hearing date. So, but I'm thinking of the following week, the 21st.

And that mailer should be going out. I uploaded and got all that stuff off to the mailer last week. Definitely a waste of our tax dollars. But that's we're forced to do that one. So,

okay. 9:15 m. Thank you. Thank you. Cassandra Pataba is seeking approval change to use of approximately 1 acre land allow for single family dwelling and shop. The property is located approximately 1 and 1/2 miles southeast of Shellsburg in the 6,400 block of Benlin Road and that is within section 13 of Canton [clears throat] Township. The proposal concerns a 13.17 acre parcel which the applicant and her spouse Ronald PA own. The entire area of this request has a corn stability rating below 70. So it is not considered high quality farmland. Further approximately 75% or 9 1/2 acres are within the 100year flood plane and that is outside of a site um where they are looking to build. There are two subdivisions consisting of single family dwellings to the north, agric agricultural rowcrops and farm sets to the east, timberland agricultural rowcrops and the van farm set to the south. Then agricultural rocrops and timberland to the west. Access to the property will be via new driveway which was reviewed and approved by Dan McKenna from secondary roads. The property is accessed from Benlin Road, which is a gravel county road with an average annual daily traffic count of 200 vehicles. The drilling will require a new septic system in a private water well, which will be permitted by the department. 15 letters were sent out to adjacent property owners and legal notices were published in Ben Countyy's official newspapers as required by the ordinance.

and the Ben County land use office did not receive any public comments concerning this request. This request is located on parcel with lowquality farmland that's situated immediately to the south of the two residential subdivisions contain total of 19 single family dwellings. Board of supervisors. Yeah, this is Mark Ericson. Wonder if I could ask a question about item number six that you guys just amended. Yeah. In here. Yep.

So, what what specifically is being amended as far as the the elected officials? Which which item? So, if you looked at our original resolution, we lumped out the sums of like what every elected official got, but but when it was down below on the column for the fiscal year 26, I didn't have some of the amounts corrected. So, we had to which one specifically wasn't correct? Um, the attorney. No, not the attorney. the sheriff um treasurer and recorder.

So the supervisors was correct that a 0% Yes. increase. Yeah. They did not get a the last three years, right? And that's currently their salary is is that's the current salary, correct? Yeah. Nothing changed other than my typos. The salaries have not changed. We can't change them. The only reason I ask is on the county website the budget page it shows it shows their salary at at 3% higher than what it what it indicates in that resolution. I'm not sure if you guys are aware of that.

Well, I think originally when we were putting it in the budget, we put in for the 3% and then when the when they acted on them, they put zero. So, it has that cushion, but it's not that's not their paid salary. Okay. Just want to clarify which which items were incorrect. Yep, that's fine. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Sorry, Matt.

All right. This request, it's located on a parcel with lowquality farmland that's situated immediately south of two residential subdivisions contained a total of 19 single family dwellings. This parcel is also buffered from surrounding agricultural operations by a stream, railway, and roadway. Therefore, this request is not likely to interfere seriously with farm operations in the area. The surrounding area's primary agricultural scarred farmsteads and rural sub residential developments. This request should not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern in the area. According to the Ben County land preservation and use plan, its policy provide limited and low density single family dwellings within the general rural use area upon a fair and equitable evaluation. For the reasons reported, this request has been found to be consistent with this policy and all other applicable policies of the plan. that oval shape that's below the to the south of the proposed building site. What was that?

So that was just a small hayfield pasture area that they had. Okay. Thank you. Yep.

The CSR is 60. So if that spot on the property, yes, it's 60 there. Gentlemen, I fits within our code. So, I would move that we uh through the land use. I'll second call for a vote. Tuppet eye. Came an eye. Wool's eye.

Andrea. Okay. I would like to set a land use hearing date on March 31st at 9:15 for Melissa and Brandon Rule in a part of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 22 township 85 north range 10 west

what was your date March 31st the night of I would make a motion to set a land use hearing for the SL Brendan rule for March 31st at 9:15. Did you say second that request call for a vote? Tippet I and I move I

okay I would like to send a land use hearing date for on March 31st at 9:30 for Tim and Jamie Whitehead in a part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 12 township 85 north range 9 test. I would make the motion to set the land use here for Tim and Jamie Jamie Whitehead for the 31st of March at 9:30. Second. Okay. Call off for a vote. Jet I

M I I would like to request approval of a farm exemption application for Tom Stick who wants to build a house for permanent residence in a part of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 36 township 86 north range 11 west it would be right Yeah. Okay. Is there a house there now? No, he's he wants to build a house there for permanent residence and he's actively engaged in farming. Yes, he has 64 acres of um a grow crops and CRP. Okay.

That also fits within our land use. So I would move to approve that request. I have a second. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet. I came and I I Thank you. 5 minutes. Uh 5 minutes. So how about reports? One of you guys got anything?

I had a uh Zoom meeting yesterday um uh with the uh East Central Iowa Workforce Development CEO and uh it was a two-hour meeting. Um the discussion was mainly about the state would like the super the CEOs to have a more active role in selecting people to serve on these boards. This is all volunteer. They want people from all aspects. They want business owners. They want this. They want that. And the push back that they're getting from the supervisors is when are we going to have the time to do all this? That's the the biggest thing because it is non-paid and uh they understand the concerns, but at this point in time, that's what the state is mandating. There's a long pamphlet that I could go over with you guys about what was discussed in the meeting. There's a whole but when it comes down to what the [clears throat] the biggest push was is just that it's it's a lot of time with all the meetings and everything boards that the supervisors have to be on, we think that it's a pretty big ask of the state to require that. So, that's kind of where it's at right now. We're not and we're behind on the appointments, but we're not by any means the only county, the only organization that is behind. There's a lot of them that are that are behind on appointments. So that's what I have.

You have anything?

Everything I had was the week before. I had last Tuesday afternoon the easy cog zoom meeting where they picked a director. I don't know if they're out saying who it is yet. I think they should be, but I don't know. And then of course last night I had uh conservation sat in and listen to their meeting. That's about it. Okay. 9:30 discuss and act on table land use sharing for Cameron Ericson. Did you bring that with you by chance to give us a refreshment refresher? I only have one.

