Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

All right, good morning everybody. We'll get this rolling. We got one of these nice agendas today. They're short. If we have a motion to call the meeting to order second. All those in favor? I. Minutes of the January 2nd, 26 board meeting. I'll move to approve. I'll second. All those in favor? I. Request from First Presbyterian Church for $5,000 donation for food boxes. Uh we do this every year. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. All those in favor?

I invoice approval for 30 desktop systems. Any I know we know about it, but I'll let say it aloud so the courier can hear about it.

Sure. Yeah. So, we had planned on replacing these next year, but with u pricing costs of storage and memory devices because of some business sector [clears throat] changes and how companies are doing things, it's created some shortages. So, the prices of things are going up. Um, vendors were contacting different people to buy these and they were saying they're expecting from $120 to $150 increase per item as far as the desktop systems. Um, so just trying to get ahead of that a little bit. That's what this purchase is about. Uh, we could probably use more, but this will take good care of the the real outdated ones that are in the county. Um, by doing the ahead purchase, uh, they estimated 120 to 150 per system. That would be the increase. So, this is going to say around 3,200 to $4,800 per I mean for the whole purchase. getting hit.

Purchased them a few months earlier. [clears throat and cough] Yeah. And the total is uh 31,140.

Thank you. Motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. All those in favor? I. Thanks, Andy. Request for Iowa DOT contract approval project 90 county 90-115.

Morning Brad. Good morning. He turned that one off, so I'll take a short. Um, this is for um our two projects um on T61 Waffle Monroe County Road uh north of Blakesburg to 34 and then also Kirkville Road from 63 up to south city limits of town. um be recycling the asphalt that is currently on the roaded, putting it back down as a support layer and then [snorts] an overlay on top of that. Um the process is such a help to deter reflection of underlying pavement problems uh make the overlay last longer. So um North Asphalt was the low bidder on this came in approximately at our um estimated cost. Uh so we are recommending that we go through with the contract uh awarding to Norris as then we just ask that you um authorize the county engineer to sign the project documents on behalf of the county that greatly speed up the process [snorts] rather than having a board member come down and go through all of our processes

on a weekly basis. Oh, I'm good with that. So, I'll make a motion to approve. And I'll second. And Brad, before you move, I want to ask you a question after this. So, all [clears throat] those in favor? I [snorts] I do have a question. I actually got a question about this this morning. So, I'm glad told them it was all going to be good. So, you you go first and I'll go. Uh the other question of course was old highway 34 where we're at on that and the and the railroad cross new railroad

the construction plans Rob's been working on uh I should have a set of uh final plan re uh to review this week. Um we are still targeting probably a late February letting and the project approach uh given all the the timeline so forth we're dealing with is going to be a grade and pave project. So it be one letting for both functions. Um the grading is going to be mostly a cut situation or minimal except for right down um between the railroad tracks and new 34. So we'll we'll have some extra compaction requirements for that segment. The rest of it um should work out fine. So, um, normally we'd like to let that sit for a couple years between the grading and dating project, but, um, in the interest of expediency, we will do it all in one process and pay for that extra compaction down there at the south end. So, great. Don't have a specific date yet. Haven't looked at the plans. don't know that we don't expect there to be any major changes but uh because we've been working together all along it's just a matter of doing that final look before we schedule it for letting

don't I just just need the answer so when Don called me about property moving I give him some sort of an answer so yeah we can't start the rightway acquisition until we get the plans pretty much finalized so that [snorts] could get going real soon as well all right thank you and then my question actually kind of matches his on we talked the other day about the 87th Street project as far as the upgrade and the improvements. Is that are we committed to that yet in any way or is that still a discussion yet? I can't remember how we let that

as far as well 87th has been programmed as a project. There's several steps to it. U being the pipe extensions and pipe replacements. Um and then the actual physically physical widening uh would be the uh last step before [snorts] an overlay. [clears throat] So with those steps in mind, it's really about a three-year process.

