Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

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Well, good morning. We'll go ahead and call the regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order. Roll call.

Altringer? Here. Hawkins-Smith?

Here.

Onnelly? Here. Holm? Here. McCoy?

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

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Onnelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Any special claims?

None.

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

Altena? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

No.

Connolly? No. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. We'll 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 We have three proclamations today and we'll go ahead and take them up in order of mental health, ALS and Earth Day. And then following the proclamations, we'll do photos with those that are in attendance today. So we'll begin with a mental health proclamation. Whereas mental health is essential to the overall health and mental health and conditions are common manageable and treatable and whereas one in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. with half of Americans meeting the criteria for a diagnosable condition in their lifetime, often beginning in adolescence, and whereas it is essential to educate the public about the signs, symptoms, and available resources for mental health support encouraging individuals to seek help and prioritize their mental well-being and whereas it is vital to seek early treatment for mental health as doing so saves lives and leads to better long-term outcomes and whereas we encourage individuals organizations communities to take proactive steps for mental well-being from seeking support through professional help to participating in community initiatives that promote mental health and whereas we recognize the resilience and strength of individuals who manage mental health challenges as well as the dedication of mental health professionals who provide support and care now therefore let it be proclaimed that Polk County Board of Supervisors declare the month of May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Polk County, Iowa and encourage everyone to utilize resources, seek support and continue to break down the stigma to create a future where mental health is prioritized for all. Further proclaim that Polk County Board of Supervisors continues its commitment to partner with community organizations to ensure that all disability services are accessible, valuable, and culturally appropriate for all residents of Polk County signed this day, the 21st of April. Are there comments on mental health awareness that anyone would like to make in the audience? If not, we'll go ahead and move on to the next resolution. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh. Sorry. I didn't see you behind that column. Yeah, the column there.

Good morning, supervisors. Just super briefly, Ryan Crane, Executive Director of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Grateful to the supervisors for prioritizing and emphasizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. And thank you for your leadership. Look forward to having opportunities to be in touch in the month of May.

Thank you. Thank you. Next, we'll move to the ALS awareness bond.

Whereas, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, gradually taking away a person's ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. Whereas ALS deeply impacts individuals and families, bringing daily challenges that require strength, resilience, and support. And whereas every 90 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes someone loses their life to this disease, highlighting the urgent and ongoing impact on families and communities. And while there is currently no cure, ongoing research and access to care remains essential in improving quality of life and working toward better outcomes. And whereas organizations such as the ALS Association provide critical support through services, equipment, advocacy, and research efforts that benefit families across our state and country, and whereas increasing public understanding of ALS helps shed light in the realities faced by those living with the disease and encourages meaningful support from the community. And whereas Polk County recognizes the courage of individuals living with ALS, the unwavering support of their families, and the vital role of caregivers, health care professionals, and advocates who walk alongside them, And now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Polk County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim May 2026 to be ALS Awareness Month, signed this day, 21st of April, 2026. Chair? Thank you for allowing me to read. It's a very personal proclamation. It was interesting to me to read that 90 people are diagnosed, I'm sorry, a person is diagnosed every 90 minutes. Obviously, my misstep in words shows the personality, the personal part of this. My father-in-law, and I did bring a picture today, my father-in-law, Jim, died of this disease 11 years ago. And it is a very cruel disease. And so, I'm proud to read the proclamation and remind people of the impact of the disease, the support we need in the community, the strength it takes, the family support, the community support. We're honoring everyone that has suffered through this, whether peripherally or individually. I just cannot imagine something where you're diagnosed and you know that soon you'll be trapped in your own body. So thank you for allowing me to read this. Thank you for remembering Jim and all those that are impacted. And do we have anyone that would like to speak today?

Good morning. My name is Abby Strother. I serve as the Director of Care Services for the ALS Association. I'm not sure any remarks that I can offer can follow what you just shared from your personal experience and I thank you for sharing that. It's just a pleasure to be here to honor Jim as well as every Iowan that's been impacted by this disease, particularly on behalf of the residents of Polk County and their families. I just want to sincerely express our gratitude. Our mission at the ALS Association is to make the disease livable until we can cure it. And a huge part of that is raising awareness and increasing advocacy efforts. And so the actions taken today by you all is a significant step forward in advancing our mission. So just please know we're deeply grateful. And thank you again for the opportunity to honor Jim and your family in this way.

