Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Yeah.

Get to the last second. All right, good morning everybody. We'll call this meeting again. for this generation.

Good afternoon. Try that. See if we get test.

All right.

I'll make those in favor. Um, I guess one thing [ __ ] trying to do this [ __ ] It's just not It's not hard, but you can't make him do it in two minutes. Not yet.

Not yet.

Give it a few seconds. I said number three attorney renewable energy discussion at the last meeting you had indicated you talked to an attorney that um you said that that discussion was positive. I also talked to the same attorney for about half hour over the phone. I had a very good conversation with the attorney. Um the attorney is willing to mediate. So I feel based on what the attorney said, we could have a meeting without the attorney session and discuss it or we could meet with the attorney. The way I understood it, they could do some um at no cost for us, but then there's a limit to that and it could be $250 per hour for attorney's time. I'd be certainly willing to have the attorney involved and to pay the hourly rate. U the attorney indicated that he um would have to have some advanced notice on a meeting date and I understand that. So I guess at this point session do we want to do the I guess whatever you're more comfortable with. I am really okay with you.

We get five hours before you get five hours and it resets January one. So if if you anticipate being able to use up the rest of your hours for 25 then yeah you would have to pay the 250 but if it goes over into 26 then your five hours resets. I'll just schedule something next before the first year. See what works for them. I would agree with that. And I I can I have time to do the meeting whenever possible. Um do you want to contact the attorney or do you want me to?

Yeah, I can get along and see what dates are available and I'll email copy it on email and see where it goes. And then I that'll be a work session open meeting. So, we have to do that when we get that. Is he come here? I think he said he'd come here. I took it. Okay. Okay. Then, um, one of the points that the attorney made, I'll just make this comment was that we need an ordinance. We shouldn't operate anymore without some kind of ordinance for this topic. So, that kind of pressure on getting something done. That was one of his messages.

Yeah. Anything else? Five. Resolution 6420. It's just standard procedure to proceed. All those in favor I Resolution 65 2025 the H regional housing trust fund 27 contributions

yes I'm on that board Matt is going to present some information on the impact county for that not a problem okay So, uh, you folks received a, uh, request for, uh, support of the regional housing trust fund just like you have for the past,

oh, I guess this would be year 14, 15, year 15. Um, okay. So, the uh, in the handout that I' I've given you along with the letter that you received with the uh, resolution states that uh, well, the handout shows who we are, what we do. We were formed in 2010. We have 13 member board. Bryant sits on the board representing Llo County. We fund uh we we we get state housing trust fund dollars um appropriated from the state down to our uh six county region which we fund mostly home repair for owner occupied housing rehabilitation. But we also fund new construction and rental repair. Um we we have an annual grant coming up. Um our next one uh that we'll apply for will be in September of 2026. That's what the resolution you would be signing today is in support of. Uh we just got one awarded earlier this month for for upcoming 2026. I've asked you for 2047. We must uh as part of the grant raise uh local dollars from local governments and that's what this portion is. Um then we only raise about 15 to 20% through uh local governments. The rest we fund through repayment of loans that we've made out with the previous grant dollars. On the last page of the handout that I gave you, I've broken down um the last three years of closed grants. Um how much uh the grant was, what our match was, our admin, and then our project funds. And then I I showed what went to Walo County. Wafflo County is really the biggest uh recipient of grant dollars under our program. You can see

in 2023 of the $472,000 worth of grant or worth of project funds, 367 of it went to Lachlo County with 28 owners um having repairs to their house and $130,000 going to that Asbury project. And it's pretty similar with the 2024 grant uh with 23 owners getting improvements in Asbury getting 130,000. Then in our most recent grant, the 2025 uh you we had 533,000 534,000 worth of project funds and 400,000 of that went to houses in uh in Waklo County assisting 44 owners with improvements to their homes. the 2026 grant which was just awarded um project funds equal 539,000. Uh 200,000 of that's already been dedicated to the Agassy uh project.