Um so right now it is scheduled for a multi-year project. [snorts] um [clears throat] this current year, but um with the uh 172nd Street project being the initial stage, it it's really going to be starting probably next fiscal year as it stands right now. Are we committed to it? Well, it's in our five-year plan. we can always change gears and do something uh different or timeline wise or scope-wise, but um as we as we approach the time that it's scheduled for, we're we're more invested in the preliminaries. So,

I I'm just debating the idea of doing some kind of public hearing to get input from the public, but I'm I'm not sure that's the right thing to do, but I'm a little concerned about the the whole, you know, the cost of it and then the impact of it. So, there's no doubt we have multiple project needs, uh, multiple pavement needs, especially around the county. Um, you know, we're addressing some of those just a contract we just approved, but there's more. Yeah. So, it it's really the board's priority which way we go. Um 87th has been a priority since I came on board. So, we just continue down that direction.

Sure. All right. Thank you. Y is that is that are is that a situation, Brad, where both those projects could go on at the same time or would one have to is one do you think going to be started first? 172nd versus Yeah. 87. 87. Well, 172nd will happen first. Okay.

Because of the guess the timeline of what we're doing plus what the railroad is doing to have the least disruption and transportation and uh as quickly as possible move away from the bottlenecks that they have on the west side of the tumbler now. So, um, but it it's tying into 34 in such a way that we'll have to be doing some of the work regardless. Um, because we'll be we have to do

new connection intersection up there to still accommodate the portion of old 34 east of the new alignment. Anything else? Ch. On the list is a Market Street Landing inclusive play space. You want to come up a little setups of of the program on spot since you're here. [clears throat] Either one. It's on right there. Go ahead. [snorts] Good morning everybody. So the market street landing play space inclusive play space is a um not just a play space for individuals with disabilities but it is really just a play space for everyone regardless of your ability to utilize. It's part of the market street landing project which is down by the market street bridge um on the north side of town. Um it will include a zero to five area, a five and over area as well as a water feature. Um it will be enclosed with fully fenced um around the play space in addition to um more fencing along the railroad tracks so that it's secure and safe. It'll be tied in with safety uh security cameras with the police department. Um it will also be integrated with our trail system. Um we have visited many of these throughout the state. They are a economic driver for communities. They bring people in from all over. We don't have any inclusive play equipment for people with um any kind of accessibility or disabilities in our community as of yet. Um so this will be something that will be brand new um for our community. Um we're raising money for the project

which is $3.5 million. We've raised about 3.2 so far. um we need to match a grant from the state which is $1.4 million from a destination Iowa fund. So we're getting very very close at this point. We've asked the supervisors a in a previous meeting for $75,000 donation to the project.

Thank you question. Shad, you probably heard about this before, haven't you? Yeah, I thought it was a good idea because [clears throat] seeing we got to see improvements in the scenery. The market street area is improving. There's lots of plans for the getting rid of the whole parking lot in the future over on the other side on the west side. So, yeah, the market street landing project in in total has been, you know, the gateway arch has been put up. Um we've moved the state park and and built a new um all wheels park in Sycamore Park area to move this out, but it will make the riverfront a vibrant animated space for people to enjoy walking distance from Bridge.

We kind of talked about this yesterday at our budget meetings. Yeah. Um, so do you want to make a motion? You want me to? I can. It don't matter. Um, so we had talked about $40,000 to donate to the project. So I'm going to make a motion to authorize 40,000 for the project. And I'm going to second that and then make a little more comment if I could.

Yes, I'll second that motion. And I want to kind of go both ways on this. The uh the concept is excellent. I I think I like the idea that our community becomes a childrenfriendly community. I think we've got several things in place that already go that direction such as the beach and some of our athletic facilities. So, I really love the concept and appreciate so much what Legacy Foundation is is doing for our community. And then I go for this. However, [clears throat] as as Krie said, we've been through the budget discussions and we are just so tight in terms of what's going on with the obligations we have to meet. And then plus, we want to be able to spend some money on some of the the needs of the less fortunate in the community, which is we just gave $5,000 to the the equestrian church for the food boxes. and we got several other requests like that for needs of just feeding people and and then we're working on the the medical topic in our in our county too. So with all that in play, I I think we're comfortable with the 40,000. I'm I'm sorry we didn't do the 75. We know we we're committed to what you're doing and we like your project. Money is tight. So we appreciate that. Yeah, we're we're taking this out of lost fund and it's not in an area where we can take too much. So,

I appreciate your comments and we so appreciate your support. We're very grateful. Thank you. Yep. We was looking, we ran the number quite a while last night trying to figure out what we could actually do. So, without getting [clears throat] ourselves in a corner, but I think it's a great idea and I'm glad I wish we could do more, but I'm glad we can do something. Your support means a great deal. Thank you. Okay, so we have first and second. All those in favor? I. Soap Creek Watershed Management Authority. I guess yours, Brian.

