Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Roll call.

Altringer.

Here. Hawkins-Smith. Here.

Connelly.

Here. Here.

Holm.

Here.

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

Altringer. Yes. Hawkins-Smith.

Yes.

Connelly.

yeah home 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 yeah home yes mccoy yes stand for the pledge of allegiance with liberty and justice for all. At this time, we do have a proclamation, and I know we have a lot of guests in the audience, and then following the proclamation, we will be doing a picture. Whereas June is recognized nationally as Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about firearms related injuries and deaths and promote action that can help keep individuals, families and communities safe. And whereas Firearm injuries are leading cause of death among children and young adults in Polk County, and an estimated 70% of gun-related deaths in Polk County are attributed to suicide, highlighting the importance of safe firearm storage and open conversations about mental health and crisis support. And whereas safe firearm storage, including keeping firearms locked, unloaded, and stored separately from ammunition can help prevent unintentional shootings, suicides, and unauthorized access to firearms. And the Polk County Health Department Talk It Up, Lock It Up campaign promotes responsible firearm storage and has distributed more than 5,000 free gun locks throughout Polk County community since its launch in 2023. And whereas community partnerships play a critical role in advancing firearm injuries prevention and helping residents access tools and resources that promote gun safety. Now, therefore, we the Polk County Board of Supervisors do hereby proclaim June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month. in Polk County and recognize the community efforts that have taken place throughout June to help prevent firearm-related injuries and death. Be it further resolved that the Polk County Board of Supervisors recognize and thank the Veterans Affairs Central Iowa healthcare system for its partnership and generosity in providing free gun locks to support the Talk It Up, Lock It Up campaign and advance firearm injury prevention efforts throughout Polk County signed this day. So if there are speakers at this time, we'd love to hear you. Please come forward, state your name and tell us what you would like to say. are doing right now on this topic. I'm going to read to you.

But first and foremost, thank you guys for the proclamation recognizing the impact of gun violence in Polk County and beyond. Darnell Lopeman with Focus. And I represent the boots on the ground, ones you might not see and understand, but I think it's time for us to start attending a little bit more so people can get a better insight of what we're seeing and what we're doing. And so I'll just read to you a quick write-up, but hopefully everybody take it in. Every few days, we are reminded of the devastating effects of gun violence, another shooting, another family grieving, another community carrying the weight of trauma. Every shooting changes lives, whether someone survives or not. And I hope that sink in, because you guys hear about the people who got shot or died. You don't hear about the kids who may have seen the shootout. and they're stuck with that in their brain. So it's a little bit more deeper than who just got shot with news coverage. It goes a little bit beyond that. So I hope we understand that. As someone who work with youth every day, I believe the future success of Polk County will ultimately be in the hands of today's young people long after we are gone. The question each of us has to ask is, have we done our part to give them the tools they need to become even more successful than we were? And I think that's a question that I got to ask and everybody else got to ask. Too often, we don't fully care until violence hit close to home. But every life lost should hit home. Every person shot or shot at should hit home. Every shot heard should hit home, whether it's law enforcement officers losing their lives in the line of duty, a child caught in a crossfire, or someone living in an underserved neighborhood or wealthy neighborhood. Every life has equal value. Every loss leaves a family forever changed. Success will not be measured by the number of proclamations we sign. Success will be measured by the number of lives we save, the number of young people we keep on the positive path, the number of families who never have to receive that phone call that changes their lives forever. And the number of communities that feel safe enough for their children to simply be children, that's not happening now. Kids don't go out and do what I used to do when I was younger. That changed. Some people ask where gun violence is a mental health issue, a gang issue, a domestic violence issue, or a crime issue. The reality is that gun violence touches all of those areas. While the causes may be different, the consequences are devastating. We also know that some of the challenges do not discriminate. Drug addiction does not discriminate. Mental health challenges does not discriminate. Gun violence does not discriminate. It does not care about your race, your age, your financial status, your gender, your profession, or where you live. It can affect anyone. That is why prevention matters. We must continue investing in mental health crisis intervention, violence prevention, mentoring, and opportunities that give young people hope With that, I would just like to say thanks for your proclamation, and hopefully we can do more to make sure our community is safe. Thank you.