Thank you.

Thanks for being here. Next, we'll do the Earth Day Proclamation.

all right earth day is april 22nd 2026 whereas our planet earth is singular and vital sanctuary teeming with a diverse range of ecosystems flora and fauna that provide essential services and support the well-being of all inhabitants and whereas the continued health and vitality of our planet are intrinsically linked to the well-being of present and future generations requiring concerted efforts to protect and sustain our natural resources, and whereas environmental degradation, including deforestation, pollution, climate change, and loss of biodiversity poses a significant threat to the equilibrium and prosperity of our global ecosystems, And whereas Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, serves a poignant reminder and call to action for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments worldwide to reaffirm their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. And whereas the collective actions of informed, engaged citizens can foster greater environmental awareness, promote conservation efforts, and drive the adoption of eco-friendly technologies and renewable energy sources. And whereas, on this day, we join together to foster a harmonious relationship with nature, to honor and protect our planet's natural heritage for current and future generations. And now, therefore, let it be proclaimed that we, the Polk County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim April 22nd, 2026 to be Earth Day.

Very good. We'll go ahead and do pictures in the order that we read the resolutions. Mental Health Awareness Month first.

There's always one guy, right? You got a little bit more room to your left there. Let's give that one more. You want to share it with the other side? There we go. All right. Close. One, two, three. I think we can do this. I think we can get ourselves . All right, thank you.

There you are. There you are.

First public hearing.

The first public hearing is on fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and certification of taxes.

Is proof of publication on file?

Yes.

Is anyone here wishing to speak to this item? Now I'll close the hearing and ask for... Oh, sorry. Okay. Okay.

My name is Ray Sears, 1795 Waters Edge Drive, Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, staff. I had communicated with each member of the board some time ago in my recommendations on what you might do with the next year's budget. I have a couple of questions to start off with. And I was wondering whether or not any of my recommendations have been included in the budget that you will be voting on shortly. No?

Ray, I did receive them. We did review them, but no, we did not incorporate the changes. Do appreciate you sending them, though. I think you did have some good ideas, but we are also going to consider them for next year's budget. But no, in this current budget that's to be certified, they were not incorporated.

Okay. How much tax money are you going to collect next year? Next year's budget? You collected about $231,000 this year. And how much next year?

I don't have the budget book in front of me.

We don't have those numbers yet, but I would just say that we can let Ray have his comments and then I can always get back to him.

I don't have those numbers in front of me, but please go ahead and complete your comments. I will. be happy to provide any of that information to you based on our projections when they're available.

Because you did in your last meeting approve basically a property tax levy that would generate about 200 and I mean you were doing the outside just didn't know what the legislation was going to do.

Right.

Yeah.

Right.

And is that maximum what you're budgeting for or?

yes what we did last week that's what we're budgeting for okay so you're going to do the maximum then you're going to raise property taxes no no no actually not you're not we're we're lowering the levy we're lowering the levy

The levy is a lot more relevant.

That's why I think that there's some disconnect. So we're lowering the levy, but the tax rate or the tax amount may or may not go up based on the property.

Yeah, you're going to be based on growth. You're going to be collecting more property tax.

But we're not raising taxes. That was your question.

Okay.

I'm sorry I misspoke. Please direct your comments. What would you like to make comments on? And we're not going to do a Q&A right now, so please use your public comments to make whatever comments you'd like to make. And then if you'd like to have a discussion about Q&A, we can do that with their budget director. Maybe at another time, so that isn't really the purpose of public comments, so please stay on the topic of your public comments today.

Okay, well, the purpose of my questions was just to get some information so that we could discuss what you're proposing doing. Okay, well. If you read my communication. I did. My premise was that we have a very difficult time for your constituents right now of meeting basic expenses. And if in fact you're going to collect more property tax from them, That will be just another burden that they will have to bear. And what I'm hearing you saying is that you will be collecting more property tax next year over this year. I presume that's a fair statement. I mean, I don't understand why this question is so difficult. You're going to be voting on a budget here in a moment. that includes property tax collections. And you don't know whether you want to raise taxes or not?