Yes, this is. Thank you again. I'm on the board for Soap Creek and I'm actually serving as the treasurer for the board. Um, this is the the district that includes four counties. So Creek is in the southern part of our uh county and every year we ask a Soap Creek district to the all the supervisors in those counties for a a contribution. Our portion is 6320. Um just to kind of give you an update on what that is, there's a there's about 140 um improvements on that that creek. [clears throat] Um and those result in the ability for the farmland to be farmed in a more significant way than if it didn't exist. And I think it also helps us when it comes to some of the the bridges that we have over the the soap creek. [clears throat] Um this has been in place for like 30 40 years now as far as the project. It was funded by federal funds initially. We're at a point where there's going to be some significant improvements needed to the structures and those are the responsibility of the management authority to do which is based on the contract that they agreed to back in the day. And so we're finding ourselves in a position where we need some maintenance to those structures. Um, this amount results in a total of $32,000 per year from the four counties which we use to just do some basic maintenance of the structures. However, we're getting to the point where the some of the pipes need to be replaced which those are going to be approximately $30,000 per structure and there's probably about a 100 structures that need it attention. So, that's about a $3 million project. We're hoping that that doesn't come back to [clears throat] the counties. We're hoping to actually get a some federal assistance for that since the federal

government actually did the project initially. So, we're going to be working on that. But, in the meantime, that's what's going on. Uh the the district does have um about $300,000 in cash reserves. So, we have the ability to manage some of the the improvements if there's a a disaster or something comes up that we need to do it. So, we're not desperate for cash, but on the other hand, we have a future obligation facing this. So, that kind of gives you an update based on all that. I'll make a motion to approve the 6,320 from our county and I'll take questions if there's any questions. Does anybody have any questions? Any question?

I'll I'll second it. All those in favor? I Next thing is a WA County Expo donation for the 2026 Farm Expo, which I think is in July. It's at $8,000 we give to them every year for their expo. We also give the same amount to the Welo County Fair also. So, and I'll make a motion to approve that. I'll second. All those in favor?

I. Any other business before the board? Travis, I'm just going to Mine's more informative um to kind of stuff to be on the lookout for. Uh I'm on the legislative committee for the um Iowa State Association of Assessors this year. So, we've kind of started having our our legislative meetings um weekly. I know that they're um one of the big things they're going after this year is property tax reform. Uh the Senate did just put a bill forward. I haven't had time to read it yet. I just started reading it before I came up here. Um, it looks for the most part like what they're wanting to do in that version is cap budgets at a 2% increase year-over-year. Um, I think there is something in there as well about the residential roll back going away and uh the commercial roll back going away. Again, I haven't haven't been able

I've taken a school tax out of it's [clears throat] part of it, too.

Yeah, I Yeah, I haven't gotten very ind depth with it yet, but there are um it's going to be something to keep a close eye on this year, I think, and probably be in communication with our representatives from the area. Um, the other thing I I was going to just kind of let you know about is we are we're having some pretty big issues with our software vendor solutions or Paris. Um, [clears throat] it's not just a WO county thing. It's it's a statewide thing. Is it just assessors or

It's the assessor side is is struggling pretty bad. Um the auditor side just recently with all the new um stuff that they had to do. There were a lot of issues with that getting done in a timely manner and it's now created issues on the assessor side of things. And so we're out of balance and we're we're struggling. I'm I'm also on a I'm actually the vice chair of the solutions advisory committee now. Um and we are we have monthly meetings with them, but they're don't seem to be getting anywhere with that. We kind of get the same story every month. And um so it's it's become a frustrating point on our end of things, but um just wanted you guys to be aware because there are you know there there are reports that we have to have due to the state that that are are due in a timely manner that could potentially be held up because problems aren't being solved on that end. So, um, just just so you guys are aware of that. So,

yeah, I think in that bill they talked about taking the school making a state responsibility against city counties and that'd be 440 million out of property taxes. And I don't know, I I did hear uh or I I believe I heard something about there being a 50% homestead credit, which I I don't know whether that's true or not. That was just something I heard, which if that were the case and they get [clears throat] rid of the roll back, that's going to greatly impact rental properties. um property taxes would would probably go up a lot on rental properties because there would be no homestead um available for those and if they get rid of the roll back that would be a substantial increase for them as well.