Do you want me to just give like a little summary of everything? Okay, please.

Um, so for this set for this land use here in Cameron Ericson wants to change for approximately 3.85 85 acres of land, all of which is above 70 and has a weighted average CSR of 85. Um there's rowcrops to the north and west and rowcrops and single family dwellings located on farmsteads to the east and south. Uh secondary road approved a driveway um new the dwelling would require new septic and private well which will be permitted by the department. Only two notification letters were sent to adjacent property owners and we received concerns from one of them who was concerned about approval of this request would set a precedent of removing high quality farm land in the county and also was concerned about disrupting um farming operations. Um the request is located on a parcel containing approximately 9.3 acres of ad row crop. The applicant is is um proposing to remove approximately 2.2 2 acres and swapping over with 1.9 acres. Um based on the conversation on the last meeting, he said he would make sure that the swap would be the same amount of land. Um while the proposal minimizes the loss of highquality farmland, there is no way to guarantee that this land will remain in a production. Uh further, the proposal would increase the complexity of the shape of the field, which would make row crop farming more difficult. And for these reasons and based upon public comments, this request is likely to interfere with farm operations in the area. Uh the surrounding area is generally a uses and scattered farmsteads with single family dwellings except for a development along the 66 street which is a hard surface road. Um there are no other there are not any other single family dwellings in the in this area that are not associated with a farm or pre-existing tour ordinance. approval of this request will set a precedent which may result in the removal of high quality farmland from production throughout the county. So

this request may materially alter the stability of the land use pattern of the area. Um so for all the reasons reported that the request was found to be inconsistent with the policy and all all other applicable policies of the plan. So that's a summary of what we've discussed in the last item.

Am I able to make comments? So yeah, again said it'll be an equal swap um currently I think it's like 3.85 or 3.5 something like that. I don't know exactly the number um of acres that are currently non-tillable. That number of non-illable acres will remain the same. The number of tillable acres will remain the same. [snorts] Um both pieces of ground in question again have the same uh soil quality rating. So, contrary to what the uh neighbor said, no um quality farmland is is being put out of production. The it'll be the same quality of ground that's having production. It's just going to be in a different spot within, you know, my little rectangle. and the shape of it. I mean, I'm not the one that subdivided it like that, you know, but at the end of the day, I'll be the property owner of it. So, that kind of is what it is. That's kind of all I got. I really I mean, I looked through you guys' code. I didn't see anything that really has any verbiage on this one way or the other. So,

how many acres does it have to be to constitute a farm? Isn't it 21? 21. 21. Yeah. All the trees that are on the proposed swap. You're going to remove all those? I mean, whatever is in the way. I mean, I would like to keep as many trees as I can, and I'm going to be planting probably a lot of evergreens um closer to the road as a means of dust control, noise control, privacy, um that type of a thing.

So, you don't have any plans on moving removing any of the trees that you're swapping the farm ground for? Oh, the area in red. Yes. So all those trees would be gone and the fence line would be gone and that whole that whole red um red on this one cuz it's green on this one. Um the colors are swapped on the two different proposals. So this is the area I'm so this area would become it would look like this. All the trees would come out of there. The fence line would come out of there. It would just be field and you're going to remove all those trees and stops and everything. Whatever I got to do. Yes, sir. It'll look just like a field.

Could I ask something? Um, I know you mentioned before that you're not a farmer, but you're saying that you're putting this, you're going to kill this. How are you planning on doing that?

I'll get it done. I'll talk to a neighbor or rent something, whatever I got to do. I got trucks. I got trailers. I mean, I'll make it happen. And I mean if you guys want to put a timeline on it, I'm happy to discuss that. And like I said, um I'm happy to convert, you know, the red area to tillable before I start doing any building or anything like that. So, it's not like, oh, hey, I'm going to hurry up and build a house and then, oh, I'll get to that later. No, I'll go ahead and change it, you know, before any any building takes place. I mean, I I think I think the homeowner in in all of us can agree that, you know, being forced to build on this little strip is not ideal. You know, it's very close to the road. But I got little kids and you know I would assume large farm equipment is going to be coming by from time to time. [snorts] I know she said there's only 90 vehicles a day which is

substantially less than where I live right now. Yeah. That's in the report. It's about that part of the road is 90 annual daily traffic is 90 vehicles.

Yeah. Which is substantially less than where I live now which is you know what we're looking for. rest of the kids can run around and we don't have to worry about, you know, that that type of thing. But, [snorts] you know, I'm not I'm not looking to disrupt any any farming. My both my parents grew up on farms. I like farming. Um I would probably do it myself had my parents stayed on their farms, but they wanted the city life, so that's how I got raised. But going back to visit grandpa and grandma's farm, I loved it. It's It's a hard living, that's for sure.

So, we've got two hurdles. We're below 21 acres and our CSR is at 95 not 90 between 90 and 95. And both pieces of ground in question are have the equal rating. So I don't I don't see why it would matter if you know one piece of ground is is tillable versus another piece when it's the same ground. My concern with this, and that's something that when I got the phone, because I was the one that got the phone call of the public comment, um the farmer mentioned that it's difficult to farm around acreages. And so I'm concerned that just this is going to make it difficult to farm and nobody's really going to want to get in there. So it's just going to be all of that. It's just going to be not production anymore. So that's the concern that we have in our department. Well, like I said, if um you know, if the neighbor wants to rent it or whoever is currently leasing it wants to rent it, I can I can do without fencing it off, you know, to make it easier. And also, like I I don't know if this was mentioned, but I talked to the secondary roads. They approved a driveway some up here, somewhere up here for my, you know, homestead. And then I mentioned that I wanted to have another driveway for access. Um, you know, in case somebody does need to get in there, that would be the only way to do it. Um, but again, I'm not not the one that subdivided it like this, you know. I just And you only get to choose from what's available out there for for land. And, you know, this is the one I I landed on. But um I mean I know it's kind of uh uncharted territory for you guys. It's not

something that you've normally done, but at the end of the day, your intent is to preserve highquality eggland. And then number of acres that are highquality egg, once I'm done doing what I'm proposing, it will be equal. it will be the same amount of land on the same quality of ground. [snorts] Um I read through the codes and one thing I did notice is that through the objectives and intentions of this whole committee uh did say to protect private property rights. So at what point would those be getting infringed upon?