Yeah, I think you did answer. And I think the important note to make is this board is going to vote to lower the tax levy by approximately 11 cents. So there will be a tax levy reduction The questions that you have, we have already submitted answers to those questions. In the aggregate, the revenue will go from $218 million to $231 million, if I'm not mistaken. But that's in the aggregate. But that doesn't mean that we're not lowering the overall tax levy, which we are doing.

Yeah, I'm not. I understand. I'm not interested in tax levy. That is simply noise. We're talking about real dollars being raised, so I don't care about the tax levy. That's a politicians way to say that you're doing well. But I have a couple more comments. I was able to attend a forum the other day, attended by Matt McCoy and John Forbes. It was a neighborhood forum where they were presenting their positions and concerns or whatever, in an attempt to get an endorsement from the organization that was there. I thought Mr. McCoy did a very good job of outlining, I realize this is not part of the, you know, but I'll try, of outlining what the board has done internal, not just Mr. McCoy, but a lot of the projects that you're working on. I thought they were progressive. You know, I thought that they were going to be for the benefit of our residents. And assuming that it wasn't just political hyperbole, I congratulate you if that's the way you go. However, it seems to me that this board, while you do well-intentioned projects, It's just an embarrassment to see you in a newspaper all the time being embroiled with lawsuits, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on outside counsel. So on one hand, you do a good job. On the other hand, you taint it because of how you do it. And my third comment has to do with a favorite movie of mine. It's called The Christmas Carol. In The Christmas Carol, there are a lot of actors that you would recognize, Scrooge and Tiny Tim and all that. However, my favorite character was Jacob Marley. If you recall, he was the partner of Scrooge. And his message to Scrooge was that, basically, what you do now, you will carry through eternity. The decisions you make now, the change you make, you will carry through eternity. And we're all making change. Good or bad. But I do have a great deal of problem with the two supervisors who are double dipping. I do not understand how they can justify that to themselves, their families, their constituents. And I would just suggest that you read Jacob Marley's comments. That greed is only going to get you where you don't want to be. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that my comments may not have been exactly what you'd been looking for. But in a public hearing, I guess I get to say whatever I want.

Well, God bless us, everyone.

God bless us, everyone.

Yes. All right. If we could just then entertain a motion to close the hearing and ask for a motion. So move second roll call.

This will be for number nine resolution adopting fiscal year 2026 2027 budget and certification of taxes altering.

Yes.

Hockensmith.

Yes.

Connolly. Yes. Home.

Yes.

McCoy.

Yes. Next public hearing.

The next public hearing is on temporary construction easement on county owned real estate is proof of publication on file. Yes.

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

I move. Second.

No call.

This will be for number 10, public hearing granting a temporary construction easement to the city of Des Moines on county-owned real estate located in Four Mile Creek Greenway. Alteringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Public comment. Anybody from the public wishing to comment at this time? If not, we'll move on to permits.

Number 12, ownership update for Class E retail alcohol license for Quick Trip number 538 and number 562, located at 4575 Northwest 2nd and 4801 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines. And number 13, renewal application for Class E retail alcohol license for Casey's 1901, located at 2541 Northwest 66th Avenue, Ankeny.

Roll call.

Altschringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly. Yes. Holm.

Yes.

McCoy.

Yes. Resolutions.

Numbers 14 and 15 are resolutions approving the preliminary plat of Griffin Point Estates Plat 1 and the preliminary plat of Charles Hill Acres Plat 2 16, resolution approving right of entry in temporary construction easement with Amanda and Dan Moeller for the Brook Run Stream Stabilization Project. 17, resolution awarding contract for the Brook Run Stream Stabilization Project to Nagel Construction. 18, resolution approving a change order to the Pastor Wetland Project. 19, resolution approving agreement with Civil Design Advantage for land surveying services. And number 20, resolution ordering destruction of noxious weeds and other offensive growth and authorizing the auditor to publish notice. So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altraher? Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes.

Holm?

Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 21, resolution approving agreement with Excel Mechanical for plumbing and HVAC work at the Global Neighbors Project. 22, resolution approving agreement with Johnson Controls for a fire alarm system voice evacuation system at 1900 Carpenter, Des Moines. 23, resolution approving agreement with One Source Solar for the Polk County Jail Solar Project. 24, resolution authorizing the Downtown Events Group use of the 105th Street and 122nd Avenue parking lot for vendor staging for the Downtown Farmers Market. 25, resolution authorizing Lutheran Services in Iowa use of the 1907 Carpenter Avenue parking lot for the farmer's market. And number 26, resolution allowing Bodies Race Company use of the Northside Community Center parking lot.

So moved. Second.

If I may, like buried in between a bunch of groups using our parking lots, is the fact that we are putting solar into our jail system and reducing our electric costs by over a fourth of our energy needs out there and this is a long time investment that's going to benefit the jail the county the residents for years to come so I just didn't want to get that lost in the midst of the rest of what we're voting on today. Right.

You know, I think thanks for bringing that up. I think this project and I'd like to thank Adam for his work on the sustainability team that did a great job bringing this project forward. and obviously thank the sheriff and his team for working with us on this. This project has the capacity to run 365 days a year The one megawatt of power is the equivalent of about 1,000 homes. So the ongoing savings is about 100,000 annually, or about 3 million over the lifetime of the solar field. So this project is a great example of how we're gonna get to a 90% reduction in our carbon footprint by 2040. along with the great work they're doing with the fleet, as well as conversion of some of the gas powered furnaces and HVAC systems to electric. So this is another win-win for the taxpayers because the question often is, is going green gonna cost you more money? And the reality is this project will actually save money. What's unfortunate is the the tax credits that made this project possible are going to go away so it's great that this project is coming in while those tax credits are still in place because they've enabled us to make some of the gains that we've made not only with this building but also with other buildings overall The public administration building, River Place, the Northside Community Center have all been done in solar, which is enough equivalent just in that savings to power 315 homes. So ultimately, the savings for just those projects alone is $5.1 million over 30 years. Add $3 million to it, it's $8 million. It saves the taxpayer money. It makes sense. And, you know, I think that's the right thing to do, and it's the right direction for the taxpayers. So I'm glad you pointed that out. Thank you. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 27, resolution approving agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Polk County Conservation Board for federal aid for improvements to the Skunk River Bridge on Chautauqua Valley Trail.

Roll call. So moved. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy? Yes.

Number 28, resolution approving agreement with the Iowa Developmental Disability Council and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. 29, resolution approving CDC Foundation partnership agreement. And number 30, resolution approving amended agreement with Steps of Hope Iowa. So moved.

Second. Roll call.

Altschuler? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 31, resolution approving agreement with Aging Resources of Central Iowa.

Move. Second.

If we could, I'd like if Eric is available to come up and just share with us what we're doing today with Aging Resources.

Good morning. Eric Kuhl, director of Polk County Community Family and Youth Services. And this resolution just affirms a funding agreement we have with Aging Resources of Central Iowa to use Title III funds to support a number of our programs that we provide for seniors in Polk County. There are five categories of funding, but for us it would probably make more sense to point out what they are funding. That includes our congregate meals, a nutrition-based hot meal provided to seniors at all of our Polk County community centers and a number of municipal centers as well. We served 180,000 meals last year using those funds and county funds as well and served almost 3,400 seniors. This also supports paratransit transportation to get seniors who are unable to provide transportation for themselves to get them to those congregate meal sites. It provides outreach funding which helps support our ship program. it also helps support our health promotion activities including exercise classes for seniors and health clinics which include foot clinics and blood pressure clinics and then senior outreach counseling and it also provides funding for what we call our senior living cabs program which is up to six round trip rides using cabs or other means for getting seniors to medical appointments and other necessary appointments even if they're not enrolled in our ongoing paratransit program excellent thank you Eric I can't tell you how long far, far longer than I've been here, but yes, yes.

So I mean, and I've been at some of those clinics and obviously at the. Thursdays on Pi Day when it's their favorite day, obviously for their hot meals.

Pi Day is no joke.