Thank you, Darnell. Anyone else? Julianne.

Okay, you came up, so I just wanted to check. Hi, everyone. Julianne Van Loo, Polk County Health Department Director. Thank you Board of Supervisors for this proclamation in recognition of June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. Violence, gun violence, gun death is very real here in Polk County. Between 2014 and 2024, we lost about 526 community members. That, on average, is just shy of about 50 people a year. And as our previous speaker shared, that's not just 50 people. That's 50 families, 50 circles of friends. 50 classrooms, 50 different schools that are impacted. And the vast majority of those are among men and boys, and 24% of those are among folks under the age of 24. So this is impacting our youth, but it's also impacting across the life course. And as is written in the proclamation, I also want to draw people's attention to the fact that about 30% of those are homicides and about 70% of those are suicides, which isn't always what we think of when we think of gun violence and gun death. but that's why safe firearm arm storage matters. It's about whether a child, a teenager, a person experiencing a mental health episode or someone who should not have access to a firearm can get to one that when, when it matters the most already in 2026 we have seen in youth in Polk County killed with firearms that were accessed through friends or family unknowingly. Similarly, many suicide attempts are happening here during short, intense periods of crisis. When a firearm is immediately available, that moment is far more likely to become fatal. Safe storage creates a critical barrier between a person in crisis and a firearm. And sometimes that barrier, the small piece of plastic and metal, is the difference between a bad moment and a permanent tragedy. A gun lock might seem simple, but simple tools can save lives. Locking firearms, storing them unloaded, and keeping ammunition separate creates time and distance so that people have a chance to have a conversation, to step back and take a breath. Since the health department launched Talk It Up, Lock It Up in 2023 with numerous partners, we have been able to distribute more than 5,000 free gun locks throughout our community. We've worked hard to make sure that these are provided in low resource, vulnerable communities, that they're provided to folks who, in neighborhoods with higher risk of firearm injury and death, and through our health department's safety tool vending machine. So we're trying to get these out where folks can get to them easily, where there's low risk to entry to not having to purchase, not having to go get one. But none of this would be possible without the many partners in this room. I want to appreciate, it's rare, a lot of municipalities do not have public safety, community non-profit, youth related organizations, county attorney's office, health department, all working together on joint violence prevention and gun related strategies. It's a huge testament to the years and years of work that have already gone into this. We rest on that foundation, but we need to continue to do more like our previous speaker shared. But one partner that we want to highlight today is the Veterans Affairs Central Iowa Health Care System. The VA has provided all of these gun locks to our community free for us, allowing the health department to spend our resources on putting personnel in the community with the gun locks rather than using our resources just to purchase them. So they have allowed us to expand what we're doing and to really hopefully make meaningful impact. So today we want to recognize the Veterans Affairs Central Iowa Health Care System and Lori Reynolds, the VA's Suicide Prevention Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator. Lori's here, and Lori has been a steady and committed partner in this work. She's helped us overcome hurdles. She's helped us make sure that this is sustainable and something we can do in the long term. So Lori, on behalf of the Health Department and the Board of Supervisors, we are honored to present you with that. I would hold it up. This certificate is in appreciation of your partnership, leadership, and commitment to protecting the health and safety of our community. Thank you to everyone for doing your part in gun violence prevention. And if there's no other speakers, I would invite the board, Lori, and all of our partners to come up in recognizing this month and having a photo.

Thank you.

Thank you. All right.

Silence, please. Thank you. You're okay.

first public hearing public hearing is on vacating planted woodland protection easement is proof of publication on file is there anyone here wishing to speak to this item hearing none i'll close the hearing and ask for a motion i'll move it second Roll call.