[snorts] I guess and I guess the other thing to add as far as with the swapping concern is just that it's not anything that we can restrict as part of approval um you know when you sell the land there's no guarantee that land's going to remain productive even if you're doing it yourself um just with how our ordinances I mean there's no guarantee that I'm going to farm the land either. I mean, correct.

If I can't come to an agreement with, you know, the current tenant or some other tenant to to farm it, you know, like I said, I'm I'm not going to farm it. I mean, I I've been mulling over ideas in my head of, you know, maybe growing Christmas trees or something like that, pumpkins, just to utilize it as egg ground. But no, there's not going to be corn or soybeans from me. it would be somebody else. [snorts]

There's a lot to me. There's a lot of loose strings. I mean, this has to be done and and uh you're saying maybe someone would rent the remainder that is not in the square here, but you're not sure if that's going to happen. Um

I mean, that's a problem either way. Regardless of the shape of it, that's still still going to be an issue. But that's my issue, you know. I I'll be the land owner at that point. And if I I can't find somebody to rent it, then I can't find somebody to rent it. But whoever is currently renting it, if it makes it easier for them to continue renting it, I'm happy to, you know, not put up a fence line here. Like I said in the last meeting, maybe put some sort of a post or something here just to mark the corner of my lot, you know, so you'd have maybe a eight or 10t circle of ground that you'd have to farm around. But um at the end of the day, I I don't I don't see what there would be that would prevent this, especially because the two pieces of of ground that I'm proposing to trade are rated the same in the in the soil report.

When was the last time that southeast port was farmed? Between the trees and the road. Never. never bought. I'm guessing there was a sheep pasture years ago. Probably full of nutrients then and tree ups.

Oh, they'll be gone. My whole problem is I want to try to get it done for you, but the two acres of the table ground comes back to our ordinance. And I guess I feel we let you do it on that two acres, we're going to open up a whole can of worms in this whole county. I'm trying to somehow to get that done. And there just our original ordinance is we want to protect the farm ground. And I get you want to swap it. I I get that. I understand that. But I just I don't really guess I understand why why that would really be so much of an issue. I mean, at the end of the day, it's like it has this much tillable, this much non-illable, it's going to stay the same. I mean, there's nothing nothing saying you can't reshape your your ground. Mhm.

I mean I I do own it and I will adhere to the the current situation of it like the number of acres acres of tillable versus non like that will stay the same. Um I don't know if there's some way y'all want to write up a contract or something something that like holds me to saying okay before the home site can be built you know set land that wants to be become tillable must be completed before uh building can take place. I don't know if you guys can like put a restriction on me in the meantime to build or like but whatever you got to do, I'm happy to do it.

Mhm. I I get it. I get it. But like I said, my problem is being an elected official supposed to follow the rules. Well, what do the rules really say on this? We're supposed to protect the farm ground and the farm ground is protected. Well, we protect it when you put a house on it. that new the old part. You know what I mean? Well, yeah. I mean, that part won't be, but in its place, it'll have I understand that. I I get that. So, I don't So, I mean, to to me, I don't see what the problem is on that.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Both of these pieces fall in between 90 and 95% CSR. around only 70 ain't it? The northeast corner of the pasture land is 77. Everything else is 95. So 77. So it's still above the CSR of still above. And I understand where you're coming from, but at the same time I'm concerned that you're saying you're going to do all this stuff, but you don't have a plan guarantee. I can make it happen. I can pay somebody if I have to. Like it's not a big deal. I have chainsaws. I have a trailer. I have trucks.

But that's rent a skid steer. I can rent farm equipment. Like it's I'll get it done. But you say yourself you don't want to farm it. And you you're going to make it tailable, but that doesn't mean that it's going to be farmed. And that's the thing that I'm But that's not something that I can be held to. Like it's not regardless of if it's me or any other person that was going to buy this land. It will remain unbuilt on. It will remain you know tillable whether it's farmed or not that cannot be controlled or predicted. I mean if nobody wants to lease it then

that is correct but at the same time this we don't we there's no guarantee that anybody's going to farm this pot but this somebody has been farming this spot and put in your house they will remove that. So then at that when we're back to the beginning of this is going to be removed. There's no guarantee that this is going to be farmed.

There's no guarantee it's going to be farmed regardless of anything from year to year. I mean there's not unless there's a contract in place. Then I mean I feel like I feel like that really doesn't apply to the land use conversation. that that that applies to I mean anybody that would buy this land that's not a farmer is probably not going to farm it. But I'm more than willing to divide it off and sell it or to lease it. I mean, at least I'm the type of person that's happy to do that. Maybe maybe another person would be like, "Nope, it's mine. I'm just going to let it all grow up with weeds. I don't care." But that's not me. You know, like I said, my parents both grew up on farms. It's a very noble, you know, lot of sweat equity, 80 to 100 hours a week. Like, I've seen it. I know what they go through. And with the rising cost of everything, I don't know how they survive. But, you know, at the end of the day, it's land use and a new homeowner or property owner coming in. I mean, anytime any piece of ground comes up for sale, you're dealing with that situation. But I didn't divide it this way. You guys didn't divide it this way. This is the way it is. So this the the situation I feel like is what needs to be focused on

what with with the means of this committee. All that other stuff is it's uncontrollable. It's out of everybody's hands. So you keep bringing up how it was divided but that wouldn't affect the fact that you're taking out high CSR ground. So what do you keep bringing up the

I'm not taking out high CSR ground. I'm trading it. I'm taking an equal area of the same rated ground and making it become tillable in exchange for another piece of land that's the same soil quality and the same size. So at the end of the day the CSR rating total number of acres at total you know CSR per acre the total calculation the like,00 and whatever it is will remain exactly the same and that is the purpose of what this committee is here for. So at the end of the day that's being upheld. So the of the land use ordinance is to make sure that we're preserving a production

and a land because the economy of Benton County you can't finish. Sure. Thank you. So doing this you're not there's no guarantee that you're going to put this into production. You said so yourself and that again that applies to everybody. Y but just you're the point that you're making is you're switching this. Yeah. This is going to be preserved, but is it going to be preserved and usable? And really, that is the intent of the ordinance. It's not just to have just a all around. That's not being in production. That's not going to be helping the economy. But you're not you can't say that. You don't have any way to say that because you're not going to I have my word.