It is definitely no joke, so this is definitely something that the county has been doing for years and hopefully we're going to continue to do it. I'm happy that that pass through grant comes to us and. Hopefully we'll continue to do that and help for our seniors.

I agree. These are great programs for seniors. They're all great programs. Yeah. And the county takes the funds we get and multiplies it many times over to great good.

And not every county does it.

No. No, they don't. We've been doing it for years, and hopefully we'll continue to do it.

And we continue to make it a priority. All right. Thanks, Eric. Roll call?

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 32 through 36 are resolutions approving releases of mortgage for 2226 Southwest First Street, Des Moines, 3100 York Street, Des Moines, 1129 Amos Avenue, Des Moines, 3816 Hunter Avenue, Des Moines, and 807 33rd Street, Des Moines.

Moved. Second. Roll call. Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes.

Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 37, resolution approving agreement with action target for the recycling of spent brass and lead shell casings at the Polk County Sheriff's Office firing range. Numbers 38 and 39 are resolutions approving 28E agreements with the Dallas Center Grimes Community School District for law enforcement services and two school resource officers. and with the Seidel Community School District for law enforcement services and a school resource officer. And number 40, resolution approving amendment to agreement with Keith Commissary Network for continuation of providing Polk County jail phones, tablets, visit video visitation, commissary and inmate account software for the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer. Yes.

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

Yes.

Number 41, resolution approving agreement with Carpel Solutions for prosecutor by Carpel Software. And numbers 42 and 43 are resolutions approving ESRI annual renewal and Oracle annual renewal.

So moved. Second.

Roll call.

Halteringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 44, resolution approving position modifications within the health department. So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

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

Yes.

Number 45, resolution approving summary of depositories, and number 46, resolution approving city of Des Moines abatement. Move.

Second.

Roll call.

Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly?

Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Number 47, resolution authorizing auditor's office to publish notice of public hearing on a proposed amendment to the fiscal year 25-26 budget. And number 48, resolution approving subordination agreement for the Beacon Housing Project.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 49, resolution approving Platinum Sponsorship Award for Des Moines Art Festival. And numbers 50 and 51 are resolutions approving Community Betterment Grant Awards and Community Sponsorship Awards.

I would like to make an amendment to the sponsorship. Can we remove Terrace Hill? So is my mover okay with that?

Yeah.

Then I have a second. Can I second that?

You made the motion. Moved it. Yeah. Moved it. Second? Mark seconded. Yeah.

All right. So make sure I understand this correctly. We have on the table an amendment, and this would be for the Community Sponsorship Awards.

Correct.

Community Sponsorship Awards removing TerraCell.

Is that correct?

Alteringer?

Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

So can we have a vote on number 49 and 50?

I'll move. Second.

That would be, all right, Alteringer?

Yes. Hockensmith? Yes.

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

And then a vote on number 51 as amended.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Communications?

Number 52, Polk County Treasurer Samuel semiannual report July through December 2025 and number 53, extant notice of assignment of rights and obligations under telecommunications network agreement. Receive and file number 54 City of West Des Moines notice of consultation concerning the proposed amendment number one to the Valley West Urban Renewal Plan and number 55 City of Windsor Heights notice of public hearing on Windsor Heights Consolidated Urban Renewal Amendment.

Refer to public works and county attorney. budget actions any budget actions none appointments move second roll call alter yes Hockensmith yeah Connelly yes Holm yes McCoy yes any board comments this morning the only comment I have is you know for the last couple times I voted no on the bill list and I want to see the

um flynn wright breakdown on what we're spending saw another commercial on tv and i know those can't be cheap so i'd like to see a breakdown on where our dollars are going and how much we're spending and what's the actual budget we did a resolution a long time ago but it was only for like 40 000 and so far we've spent well over 300. so i want to see it break down mike my concern with it uh mr chairman is that

and I've been approached about it a couple of times just by people in the community out here is that it appears as though that that contract with Flynn Wright is being utilized for campaign purposes in an election year for supervisors. So that's a bad look for the county.

We'll get that information to the supervisors and share that information. Thanks. Hearing no other business to come before us, I'd entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Yes.

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm? Yes. McCoy? Yes.