What is that? I was curious. Okay. Uh uh CBC Financial out of Fairfield uh the same folks that did the Asbury Heights project uh have are applying for lowincome housing tax credits to put uh I believe it's 41 apartments in the old Agassy school to make it uh instead of just sitting there abandoned it will actually be a community of purpose. That's what orig

Yeah, it's taken longer than we anticipated, but we have dedicated $400,000. Our board has said we will loan them up to $400,000. We'll split it between two years, and we anticipate that the 2026 grant that we were just awarded earlier this month will fund $200,000 of that $400,000 loan that we're going to make to the Asbury improvements. So today we're asking for uh um well signing off on the res resolution that's a requirement of us applying for 2027 uh state housing trust fund dollars and uh we're asking for the same amount that we've asked for each year since 2010 which is 20 cents per capita equaling $7,087 for counts. Any questions?

Matt, do you have any idea off top of your head? Sure. How much of this is in the city limits and how much is in the rural area? Okay. Rural area included all the small towns. Yes. Approximately. I I did not look. Um but I would say that 90% probably is inside the city limits of a TWA, but I know we did a a couple projects in Blakesburg and a couple projects in agency this year. Um, I don't believe we well, we may have had one truly rural uh house, but they're all eligible for the program once the city agrees to the resolution. Thank you.

I don't I sent several people your way as a police officer. Well, we appreciate that. We have we have two years to spend each year's funding and um we usually go through it in about nine months. So, it's very successful appropriation. Any other questions? Appreciate you coming out. I think I'll just stay up here because I'm got to present a couple more. I'm going to make a motion.

Second. All those in favor? resolution 66 2025 regional planning affiliation. Um that's also from the area 15 RPC offices and um Hector our uh transportation director's got some handouts for you and he'll be talking about what the RPA does. Oh uh good morning um board of supervisors of county. My name is Hector Hernandez. I am with area 15 transportation planning comm or regional planning affiliation 15. I am here to provide you information regarding the Walo County fiscal year 27 match contribution for our transportation planning work uh program the TPWP. Area 15 is one of 18 RPA in Iowa that include five counties Buffalo County, Jefferson County, Kyok, Lamburn, and uh Mahaska. Participation in the TPWP is a requirement by the Iowa uh department of transportation to remain eligible for surface transportation program funding. The TPWP is follows a 2080 match and that is the requirements. So that's how it's uh divided into the budget. So the budget would be for 124,186 for fiscal year 20 uh 27 and the local match would be for

uh 31,4700 uh 31,047 and that would be all shared between all the counties and cities within the region and all the cities include all the populations greater than 5,000. And then uh using the formula, we use the Iowa um based uh Iowa DOT formula based on the 2020 census population. And it also um based off the numbers of the 2021 farm to farm uh farmtomarket mileage. And that um makes the formula equal $3,78. And the participation of the surface transportation uh funding program is a total of 2,824,000. And that's administrated by the area 15 which is um the RPA 15. And um and I I gave you guys a handout for all like what the DOT um our RPA the districts that we represent. So there should be a map on the first page on there. I just pulled these numbers from from the table just like last 30 minutes. So I can go ahead and share those numbers with you if you like. And um a recent project from Buffalo County is uh the T67 Kirkwood Road and that is um on US663 uh to Kville um north city limits. That's approximately 30 uh 3.7 miles and it was for resurfacing and with cold in place recycling and that was a a program for this fiscal year 26 and that was a total cost of $1.5 million and the contribution that SVG uh was u contributing was $1.2 million. So Wo County from that program the SVG program received $1.2 million. So this is just um a planning match maintaining for eligible for federal

funds and supports construction projects within our counties. Um there's also a a project that was next to Monroe a collaboration between Walo County. There's um been multiple projects. Um typically Waplo County receives about 337,000 every fiscal year um from 27 to 29 and then they can accumulate those projects and uh and make different types of projects within Wo County um limits. So I am just requesting the $3,78 for the match for the fiscal year 27. You guys have any questions regarding um the RPA15, the projects, FBG uh numbers?

I only got one simple question. Why is Davis County not in this one? Oh, Davis County um had um decided to not participate in RPA 15 and decided to participate on on the adjacent RPA which I think it's 14 or 12 uh depend just uh because they didn't agree with the the formula based off the Iowa DOT formula because it goes based off of population and they believe that that would not contribute as much for their project. So they decided to uh line with the RPA 15 or the adjacent RPA. I was wondering the other counties that you respond.

All those in favor I and resolution 75 regional planning commission.