I don't know what that's worth, but it's worth a lot to me. You know, I'm a man of my word and I do have a, you know, history of a farming background. You know, my parents didn't want that lifestyle. I guess I wish they would have. I'd probably be a lot happier, you know, which is why I want to live out in that area. Express my concerns and now it's up to the board to decide. Yep. And and just remember in your motion should probably include the decision and reason why in accordance to the factors set out in the in the ordinance. Yep.

I kind I've I've kind of already stated it. Uh I would vote to deny the land use change. Uh two things. It's below 21 acres to be a farm itself. And regardless of how you divide it, how you move it, it's all above the CSR in our current ordinance. So I would vote to do not because it does not fit. Motion. That is my motion. I'll second that. Okay. All for it. Hi se and I

I want to work but there's our hands are t I will I will tell you to uh keep an eye on current legislation in the state house. Um how do I appeal this? What was that? How do I go about appealing? I probably need to talk. And who do I have my attorney contact? That man right there. All right. Do you want some contact information? I would love it. I just I don't see how it's possible to deny me. CK,

what's that? P E R I C. When there's no there's no verbiage, sorry. As guidelines for this. Yeah. So being that there's no verbiage written to specifically deny this, it should be approved because at the end of the day, what's likely to be the preservation of egg land is being up withheld. So I guess my attorney will have to make that argument. In the meantime, take a look. Is this who? Derek. That's who you can let your attorneys contact. Sweet.

Right. Sounds great. But so what about the um southeast or the northeast part of it that's rated as 77 that's non-tillable currently? Am I allowed to build on just that? Yes. So I would be. You have to land use change specific to that. We'd have to. Yes. And you'd be able to build that. But it's not farm ground. Correct. Correct. That part that's not farmed right now. The pasture area. Yes. So that is a go. That would be go. You would have to get approval for that area. And how does that work? I do this again. Correct. And

pay $500 again. Yes. Got to pay my attorney.

[snorts] Good morning, Myin. Thanks, guys. Yeah, before we do Myron's resolution, if we do that, so going back, I just had to point it out that resolution 2513. I amended it with 2514. So, I panicked yesterday when I saw that. So, we didn't need to do a new one today. Because remember when the cop board went back and changed amount for those we had to go back and so we need to resend the 26 17. All right.

And I'll I'll own up to that. That was my mess up. But we did amend it the following week for 2514. So we pass that right now. Yeah. Because then if my gets a resolution we can that number. [laughter] There you go. I panicked when I saw that other one. So, I knew we corrected it, but I had it right in the tremendous. I'm on the gravel road. I can fairly fast and we do that right now. Yeah. No, you Sorry, that's my fault.

I would like to address some of that from yesterday action. Yeah. On last night they drove by number six of our agenda which was resolution 26 17 17 that had already been corrected with resolution 25 14 thank you second hey nobody's Perfect. Don't know. I

So, if Mark's listening, I'll clarify that with email. Um, I already signed this one. Yeah. So, you don't need to sign anything today. Sign it. It's done already. Yeah.

Wonderful. Yeah, it was on the bottom.

All right. My morning. Uh, I just handed you a healthy packet. [laughter] Uh, bridge, as you can see on page one, uh, is located on 16th Avenue. Um, 2 milesi south of the West Mount Auburn, 2 milesi south of that uh, uh, D65 pavement. uh be a mile east of 218, but it's currently posted as a three ton weight limit. Um the east the north above it uh is what's causing the weight limit on that bridge. Um, if you look at page three, I highlighted that in that north abovement, the east four piling. Um, uh, shows you 2020 15. That's the percentage estimated life left in those four pilings. The next three sheets just show you a few pictures. Um the third photo picture shows you um three of those. Well, the first picture shows you the two east ones. Uh the second picture shows you the third the third one that's totally um deteriorated at the water line. We had worked on putting a bridge replacement project together for this location. Um back in 20 24 I think uh 2023 um I had hired JCG Land Services which you'll see on the

next page. Um originally the ground was owned by an Albertson on one side and a Cerny on the other side. Um Ken and Dev Miller bought the Albertson farm. Um, so that all happened in the same time frame as we were buying this right away. Um, JCG met with both Cernneys and Millers. They had come up with $13,000 per acre based on sales that they had reviewed in that area from 2021, 2022, and 2023. The ground that we were needing for the box culbert uh fell within the flood plane and was primarily in the grass waterway. So what uh is typical practice and what the county has done is offered 50% of the value land value in the flood plane in those areas and 8% from the temporary easement. So, we had offered $1,545 to Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Um, they indicated that they had paid close to $15,000 plus when they bought the Albertson farm. Um, it's actually 1 little over $1.5 million for a little over 100 acres. I came up with 14,350 when you divide the gross acres. Um upon JCG visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, um if you look at the second to last sheet of 8 and 1 half by 11 that I gave you, um

the notes from the meetings on July 7th of 2025, they had spoke with Ken. He had said he spent he paid over $15,000 per acre. He was opposed to the $13,000 offer. Um taking into account the percentage and everything that would increase at about $300 on the offer around $1,900. Um ACG said we can adjust that. he refused to consider it and continued to say that he would refuse to sign for any amount and to let the county know. My request here today is that we move to condemnation because this individual does not want to negotiate will not give a counter offer to move forward. Um back in 2024, you can see on the plan set I had brought it to you that we had approved the plan set. We have bought the ground from discerning property on the west side of the road for this project. But in order to go towards condemnation and Derek, you can help me if I'm doing anything incorrectly. I believe we would need to pass a resolution. That's how at least we did it uh in the past. um and that uh requesting that the board work with the condemnation commission. Now, the only thing that crosses my mind before maybe that resolution and action is taken is whether that final attempt is made. Um but uh I have been hiring JCG Land Services as a rightaway

agent for the county to assist with rightaway purchasing and has done that as their practice and we've done that in a number of occasions with other projects. Uh but this one particularly um has gone nowhere at this point. does not look like it is going to be able to be met voluntarily with the property owner. Um, but with the piling conditions and the three ton weight limit, uh, the bridge is becoming very close to probably being recommended to be closed. [clears throat]

How much traffic is on that road right now? 25 vehicles a day. be a lot more if the weight restriction wasn't there, I'm sure. Right. Certainly impedes egg activity in that area.

