Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Good morning. We're going to go ahead and bring this first canvas to order. Roll call.

Altinger. Present. Hockensmith. Here. Conway.

Here.

Holm.

Here.

McCoy.

Here. At this time, we'll be considering the canvas.

What do you do, just read these?

Pardon? Okay.

Thank you.

The canvas is complete for the Elkhart City Council at-large special election. I would entertain a motion to adjourn the canvas. Move. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith? Yes. Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. We'll resume our meeting in just a couple moments here. Good morning. We'll go ahead and call our regular scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order. Roll call.

Altringer? Here. Hockensmith?

Here.

Connelly? Here. Holm? Here. McCoy?

Here. Action on the minutes from the previous meeting? Move. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Any special claims? None. Action on the bill list is submitted by the county auditor. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. We'll stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. of one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This morning we have a proclamation we'll begin with related to passage of the Fair Housing Act. Whereas April 11th, 2026 marks the 58th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing nationwide on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and family status. and whereas the Iowa Civil Rights Act additionally prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status, and whereas the Fair Housing Act practices play a positive role in ensuring the well-being of all people in our community, and whereas economic growth, community health, and human relations in all communities are improved by diversity and fairness, and whereas all members of the community are encouraged to raise awareness of fair housing practices to prevent discrimination and to ensure our community is welcoming and inclusive. Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Polk County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Fair Housing Month. in Polk County to establish Polk County as an inclusive community committed to fair housing and to promote appropriate activities by public and private entities intended to provide or advocate for equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents of Polk County sign this day. And with that, I would ask if anyone would like to come up and speak to this resolution this morning. I believe we have. Toby O'Berry from the...

Yes. Thank you, Supervisor McCoy. So Toby O'Berry, Executive Director of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. Just want to thank you for advocating for fair housing across our county. Fair housing is the bedrock for affordable housing and the bedrock for all housing in our community. And so without fair housing, you're not able to have that equality and equal access to for all housing across all income levels. So thank you very much for advocacy work around fair housing. And so thank you.

Thank you. And Toby, when we're done with the next resolution, we'll take a picture with full board in just a moment.

Thank you.

Next resolution recognize supervisor home related to the Harmony delegation.

All right, we have a proclamation for Harmony Delegation Barbershop Chorus Day. Whereas the Harmony Delegation Chorus, Des Moines chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is celebrating its 80th anniversary on April 25th at the show at Plymouth Congregational Church. And whereas the Harmony Delegation Chorus welcomes and encourages singers of all ages to strive for excellence in singing, to inspire one another, nurture meaningful friendship, and give communities exceptional vocal performances, and whereas the Harmony Delegation Chorus celebrates harmony in the barbershop style, provides an opportunity to experience joy of four-part a capella singing, and introduces and sustains vocal music in the lives of people everywhere, and whereas the Harmony Delegation Chorus is committed to collaborative relationships with schools and other organizations to promote lifelong opportunities to experience the joy of singing, providing education, festivals, workshops, and camps through its Youth in Harmony programs, Now, therefore, it be resolved that we, the Polk County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim April 25th as Harmony Delegation Barbershop Chorus Day in Polk County, Iowa, and recognize Harmony Delegation Chorus for the commitment to bring people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through singing. Signed this day, April 2026.

And I believe that we're going to be treated to a song this morning. Gentlemen.

The sweetest flower that grows. You may search everywhere, but none can compare with my wild iris rose. My wild iris rose. Wow. And someday for my sake she may let me take the bloom from my wild Irish rose.

My rose.

The bloom from my wild Irish rose. Wild Irish.

If you gentlemen would just stay where you are, we're gonna go ahead and present a resolution and grab a picture with the board.

All right. Yeah, right. Yeah, right.

Thank you so much.

Public hearings.

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

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item today? If not, I will close the hearing and ask for a motion. So moved. Roll call.

This will be for number eight, resolution approving a quit claim deed to the city of Johnston for a vacant parcel located between 4623 and 4575 Northwest 62nd Avenue, Johnston. Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on $1,500,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 1.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item today? Hearing none, I would close the hearing and ask for a motion.

Move.

Second. Roll call.

This will be for number nine, resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $1,500,000 general obligation capital loan notes ECB 1.

Altschringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on $1 million general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-2.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item today? If not, I would close the hearing and ask for a motion. Move. Second. Roll call.

This will be for number 10, resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $1 million general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 2. Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith? Yes. Connolly?

Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 3.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone here wishing to speak to this item? If not I would close the hearing and ask for a motion. So moved. Roll call.

This will be for number 11, resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 3. Altringer?

Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 4.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item? Hearing none, I would close the hearing and ask for a motion. Second. Roll call.

This will be for number 12, resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $1,750,000 general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-4. Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on $9 million general obligation capital loan notes, ECP 5.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is there anyone here wishing to speak to this item? If not, I would close the hearing and ask for a motion. So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

This will be for number 13, resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $9 million general obligation capital loan notes, ECP-5. Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Okay, now we have a resolution related to the bond proceedings we've just approved.

Number 14, resolution authorizing the issuance of $13,623,000 general obligation capital loan notes, series 2026, and levying a tax for the payment thereof.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. We're now at the point of the meeting where we have public comments and at this time we would entertain any comments from the audience on any subject that they wanna speak to. Please just state your name.

Hi, my name is Carol Maher. I live in downtown Des Moines, and I will not be singing today. But I would like to thank the board for a couple items on the agenda. Number 24, where you'll be lowering the speed limit out where there's an at-grade crossing from 55 to 50. Wish it would have gone to 45. but I'll take whatever I can get. So thank you for working to make our streets safer for all users, especially those who are vulnerable on a bike or walking. And also number 25, where you're funding the water sensors. In the state, we don't know what the water's like unless we're measuring it, and to lose momentum after a couple of decades or longer of tracking water quality, would be really shameful. And so thank you for that. You're picking up, this is no thanks to the state, obviously, which has worked for a couple of years now and will finally defund the sensors, which is shameful. Also, the state has a bill up there where they're increasing speed limits on undivided highways from 55 to 60. Again, the wrong direction in life. So thank you for being a leadership on safety, both on our roads and in our water. Thank you. Thank you, Carol.

Good morning. Good morning. Matthew Harkin. I am the chairperson of the Park Inc. in Pleasant Hill. I'm joined here by board members Bill Hanson, Major Ryan Doty, and Sergeant Adam Herman. We would just like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Board of Supervisors for providing us with a community grant for to help us in a remodel of the old building which has been used by our members and the community for the last over 50 years and we look forward to having another 50 years worth of that building going on for the for for the members in the community and we sincerely appreciate your support matthew we appreciate you being here and we're going to do a picture right after the meeting so thanks for thanks for being here you betcha thank you

Anyone else? If not, we'll go ahead and move on to permits.

Numbers 16 through 19 are fiscal year 26-27 applications for cigarette, tobacco, nicotine vapor permits for Quick Star 1086 located at 5145 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines. Liquor Land located at 4995 Merle Hay Road, Suite B, Des Moines. Maverick 5283, located at 5050 Northwest 2nd Street, Des Moines, and Stop and Go, located at 4823 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Resolutions.

Number 20, resolution approving amendment to services agreement with Houston Engineering for the Eastern Polk Stream Restoration Project. 21, resolution approving amendment to agreement for professional services with Bolton and Menk. 22, resolution approving amendment to agreement for services with JEO Consulting Group. 23, resolution approving sanitary sewer connection agreement with Jennifer Eden Joy Nelson. 24, resolution approving the Northwest 44th Street speed limit reduction. 25, resolution approving agreement for operation and maintenance of the water quality sensor network with the University of Iowa. 26, resolution accepting bid of $162,921 received from Jorgensen Contract and Company of Dallas Center for the 2025 Bridge Maintenance Program. Twenty-seven, resolution accepting the bid of $749,830.25 received from Iowa Plains Signing of Slater for 2026-27 Local Pavement Marking Program. Twenty-eight, resolution accepting bid of $108,750.20 received from TK Concrete of Pella for 2026-27 Local PCC Patches. And number 29, resolution authorizing the 2027 Secondary Road Budget and Five-Year Construction Program.

Move the resolutions collectively. Second.

I have a question on 25 and Jonathan Swanson. Several months ago, we did a resolution, I think, to the University of Iowa for some water sensors for 200,000, I think. Yes. And those two other counties, Johnson. Glenn and Johnston. Yeah, did they ever do theirs?

Yep, so Johnson has matched the Polk County commitment with another $200,000, and the University of Iowa is just finalizing their negotiation with Dubuque County also, and they're also in discussions with the city of Dubuque and Linn County, and all of them are very positive, and they're just kind of, what they told us a couple weeks ago is they're just finalizing those agreements.