This will be for number seven, resolution vacating a portion of platted woodland protection easement at 7754 Northwest 37th Street, Ankeny, and authorizing auditor to record the resolution and vacating instrument. Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Next public hearing.

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

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

Second.

Roll call.

This will be for number eight, resolution approving a quit claim deed to Marshall Property Management for a vacant parcel at 1895 East Watrous Avenue, Des Moines. Altringer?

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

Yes. McCoy? Yes. We're at that point in the meeting where public comments are in order. Is there anyone wishing to address the board this morning?

Good morning, supervisors. My name is Carol Maher. I live in Polk County in downtown Des Moines. And I just wanted to call out number 27 on the agenda, which talks about being proactive in the speed limits, increases that the state has unfortunately passed for state highways and other roads. Thank you for being proactive. formally setting them at 55 and then doing some traffic studies to see what the rate limits should be. Speed kills, and it's an unfortunate maneuver by the state that they would want to increase any speeds at this point. So thank you.

Thank you, Carol. Anyone else? Hearing none, we'll move on to permits.

Number 10, fiscal year 26-27 application for cigarette tobacco nicotine vapor permit for the outer limits at 6560 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines. 11, renewal application for Class B retail alcohol license for Quick Star 1086, located at 5145 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines. Numbers 12 through 15 are new applications for special Class C retail alcohol five-day license permits from July 6th through July 10th, July 13th through July 17th, September 7th through September 11th, and September 14th through September 18th for Combat Vets Motorcycle Association 39 at 160 Northeast 49th Place, Des Moines. Numbers 16 and 17 are renewal applications for Class C retail alcohol licenses with outdoor service area permits for Merry-Go-Round Lounge at 6584 Northeast 14th Street, Kearney, and Club Celebrity at 1510 Northeast Broadway Avenue, Des Moines. 18, renewal application for special Class C native retail wine license with outdoor service for Desage Vineyard and Winery, located at 8606 Northwest 121st Street, Grimes. 19, renewal application for Class E retail alcohol license for Oasis, at 5120 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines, and number 20, ownership updates for Class E retail alcohol licenses for Quick Trip 538 at 4575 Northwest 2nd Street and Quick Trip 562 at 4801 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines.

Roll call.

Altsringer? Yes. Hockensmith? Yes. Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Resolutions.

Numbers 21 and 22 are resolutions approving fiscal sponsorship agreements with the Great Outdoors Foundation for the North Polk School Wetland and Outdoor Classroom and the Extat Wetland Project. 23, resolution accepting bid of $3,451,158 received from Graff Excavating of Toledo for 2026 Norwoodville Sanitary Sewer Improvements. 24, Resolution approving weatherization project in the amount of $15,680.53 to be awarded to an approved contractor. 25, resolution to approve amendment to agreement for engineering services with HDR Engineering. 26, resolution approving amendment to agreement for services with Houston Engineering for the Harding Wetland Project. And number 27, resolution approving the establishment of the recommended speed limit on various roadways.

So moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 28, resolution approving agreement with the City of Reynolds for congregate meal service agreement.

Move. Second. Roll call.

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

Yes.

Number 29, resolution authorizing auditor's office to publish notice of public hearing on July 14th for granting of temporary construction easements to Jerry's Homes on board-managed land known as the High Trestle Trail near the intersection of Wagle Drive and Ankeny.

Moved.

Second.

Roll call.

Altschringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy? Yes.

Number 30, resolution approving memorandums of understanding with Dr. Natalie Harding and Omar Velasco for the provision of parenting inside out training in the Polk County Jail as part of the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program grant. 31, resolution approving amended agreement with Full Circle Recovery Community Centers. 32, resolution approving agreements with Employee and Family Resources and the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy for youth and young adult diversion. 33, resolution approving service agreement with TJS Accounting Solutions. And number 34, resolution approving business associate agreement with the Iowa State Association of Counties Technology Services.

I move.

Second.

Roll call.

Alteringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes.