Yeah. This would be the southwest corner of section 30 of Cedar Township. Appears to me we have no no recourse except to move to condemnation. We can't complete the project without.

So there would there would be zero disruption to any of the farm ground around it. This is all just grass and waterway and everything, right?

There might be some very minor tillable ground that's impacted with the permanent easement uh proposed on this, but uh extremely minor. We are talking 2200s of an acre of permanent easement uh additional uh narrow trapezoidal shape uh that's included in one of the exhibits that I gave you. Um and an additional 1100s of an acre as a temporary construction easement just to allow the contractor to store materials equipment during the construction of the project. Uh, and even if that isn't necessary in that spot, it just kind of allows equipment movement to shaping things in to blend the permanent to the existing field uh in that area along the stream banks. This is a person that wanted a bridge back instead of a box call if I remember right.

This is a different location, but yes, that would probably be next week's discussion. and I just happen to have this much information to present to you that I took with me before I left a week ago. Um, but yes, we have two structures that we have designed in Cedar Township for replacement that are being delayed at this point for right away acquisition from the same property owner. Uh, this one has a more imminent possibility of being closed. Y um,

but they both are continuing to age with time and affect their conditions. [snorts]

Now all your pictures and everything you have a measurement the width how wide is on top between the railings is that you got that anywhere in this packet I mean you got the blueprint for big uh 24T wide is 23.9 to be honest but uh okay minimum span 24, maximum span 24. Okay, so 24. Now the railing hit. Well, you still got the Well, one of the signs is clipped off. I can see that now in the picture. So, anybody that's got a 25 ft bean head or 30, the proposed twin box cover would eliminate the curb and the railing completely and it would probably be 50 foot wide practically running through there with a proposed box culvert design.

Now, does that bridge run straight across? They don't go diagonal or I should say the creek the creek runs diagonal. If you look at the aerial

that's about the middle of the packet. You can it almost looks like straight, but the the plan set that uh 8 1/2 or the 11 by 17 sheet that you have, if you fold it out and look at page two, you'll see that the proposed box folder is on a 15° scale. Okay. How old is this bridge? Uh 1971, I believe, is the vintage.

That was that would be those panel sections. Uh I see that I beams I beams. Uh no, the concrete. It's actually pre-cast concrete panels. Uh the center ones are just I think they're about 30 in wide. and the length. The two outside ones have that curved section on them, but they have holes in them and there's a rod that runs through them that tightens them together. Okay.

And then the box covers that you're proposing is on the larger sheet of paper, a twin um 8 by8 I think. That's two of them. Two barrels. That'd be 16 16 by 8. I didn't print that sheet off with I just uh 10 by [clears throat] two. Yeah. plan

two 10t wide by 8t hole high at 20 20 by 8. Okay. You are at Okay. When I look at your schematics, you are a little bit at a 15° field. Yeah. Okay. So, you're going to kind of straighten it out through there a little bit. No, it's going to stay. It's It's going to Looks like you got the intake's going to be somewhat squared up to the creek. Yeah, I get that.

Crack goes from a natural flow stand runs through it at an angle to the road. So, Yeah, it's something that needs to be mowled over and tabled for the moment. It is something I would really like to come to a decision on this spring on this bridge. And like I said, I have another one that I intend to bring to you next week

up in that area. up in that area which that we also have designed and bought half the rightway already. And uh if it's going to require condemnation, we might as well just do both of them at once. So So everything on the west side of the road is we're good to go. Is that correct? We bought that in last year. 24

24. Okay. Uh 25 25. Okay. We had May 20th of 25. The board had signed the purchase agreement for Vivian Z and better the property on the opposite side. [snorts] I'll probably put my foot in my mouth, but would it would it help if I meet with the property owners? See if we can't resolve this.

Derek, what's your opinion on it? I mean, you could. I mean there's it's cuz like the route for condemnation, you know, cuz is like you're going to have to get an order to do that. You get it from the court and so like it save on that. But I understand the timeline too that my under as well. That's why I thought it'd be better if I would meet with them, hear their side of the story, you know. Mhm. I can go with you. I know him fairly well.

But in turn, if you go with me, then we got to have Haiti. Oh, well, I'm not doing that. [laughter] I line up the meetings. Don't do that. No, no, no, we cannot. Cuz I helped you with the one down by Fairfax, that individual. I'm not saying I'm a good negotiator, but I just I like to try to solve it without So, you helped me on that one also. So, Maybe you had some impact on that. But uh [snorts]

if you're willing to give me give me a week if I can meet you as long as I ain't in Florida or Arizona. Not unless you guys are willing to send me down there to talk to him. [laughter] Nice try. Nice try. But give me a week. Let's try to get that one done first because I know the second one I met with that person a while ago and I don't think I could get him to give it an inch on the talking to the same person. You think so?

We're talking to the same person. Okay. I don't know. I'm willing to talk to him. I want to hear his side. What's his reasoning and go from there? So, why don't you St. Patty's Day next week? Put it back on. Yeah. Why don't you put it back on for right now? And if I talk to him, then it will be a goal one way or another next week.

Okay. Okay. Yep. Is that all you got? That's all I got. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, my B. Julie, I brought this tattoo that I can maybe you guys have. Oh, thank you. Before I leave, okay, I'm going to grab it now or else forget it. We were going through that stuff. So, okay.