Okay. So the uh last two resolutions that you passed for the regionality trust fund and the RPA, both of those uh uh groups do not have any staff. They they the regional planning commission provides the staff for those programs and we're asking for the regional planning commission uh resolution of support for us. Now uh I gave you a handout shows the planning commissions across the state. There are 17 councils of governments that state knows us as. We're an office here in a tumbla. We have four person staff, 11 member board of which Brian sits on our board. Um so uh we coordinate community and regional development and um most importantly we write and administer grants for our small cities. We like to consider ourselves uh well, we'll do it for any cities, but we're the extended staff of the smaller cities and even some counties in that they don't have the budget to keep a grant writer or grant administrator on duty and we fulfill that. We we do uh odd tasks that the little cities and even the cities of Atmo and the counties don't have staff to do. So um with community development, business assistance, transportation planning, housing, um we do strategic planning, we do grant writing and administration. We do city code updates uh that are compliant with the Iowa codes 5-year code update requirements. We also uh are involved with the homes survival program as far as housing goes. So each year uh the EDA uh the Federal

Economic Development Administration uh has a planning grant. Now that planning grant keeps our doors open. It pays for um you know keep lights on. Now it's $70,000 but we must match it dollar for dollar. So we need to raise $70,000. Um membership dues paid by the local jurisdictions uh are are contribute to that local match and they also distri uh show support for the cause to both the state and the federal level and as we assist communities with technical assistance. We're asking today um for 55 cents per capita from uh Wuffalo County. Now, uh, in the letter that I sent along with you, it it shows that, uh, in the past 10 years, we've, uh, secured $24.8 million worth of, uh, grants and funding for our area, which is a return of $50 for every dollar invested. So, 50 to1 ratio is pretty good. We're asking for $5,12125 for the upcoming year. Um, and Waklo County is unique in that you folks pay the dues for all the small cities, all the cities in in Walko County except for the city of the company. So, your 5500 covers all rural are everywhere but a couple. And uh, yeah. You have any question?

I'm going to make to approve. Second all in favor.

No, that's the we're not affiliated with that. That's the area 15 multi-count housing. They're section 8 and other rental housing related resolution 6825 or county. Y just changes that were made. So move to accept all those in favor. Reappoint of Dr. Beth God and Dr. Brown and Dennis Smithart to the board of health.

Approve. I'll second. All in favor? I network storage expenses.

Yes. Good morning. So in the buildout process and the planning process of the infrastructure improvement plans that we've got in place um network storage is a crucial component of that. There really isn't much in the network for those sorts of things. It's a reliable component. Um they're just kind of little offtheshelf devices kind of sitting around in places. But as part of uh ISAC's recommendation from the 24 um IT assessment uh building out a more robust infrastructure was part of the recommendation and in this sort of form. Uh done a lot of research on these devices. Um reviewed several different ones from different companies and they range in price from 44,000 up to over 200 depending on features and of course even the company name that's attached to them. Dell having some of the higher prices. Uh this company is a enterprise player. Uh they have a very good price point for uh performance to cost and um adding this the cost of this with the server infrastructure the server components um comes in around 92 total but with this particular component it's about 66 and something 66 753. uh that would set up the backend infrastructure for the virtual environments that I need to do to migrate some of these old and dying servers onto a more robust and reliable infrastructure. Um so I provided some information there with uh numbers and things that ISAC had proposed and this ironically is coming in in in our favor lower than what they had projected for this tier and level of uh device. So the thing is with the rising cost of everything, it's really crowding things a bit. So I I want to get approval for moving forward with this if possible and uh see if we can't keep that cross project moving.

This is the one that increased $9,000 from August, is it? Yes, it is. Yeah, it is. Yeah, this is the one it was. When I was looking at this, like I said, reviewed five, six different companies with different offerings. And when I first sat with these folks, uh, it was about 9,000 less. Uh, now the prices have increased because of AI data centers and growing up and becoming more and more prevalent. Uh, and companies dedicating more resources to those sorts of things because well, they'll they'll spend whatever they have to spend for them. So, it increases those companies bottom lines. And it's also putting a a demand on the actual supply chain. So there's not as much of this storage equipment available and the components to fill them up is also getting more and more scarce.

Could you remind me is this part of the current budget or are we going to do an amendment eventually? This part of the current budget questions. I'm sorry. If there's anything that you'd like me to to explain a little different, I'm happy to. I know I spit out a lot of technical words there that may just bounce off throw technical stuff at us and we don't understand. So I I can appreciate your position. I'm going to make a motion to approve it. Second all in favor I increasing technology cost.