Holm?

Yes. McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 35 through 37 are resolutions approving data sharing agreements between Polk County Health Department and Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, Seidel Community School District, and West Des Moines Community School District. 38, resolution approving signatory authority for fiscal year 27 childhood lead poisoning prevention program agreement. And number 39, resolution approving release of mortgage for 1728 East 12th Street, Des Moines.

I'll move resolutions collectively.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes.

Holm? Yes. McCoy? Yes.

Number 40, resolution approving restoration of the World War I Memorial.

So moved. Second. Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 41, resolution approving cooperative public service agreement with the city of Mitchellville for supplemental animal control services. 42, resolution approving amendment to law enforcement services 28e agreement with the city of Grimes. 43, resolution approving burn justice assistance grant for the state crisis intervention program and the project safe neighborhoods grant program for the welcome and resource notification program. 44, Resolution approving Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force Burn Justice Assistance Grant. 45, resolution approving Amendment 2 to agreement with NAFCARE to continue comprehensive inmate health and mental health services at the Polk County Jail. And numbers 46 and 47 are resolutions approving professional services agreements with Shive Hadry Architecture and Engineering for the Polk County Firing Range and the Polk County Jail Locker Rooms.

So moved. Second. Second. Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 48, resolution approving fiscal year 26-27 elected official, deputy elected official, department head, management supervisory, and excluded employee manuals.

So moved. Second. Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes.

Hockensmith? Yes. Connolly? Yes. Holm?

Yes. McCoy? Yes.

49, resolution approving manufactured home abatement.

Move.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer?

Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes.

Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Number 50, resolution authorizing the Polk County auditor to issue manual checks during fiscal year 26-27. 51, resolution approving continued use of ACH process for payment of health claims. 52, resolution authorizing the creation or deletion of funds within Polk County's chart of accounts during fiscal year 26-27. 53, resolution authorizing the use of interfund loan pools for fiscal year 26-27. 54, resolution appropriating fiscal year 26-27 budget. 55, resolution authorizing fiscal year 26-27 transfers. And number 56, resolution authorizing fiscal year 25-26 year-end transfers.

Move. Second. Roll call.

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

Yes.

McCoy? Yes.

Number 57, resolution approving fiscal year 2627 insurance program and renewals. 58, resolution approving amendment to funding agreement with United Way of Central Iowa. And number 59, resolution approving settlement agreement.

Let's move.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes. Hockensmith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes.

Numbers 60 and 61 are resolutions approving community betterment grant awards and community sponsorship awards.

I'll move collectively.

Second.

Roll call.

Yes.

Yes. Connelly?

Yeah. Holm?

Yes.

McCoy?

Yes. Communications?

Number 62, request for tax abatement for property at 4890 Franklin Avenue.

Refer to assessor, treasurer, and county attorney.

Number 63, City of Granger notice of consultation and public hearing concerning the proposed amendment number two to the Southeast Urban Renewal Plan. 64, application to the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District for the appointment of a commission to assess damages in the matter of the condemnation of certain rights and land by the City of Altoona for the improvement of Northeast 70th Avenue and 34th Avenue Northwest. number 65 notice of beating in the matter of the condemnation of certain rights and land by the Iowa Department of Transportation for the improvement of primary road number us 69 in the city of Des Moines refer to Public Works and County Attorney any budget actions none appointments number 67 memorandum of appointments or sorry 66 memorandum of appointments and 67 memorandum of annual salaries for authorizing positions for fiscal year 2026 2027

Move. Second. Roll call.

Halteringer? Yes. Hawkins-Smith?

Yes.

Connelly? Yes. Holm?

Yes. McCoy? Yes. Any board member comments this morning? Hearing none, we'll go ahead and entertain a motion to adjourn if there's no other business to come before us. We'll move.

Adjourned.

Second.

Roll call.

Altringer? Yes.

Hockensmith? Yes.

Connolly? Yes.

McCoy? Yes. Thank you all. Have a great week.