So, I think Haley just wanted me to come touch base on where things are going so that we're all on the same page. Um, so when I met with you a year ago, um, and you agreed to keep Sarah for this year, thank you. That has on our end has been great. So we are in discussion right now with Central Iowa Juvenile Detention to they employ they have Yeah, that look a lot of money. You [laughter and clears throat] what? We owe them a lot of money. So they have a um program that is employment only. is separate from the central Iowa juvenile detention where they're employer of record for individuals and we actually utilize them for six individuals right now because um Jones and Debute County backed out of employing their indiv individuals um in June and so we had four people without employment um and so central Iowa took those four on and they've taken on two additional well three additional cuz one person left Shelley left um and they strictly do the employment. We get our insurance through them um workman's comp and everything. So we are working with them for a contract beginning July 1st. So at that point then Sarah would end employment here on June 30th. Um Deb had worked on pre So let me see if I can explain this right. So when the region ended, Sarah had some vacation on the books and so the region prepaid some of that so that it all didn't become a DAP liability, disability point, disability access point liability. So some of that was prepaid out of region funds and then any additional that vacation um in addition that was earned during this last year would be paid out of disability access point funds. So we put that little amount in fiscal year 27

because it'll if the last payroll falls in July, we have to cover all that, right? So um Haley and did Don work with you? Yeah, our business program manager worked with Haley. They developed a budget for fiscal year 27 which will include last paycheck and then any payout of vacation that Sarah has. And so then um she will no longer be a Benton County employee. we will move her over to our new employer that has everybody all 19 18 of our employees will all be under one employer. So, um Don the Deb Guard retired um and so Don our pro business program manager is looking every month we look at the amount paid to you the amount of expenses and then that'll all be settled at the end of the fiscal year just like it was with the regional fiscal year. So, just wanted to touch base. I do know that Sarah has a computer I think from here. So, we will work toward getting that back. Um, everything else though.

You I think we have pretty much everything else back in. Okay. That's what I was thinking. Either it was transition to the the disability access point or it's back. So, it's just that one computer that she is utilizing now. And then I don't know. Does she have a Will she come do like a exit interview or something? How do you handle it? We probably could. I mean, it'd be up to the board. I didn't know how your county normally does it. Does she have a ID or any keys or anything like that? Usually the keys to the building and then like we can disengage her key fobs to get in the building. I don't have no keys no more. She might have the fob still.

I wondered if she turned all of that in when she no longer worked out of here. I'll double check in. I remember that the hard keys we did because we have to be in the office. Yes. Yeah. Her bed that I don't know. I can discuss that with her. Yeah. And just make sure that you have everything back from her that you need. And then as for the laptop, if she's had that for four or five years, it really ain't worth nothing. But we still have to get it back because [clears throat] you probably Yeah. you want to cuz it'll have stuff on there that will stay clean. Okay. We sell it to them for a dollar.

That's totally up to you. Otherwise, we will um get her another laptop. I don't know whether So, we are contracting with an IT company because I think some of them depending on the age can no longer be um updated with the change. And so, I'm not real sure. Is that yours? Is that Yeah. So, we may have to replace it anyway because my understanding is that it was a fairly old one that she had. I was going to say she's not going to want to move forward. Still be Yeah. I wouldn't think. Yeah. So, it it may need to be replaced just to be able to update it.

So, do you have any pull to have like who replaced Sarah in Benton County to come in and maybe give updates to our board? I can certainly I've never really officially met her as I mean just get in the face with Mhm. So, um, Russell Wood is the CEO of that, um, disability access point. And so, and they have, I think, two individuals maybe serving this area because of the RCF and they come temporarily, like once a week possibly is what I've heard. But again, I've never Yeah, I I'll um email Russell and

Yeah, I would just like to go over like policies and procedures going forward, you know, to making sure like my staff's getting the invoices to the the direct persons correctly. Oh, wait a minute. I mean, cuz we have so many questions like if somebody comes to the county and needs those kind of services, who do we direct it to? Okay, cuz I was going to say there shouldn't be any invoices. No, I mean that's who to send them to. Yes. Yep. Got that part figured out, but like those that need services. Yep. Have you had anybody from the um ASO, administrative service organization? Those couple gals come here. Two ladies come out.

Okay. Probably Emma. Maybe Emma and somebody else from December. She used to work at Cedar Rapids Police Department. I know. Yeah. She was Oh, okay. She was their liaison. I know who that was. Yeah. So that those ladies come and just did some stuff that we gave you. So just need our own contact person in the here. Yeah, absolutely. I will um Great. And if they could make it work with the Tuesday to come in and meet us all, that would be even better.

Yeah, I will um double I'll bring it up with Russell and um let's see whether it's they want the individual who actually serves this area or kind of the person who oversees whatever. Yeah, sure. I will reach out to them and you've been getting reimbured for sheriff's fees and all of that stuff and get We haven't had one turned in for a while. So, okay. Because you know those can also be Yep. Yep. But yeah, we haven't paid that for a while. So, we have our same advocate. Yeah. Yep. So, those just haven't been turned in. And then I know we've talked about the ICN. I was going to ask you about that. C the CSN or CSN. [clears throat] Yeah. She doesn't use it.

Okay. So then we unless you use it in any of your other departments. Um I don't believe so because it would all be state. None of us had that to get on there. Yeah. I don't know. In Buchanan County, we utilized it for general assistance. We ran our bills through it. Maybe I'll talk to Courtney then. I was going to say that would be the only thing whether they run their bills on that. But I don't know that they do anymore. I think Sarah and Mona used to, but I don't know since it transitioned and is now with VA,

but otherwise I would say I know Bethany doesn't use it. So, and we had thought early on that um or Isac had thought that the ASO would pay for that since it's utilized by the advocates and they said no because code does not require that they utilize that. they require that they utilize that or a spreadsheet now. The code changed and I do think we just got an email on that not too long ago. So

yeah, code changed a year ago maybe I think to say that they can just turn in a spreadsheet and not have to use CSN. So but I don't know whether I just got an email from Isaac today or yesterday asking us to let them know if we're not doing it otherwise they will assume we would. I don't know if you got did you get the same Okay. [clears throat] I do believe that there are quite a few counties not going to utilize it.

That's kind of the consensus I'm getting too. So, yeah, that's what I'm hearing just because of the cost versus benefit unless they utilize it for other departments then. So, I'll check with Courtney. So, as long as we know our advocate has the data, no, it doesn't have to go through there um with the code change. They just have to send in a spreadsheet with the same information they would have entered. So, any other questions you have for me? No, I appreciate you coming in cuz like we didn't know who was going to do the employer record or like that stuff. So,

yeah, where we're in the right now we I we actually met with them this morning and so we're working on a contract with them for them to pick up the other 18. There didn't seem to be counties. I mean, the original plan that May had was that a county would take it over. didn't seem to be counties interested in employing all of the um employees. Yeah. Especially I think a lot of it has to do with the self-employedment of insurance and all of those. I mean, we of course pay central Iowa for all of the costs and then a fee for [clears throat] them to manage it. But there didn't seem to be counties interested. So, our um governing board [clears throat] uh passed a motion for us to go with central Iowa. Now we're just waiting on central Iowa's board. So we've been in discussions with them. It has worked worked very well. They do um employer record for a lot of agencies, a lot of the early child agencies and some others who kind of serve multiple counties and no one county wanted to take on the [clears throat] the burden of doing that. So

they they actually do quite a bit of that sort of stuff.