I'm assuming here we have a meeting with state in a couple weeks and I know that's going to [snorts] be hot topic. I guess Travis is since Andy's here, Andy, you you're awareness of what's going on. Is that correct? Uh, first time hearing of it. Okay. It It's nothing Andy could could solve it. It's not a It's not a local issue with anything. [clears throat] It it is strictly software programming and um issues with them not getting our problems fixed in a timely manner. It's it's absolutely nothing that could be done here and that's why we're kind of

our hands are tied on it. So, well, but but still Andy's involved with that and Andy has a network of of people. So I think his awareness is vital to helping possibly come up with a solution. Yeah. Have him message other IT guys in the county and see the process. Yeah, that's my point. If you can enter into this, that'd be great. Sure. I can touch base on that. Yeah. Yeah. It guys,

did they say anything? I And I haven't seen that bill yet. I haven't looked at it. I know the the [clears throat] state Democrats came out with one where they wanted to freeze property taxes for seniors. Is that in that bill? Again, I I I'm not sure about that. Yeah, it's like I haven't gone through it. Also, it's 104 pages and I'm literally on page two, [laughter] I think. So, I I just opened it before I came up here. So, sounds like a chat GPT thing. [laughter] Yeah. Well, and the way they word them is just very out in my opinion. Yeah.

I told Tom last night being interested to see what they snuck in, you know, 50 60 pages back when you get bored reading it. Yeah. Um, I just didn't know if if the two parties had agreed on certain parameters of property tax if that was one of the

So far, it sounds a lot like the one they proposed a year or two ago where they they're looking at doing a statewide sales tax to pay for the schools, put that 440 million out of property tax. From what I have heard through our meetings, um it sounds like the House has their idea of what they would like to do. The Senate has their idea of what they would like to do and the governor has her idea of what she would like to do. So to answer your question though, I don't think they have really

any. Yeah, I'm I'm not sure that they've really talked amongst theelves to try and get something that everybody would like, but I I don't know that for sure, obviously. Thanks, Travis. Anybody else? [clears throat] Yeah, I was just wondering, come on up and state your name and turn on the mic. [clears throat] Just hit that little

Loren Uling. And I was just wondering, we had discussed the wind energy um prior well last year at the end of last year and you guys were hopeful that you'd be able to meet with the attorney um before this new year began and we haven't heard anything. So do you have something scheduled? So last meeting we we asked that same question. The attorney couldn't get to it till January. Brian's going to be on vacation with the two dates he just sent me. So we're have to be a date when he is back from vacation. Okay. So, hopefully in January or you going to be gone all of January? No, it's [laughter] it can still be in January.

Well, the concern is again that that you know the company that wants to do this um said that they have to get that money invested somewhere and so they're going to build somewhere else if if we can't move on this fairly quickly. So, I think that I'm just here to keep this in front of you all and um certainly with the changes the state's making with taxes and the amount of money going to be coming to the cities and counties, we need to do something else to find revenue. Um I think this this is a good thing all the way around. It's a good thing for revenue for the county and it's a good thing for the environment and farmers. Thank you. Will you let us know? Will that be published? It'll be open. It'll be an open meeting when we get inside. So,

all right. Thank you. And in the meantime, we're not doing nothing. We're continuing to do research on the project. And just recently, I looked at a a video presentation from the De Moines County um about their process of going through the same thing we're going through. And it was very helpful and interesting to to do that. So then the other thing I I just had to happen to me that um where I grew up in central Illinois and surrounding our farm, there's wind turbines all over the place.

I talked to a neighbor and he said they've got 15 wind turbines on their property and it made all the difference in terms of their um their farming operation. But then he also said that uh it allowed them to keep their school district in place intact in a small community. So yes, we're still thinking about it and researching it. So hopefully soon. Okay. Thank you. De Mo County passed their ordinance. Did you know that? I guess I didn't. Yeah, they passed it on a two to one vote last week, I think. Oh, really? Yeah. They had a lot of people there and there was some good, you know, for and against, but they did end up passing it.

Thanks for that information. I'm going to try to get a copy of that ordinance so we can take a look at it. Thank you. [clears throat] Anything else? Call for a motion to adjourn. I'll second. All those in favor? I willing and don't run off.