Yeah, that kind of goes hand in hand with that the increase of this particular device. um this is happening and it's going to be a ripple effect that affects everything that I have to work with from desktops all the way to the server infrastructure and things of that nature. Um some of my vendors have been contacting me about increased costs after the beginning of the year and uh as such there's some desktop systems that you know we need to replace. Um they are going to go up about $130 each approximately and that's just in the first quarter. It's not projecting beyond that, but that's what they know to be a cost reflection. Uh so with those rising costs, uh I was looking for this would be potentially an amendment or at least the way to purchase ahead of time to kind of get ahead of that cost spending curve. Um so that we can add some of those desktop systems in in a larger amount than what I thought we would need to to begin with. There are 47 systems that need to be replaced overall. Uh but if uh we could uh get 30 of those, that would take a large chunk out of that and it take several months to replace those anyway. And uh by then the new budget year should be in full swing and it'd be a smaller amount to replace after that. But this would result in um

$6,000. Yeah, about a $6,000 uh extra expense if we wait uh to buy them. Next budget year needs to go down in price. Yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?

Any questions? Chad, you look like you're thinking something. No, I'm thinking there was also the part about some hard drives, too. some of the um hard drives that I need to put into a server is also increasing. I I think I may have a lead in with one of my suppliers as long as they still have them be able to get lower than what I provided in there too, which will be good. So, that one might blend in okay with my budget.

I have any other questions on this? Just the price of one going up is going to be almost $250 per unit in a year.

Yeah, there was over overall the desktop and actual storage prices from the beginning of the year have went up um almost 80% in some sectors for enterprise equipment like the server stuff. Uh there was a article I read that the cost of storage equipment now is higher than what it was in the early 90s. Everything you know 40 a 40 gigabyte hard drive if we can think back to that smaller amount back then was around hundred and some dollars. Well cost per gigabyte is even higher now than what it was then because of storage climate cost. Those that don't remember, we had Isac come in do an internal audit on us on our system and like most of our desktops 90% if I remember right were obsolete.

The parts for them warranty on them. Most everything was 2019. There was a small handful that were in 20. Those are laptops. must all best for 201 running server 2012 on it. So I think there was a 2007 run of the 911 there and that was the office product and that was because of the age of the actual applications they used on it. They still have that one office product just for reference back to some of the old point stuff. Everything else

and this one you have to do it. Yeah. Yeah. I get a more I get an exact amount for you from my vendor. I had them quote out some per system prices. I need an exact amount for that. We still got you here talking about increasing technology costs. This is getting into the budgets last night. Everybody seems to have in their budget for cell phone and internet and that's is that something we could just transfer all that to one source?

That'd be fine. Uh especially with the T-Mobile um change over that we did for roads. Um I have to worked out with them where we can do an annual just pay for it annually and they'll do a reduced cost. So it all comes out of one. Yeah. Yeah. has panel fun anyway, but that way it's easier to track. Sure. I got nothing. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

You just got to get that full exact number. So Scott still talk about the Eastern Iowa workforce development contract. I had some questions last time and don't believe those questions were answered. Brian the one deal with this. Well, I'll address what I know from the discussion with Scott. Um, the first round was Scott had some concerns about the contract in terms of how it read and I took it that those were things that could be clarified, but they weren't crucial to the contract and the people that have been around this contract um understand some of the language in the contract. So, I didn't see any concern there. And I've been involved with this. I I serve as the representative from Wo County. They're merging now to a 22 county unit, which is most of eastern Iowa. And then, um there was some changes made in the contract between the first time we saw it and we have it now. uh those changes related to some of the cancellation procedures and that was based on a concern that one county had. Scott did get back to us on that and just said that he saw a problem with changes that were in the contract. So based on all that and my involvement with the program over the years, I would recommend we go ahead and participate sign contract and I can make that into a motion. So I would motion to proceed with signing agend.