They do. They they have a fairly large number of I don't remember the other types of I think some city maybe small ones that they possibly do entities that don't that are wanting to be covered but not do higher HR or do their own employment. So, it's been it worked has worked out well with us because we were able to bring individuals in and maintain their vacation and things like that instead of having to be I mean, if they were hired by like Lynn County, they would have gone down to 2 weeks vacation and whatever wages a new employee would get. And these were people that had been there for 25 years. And so, we were able to bring them into central Iowa. We determined their vacation, so we kept them where they were. and it um has worked out very well on our end for the flexibility that we were hoping for the employees. So that's where we're at right now and I mean June 30th we have told all the counties you're you will be done. We will have it transitioned over. So

all right, thank you very much. And that pile is just some stuff we found when we were cleaning up files. So you guys might have I'll take a look at it. They might be Thanksgiving or something. It could be. Yeah. Confidential information. All right. Thank you. Enjoy this nice day. It's going to get cold soon. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you.

Okay. Do you want to budget work? Yep. So, I sent you guys that spreadsheet for the outside agencies. Yep. Are you ready to act on those and then we'll fill out those dates and amounts so I can get those entities so they know what to plan for? Okay. And I'll know officially what we leave in our budget.

You got that in front of you? Yep. Those were just the that's the I put in the full asking amount. Yeah. You put the asking amount in. Correct. Well, I'll start off the very bottom. The BGM they're asking a,000. We cut them last year to 80,000. I'm willing to split the difference this year to 90,000. my opinion.

Did they ask 100,000 last year? Yes. And if you recall this year they wanted to give a raise. Yes.

I don't have a problem with that. I'll be okay with it. Do you guys want to do these individual motions? Yeah. Well, or all in one. Can we just pick them? Pick and then throw it all together. That's fine. I'm trying to say paper in the or I'd put it in the paper. That's fine. Yeah. Okay. So we agreed on 90 from 90 to 90 from a from 100 asking to give them 90 90. We all agree on that. Mhm. And I'll split that with the lost and stuff again. Okay. If if you're okay with that. Yeah.

That's how we have been. That's fine. And then uh the other other one that I have a little problem with is the middle seeders WMA was 5,000 what they had and they're asking 8630 or what's the they asked they asked for eight I think last year they asked eight last year and we agreed on giving five because they weren't really running yet. What's our benefit there?

A pond at least and I know there's some other projects that good, but this is supposed to be going forward with new projects. Correct. Correct. And you you served as the I was the fiscal agent on that agent on that. But I don't think they have one on record yet do they? Yeah. But I mean because they don't really have anything up and going, right? They got somebody hired to

to do it. Yeah. because they're going to have to do all those big packets and all that stuff again. They got to get funding first. That's where I thought this the stall was because of that. They didn't have enough funding. Well, the only money that they're operating around now is the people that belong to it that's been given. But now they're going to hire somebody out of that money. They're not going to they they've been hiring it. [clears throat] Oh, just Alicia Corner. They did not list out what all the other entities are giving, right? Uh, no. No.

Is that something we could find out eventually? Maybe. Yeah, they got a spreadsheet. Cuz you go to that meeting, correct? Yes. Well, sometimes. I'm just curious of like what entities. Most of the time it's Zoom meeting. You know what I mean? because it was cities and stuff too, wasn't it?

Yes. [music] And then in Benton County, to my knowledge, we were the only one in Benton County belonging to it. Benton did not belong to it no more. Mount Auburn did not. You see, technically we got two WMA boards in Benton County. That's why I always get somewhat confused. You got the WMA out of easy cog and then you got the WMA in TA County which catches a corner down at Bell Plane. Mhm. You know, that's only like two or three miles of catches south of Bell Plane. And that's where we well we kind of dumped that on uh city administrators down there at Bell Plank. He he always attended them meetings. So, I guess I'm on the fence on the

I'm kind of in the dark because I Well, we didn't pay him the first year. This will be the third year. The first year we didn't give them anything. Last year, we gave them 5,000, right? See, they did come here. Uh Mary, Beth, and and they come here for their asking.

She did try to provide me the update and stuff, but And I get where they were coming from with the project because it was between the land owner and the contractor, not the watershed. I guess my feelings is it's between zero and 4,000. Everybody else have tightened their belt up this fiscal year. As for heads of the departments and all the departments have got. So that's my opinion for you guys. Between zero and 4,000 I would definitely not I wouldn't increase it. That's pretty sure this year I went to zero. Okay. 0 to four. And here's zero. I don't necessarily want to see them get nothing, but I I would be fine with 2,000 myself. But Just a little input, but how much did uh other departments reduce their budgets?

I mean a percentage wise, just a percentage is we never actually figured percentage wise. only one I can actually say to what if they all took a that took a a percentage cut but we had some departments that cut already reduced that was well over I mean some of them were there the percentages that they took was I was just wondering if you did it in line with what that was they cut 10% or 20% or whatever they were cutting

yeah we've got uh um one department took almost 40% of their budget and cut it. So, and here's a couple of 10%s um 25% cut. So, uh uh it's kind of all over the place then. It was It was all over the place. Yeah. There was no I don't want to have more freedom to do that if their prices aren't, you know, increasing like we have fuel like some of that stuff you can't control. justified giving them 5,000 last year. What was the was it did they have something in mind

getting up and going along and we said we'll help you out prior year. I mean that's what we told them the first year is we wanted to see it up and going before we gave to the right

because they're not county departments. Another thing none of these are county departments. I'm still on zero and I and I I'll admit it. It's because I'm in the dark and I don't know what they're going to do for us. Bruce, I'll go with you. 2,000. Split the difference. Again, you're giving them a little bit, but Can you live with that?