Okay, so this money, $200,000, where are we going to use this at?

So this will be used specifically for the monitoring sites that are upstream of Polk County. So there's a whole network statewide. And they were trying to fundraise about half a million dollars to maintain their statewide entire monitoring program. And it's really gap funding to give them a chance to continue negotiations for that long-term commitment. And our talks at the University of Iowa, our money, regardless of if others fund, would go towards maintaining those systems that are upstream of Polk County that directly apply to the work that we're doing.

So it is in Polk County we're monitoring.

They are some in Polk County, and then they're upstream of Polk County in the area that drains to us. So think Boone County, think Hamilton County. Think about us understanding the water that's coming at us. And so those are the sensors that our funding will be going towards.

So once again, doing the state's work.

You can certainly look at it that way.

I do. All right, thanks, Jonathan.

Yep. I did want to just say, you know, and I appreciate your comments, Angela, because it... This was an initiative that started when I was in the Senate and the water quality sensor program actually ran through my budget committee. And what makes this information valuable is the fact that we've been monitoring this data over a long period of time. So it creates a set of data. And so to lose this data or to have it interrupted would destroy the value of the data. So from that standpoint, I'm glad that Polk County is making this investment and I'm glad the other counties are. I will say, I talked to Larry Weber at the University of Iowa. They continue to advocate at the State House for the legislature to fully fund this $600,000 project to continue the water quality data and to continue the investment of maintaining this data. But in the meantime, I think using our using what remained of our CICERA money as well as some of our ARPA money from interest earnings, we're able to keep this research together and to benefit from this research because our entire region depends on this data. Everyone that drinks out of the Des Moines or Raccoon River watershed is impacted by this. And so the continued investment I think is significant and appropriate for Polk County to invest in. So hope that we hear some good news from the legislature, but in the meantime, we're gonna do our part to keep this going. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 30, resolution approving lease agreement with the City of Des Moines for the Tiny Tree Program.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 31, resolution authorizing auditor's office to publish notice of public hearing on April 21st for a temporary construction easement to the city of Des Moines on county-owned real estate located in Four Mile Creek Greenway.

So moved. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 32, resolution for first amended agreement with Central Iowa Services and Shelter for weather amnesty.

Moved. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 33, resolution approving cooperative public service 28E agreement with the city of Mitchellville for law enforcement services. Second.

Second. I'd like to make a comment on that. I just want to publicly thank Sheriff Schneider and Curtis for all your guys' hard work on this. I was brought into the conversations on January 2nd, and it's currently April 7th, and we're finally voting on this. So thank you for the many hours you guys have put in.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 34, resolution approving data sharing agreement with Des Moines Public Schools. And number 35, resolution approving Verona Systems modification from on-premises to cloud.

Roll call.

Yes. Hawkins-Smith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 36, resolution approving position modifications in the Community, Family, and Youth Services Department and General Services Department.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 37 and 38 are resolutions approving the recommendation of the Polk County Assessor for disallowance of the homestead tax exemption and disallowance of the homestead tax credit.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 39, resolution approving settlement agreement, release of liability, indemnification, and covenant not to sue buy-in between Polk County, Iowa, and Moraine L. Rankins. 40, resolution approving Dorsey and Whitney LLP as bond counsel. 41, resolution approving sponsorship agreement with Yingling. And number 42, resolution appointing individuals to various boards and commissions.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Home? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 43, resolution approving Platinum Sponsorship Award for Golf Charitable Foundation of Greater Des Moines. 44, resolution approving Community Development Grant Award for the City of Alamon. And numbers 45 and 46 are resolutions approving Community Betterment Grant Awards and Community Sponsorship Awards.

So moved.

Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy? Yes.

Reports?

Number 47, Polk County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025. And number 48, Polk County Veterans Affairs Third Quarter Report, fiscal year 2526.

Receive and file. Communications?

Number 49, Manure Management Plan Update from Brad Meckley.

Receive and file.

Number 50, request for tax abatement for property at 5601 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines.

Refer to the assessor, the treasurer, and the county attorney.

Number 51, City of Granger notice of public hearing on applications for 100% voluntary annexation in an urbanized area.

Refer to public works and county attorney. Budget actions, are there any?

None.

Appointments? Move. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes. Any board comments this morning? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved. Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes.

Hockensmith? Yes. Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes, don't forget we have a picture with Matthew Harkin and the team from Park. And I believe we'll be doing that right outside the front door.