Yes. Okay. All right. All right. 2,000 of them. And everybody else on the asking part, Riverview, 1500. I'm okay with that. Eastern Iowa trust fund. We get a lot of money or a lot of bang for our buck. All the houses south of town here. That's that's a big return for us. Hay cap. Hay cap's a big return for us. And I don't recall any of them increase from last year. So,

no. No, none of them did. Kirkwood, you know, they impressed me with their uh what do they call that? That's coming their their or the thing they put on. Yeah. Well, where they have the kids come and interns. Yeah. Which we have that Kirkwood meeting coming up they job shadow and and such. I just haven't seen that. Yeah. To try to get them into the trades and and and such. Joel Tyson's program, right? 27th of April. Yeah, I was just make sure you guys all got that. If we all go, I'll go post the agenda probably. Okay. Down while we're talking about it.

I'm good with the Kirkwood voice learning, Benton County Volunteers, United Way. That just started like a year ago now, didn't it? Well, it's always been called the Benton County Volunteers, but now they merged with United Way, right? So, we've always given to the entity. It's just different different vendor basically. Did they come and talk to us? Mhm. Mhm. Cuz she was barely new. Mhm. The Gail was retiring. Yep. Yeah. She hasn't been in the position too long. Bell Claim Community Center and he's actually went down. He's very frugal with his with the finances there. He he makes it go a long ways.

And of course, the last one bed development 90,000 we agreed on. bill. Mhm. [clears throat] So, can I take a motion to approve the outside entities on the budgets that we will provide for them for the 26 27 calendar year? I'll make a motion. Do you want me to list the amounts in the motion? Do you want it? Yep. Okay.

Because then I fill it out on their forms, too. Then I will make a motion to accept the outside agency's uh budgets at the stated amounts. Riverview 1,500, Eastern Iowa housing trust fund 5,986 HCAP 81,138 Kirkwood Community Workplace Learning $2575.50 50s. Middle Cedar, uh, WMA 20,000, Benton County Volunteers United Way 20,000, Bell Plane Community Center, 6,000, and the Benton Development Group at 90,000.

I have a second. I'll second that. Offer a vote. Tet Iman IS. Okay, Tracy, I'll have you sign these forms.

We already did the reports. Budget work. Unfinished business. Public comments.

Nothing. Nothing. I know you're surprised. [laughter] I can kind of bring everyone up under public comment. Uh seemed like the last few days has been uh rock and sod in the ditch days from snow removal. uh unhappy folks that we put gravel on the roads in the late fall. Uh a lot of people called in when that was going on that it was going to end up in the ditch and as they predicted it's in the ditch. They believe we should be more the folks that have called me. Uh we should not put rock out on the road in the fall again because it just ends up in the ditch. It doesn't get time to get worked into anything. Uh something we should I My was here but uh perhaps something we should talk to him about. got anything, Bruce?

I No, I haven't been yelled at this week, so I'm in good shape. Okay, the week's still early. Take take a Tuesday. Take take a look around the county and your travels and I've seen it and I've had comments. I got gravel in my front yard and I live on a page street and I don't know where it came from, [laughter] but it's there. Um, so as far as budget work, like I said, I've uploaded all the mailings going out. Next week, I'm going to have you act on the wages for elected officials and the non-elected. I will be phoning in next.

Okay. Unless you want us to wait till you're here in person. I mean, no, we don't have it doesn't you don't have to wait for me in person, but I I will be phoning in early in all right, but uh I'll call Tracy's phone. Okay. Then the next thing is the hearing is the 24th cuz we'll have our regular meeting and then the night meeting and then once that's done, then we can set our fiscal year 27 budget. What's [clears throat] this mailing going to cost? About 10 grand.

So then there was another option. So like the tax statements cuz I use the same mailer as the treasurer. So a lot of times they'll group them together. So say one parcel has or one owner has 10 parcels depending on if it's in the same taxing districts because it's specific to city schools and counties. So they'll have their city listed for their budget, counties, and new schools. So what it's explaining is the valuation as a blanket in that district, what's increasing. Even though our levies have decreased, it's going to show an increase because your tax dollars are coming in more because our valuations grow. So it defeats the purpose really. Legislators want them to show that we're reducing our levies, but the values grow. So

because it's a general letter, it correct the figures on there. It does not even have anything to do with what it does. It takes their it'll tell you a commercial property, a residential, and a ground. It lists all those examples, but it it is specifically with that schools levy, their overall dollars, and then the cities and then the county. It does list it out, but it's as aund, thou like it's a set amount. It's not based on the individual parcel at all. But your what do we got? Five schools in Benton County here. The five the school counties, but then we have to list the other ones too. Yeah. But their levies are different.

Correct. They're not It has those three different entries. It does. Yes. Okay. That part has not changed. They did add some verbiage and and examples on the back whether they're going to look at it. But the other option is if they click on eotices for future mailings like for treasurers if they sign up people can opt out of getting the paper statement and get it by the mail. But I don't know if that covers it for this budget hearing. So I was I said not to do that at this time because this legislation is different. It does say like the assessors and that could do it that way, but this this one is totally a different requirement. So, and weren't they looking at changing that again?

Yes, but they did this year, but they just added more verbiage and tried to explain it better to make it didn't work last year. So, we'll see. And I sent you guys stuff like that in case you get calls. Did Did you read through that? I sent it to you when I was it last week when I was getting that notice with the levy ready. Read those because it'll it'll step it out for you so that you can try to explain that. And when you send this out, it should be going out this week cuz I uploaded everything last week and I did the proofs and looked at the mailing comes out here. Comes out with the morning. Yeah. put that

the point of it is to get it to those individuals so everybody has time to attend their public hearings or reach out. Okay. And all of them are evening meetings it looks like. Okay. [clears throat] I didn't notice any overlaps. So all right. But that's where we got the most backlash last year at town. Yeah boy. Y So make sure you read that stuff so you're ready. And then maybe like you said, list out things where you know we saved. All right. Motion to adjurnn. I'll move to ajourn.

I'll second it. Okay. Call for a vote. Tippet. I bull's eye. I forgot to ask. You didn't have nothing, did you, Derek? Marvelous.