Yeah, he was um there's some language over here

language in the define a lot of things contract attorney wrote this and then part of it is there's a there's the board that controls it but then there's an advisory board and so it's the language was related to the uh how the advisory board is established and how you can remove members from the advisory board so it was those kinds of things that Scott brought to our attention And we do have local participation on that advisory board. Actually Mark Rose is involved in it, very involved in it. And then the major manufacturers or employers in our area are also part of that advisory board. So we have good participation locally in the process. I don't have issue with your amendment if you don't mind adding since Scott's not here to say his piece would be okay.

I authorized by him. Yeah. Yeah. I find that I'll amend my motion to think that's good. So y your motion his approval. Yes. And I'll second that. All right. All those in favor? Hi. And we have request for new hire sheriff's department. And I'll second treasures investment report. I'll move to approve.

And I'll second to get that on the business.

It's good to see everybody. I haven't I haven't been here for a while. I Matt's been making a lot of these meetings, so it's uh good to see you guys. Jared Hersburgger with the Fox Cox win. Um so I just I want to give you guys an update. It's encouraging to hear that you guys are are looking to uh you know uh continue discussions after before the new year uh with uh with or without this attorney. I think he's a he's a positive direction. you know, I I think we would definitely like to see um you know, some uh you know, the the at least the uh discussions start and then, you know, um hopefully leading to some action on this where just just the vote to take to see where where we come on this with a with a workable ordinance. Um so this uh this uh winter we are doing a couple things that we have uh we have sponsored the shop shop with a cop program here in Walo County. Um we are pretty large sponsor of that and then we did donate a couple thousand dollars to local food pantries because we've noticed the need not only here in Wo County but counties throughout Iowa. So um that that is but but and then that but that comes back to a part of you know what we've been talking about you know with this as far as this project goes the new year is when we have to start making some large investments. So it makes getting that ordinance done more uh each you know month that passes more important. And uh you know as far as my budget goes what I'm able to do with um you know in sponsorships and grants that is you know until until we get back to more action on the ordinance uh that is I'm I'm unable to do that and and we want to be here we want to be a good member of the community but that is that

is something that you know we we can't do until we see more action on further action on the ordinance. Um, but we're not going anywhere yet. We're we're still here. We're still gonna we're still going to work with you guys. Hope to be a part of those. We'll be part of those discussions uh that you um have with uh with the attorney or without the attorney, however you guys move forward with that. Um but you know, I I think we we we know we have a project here. Uh you know, everything is in place. There's land owner interest. Um uh and and we're just hoping to reach some kind of compromise, you know, on on this ordinance with you guys. So, uh we hope to do that before the new year and then it looks like it will, you know, go into the new year and and we'll be here for it.

Appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks, guys. And uh happy holidays. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. So, I had put um the annual report for the graphic center in your uh box downstairs. I trust that you got those. Okay. So, you have ours, you have the conservations. Do you have any questions for us while we're here? Or a very successful year at the center anyway. And I think with the new campground, I can safely say that both of our departments, we had good years. So, any questions? Rick's gonna have a better year next year because it's gonna have pan ground.

He will. He will. Now that it's done. Now that it's done. When I was there yesterday, I noticed you put the new shelter things up at each of the pads. That's going to be awesome. I don't think I've ever been to a campground before that had those. So, that's going to be incredible. So, okay. Thank you. Long you were standing where you at on the camping at the Gothic Center. you Terry? Oh, um I talked with the city and they they said it was okay as long as I follow city ordinances and all that. There is a city ordinance that does have to be um I think a permit needs to be granted for the camping, but but when we say camping, we're just talking like two units. I mean, I'm not talking a full camp

overnight. Yeah. Yeah. And so I had a proposal that I gave them and they approved it pending. No neighbors are complaining and pending everything goes well. But we won't start till April anyway. So we have some time for that permit to get granted and for me to do a little more in depth and and do an actual application to be a host site and those kinds of things. But it looks like it'll be a go. What's the name of that group again? Harvest Host. Harvest Host. Yeah. and they travel around and basically they stay for free there overnight but they go in and spend their money inside. So

correct correct county is is hoping that we do this because um the welcome center they camp in their back parking lot for free. People just come after hours and just stay all night anyway. And they think that they're going to do it because people are doing anyway. They might as well make money off it, you know, by people coming in and buying stuff at the at the gift shop and stuff. So, I I think that'll be a good thing. The biggest part that I like is the free advertising nationwide. That's what I like. Harvest Host does that because people that participate with Harvest Host, um I haven't done it as an RVER yet, but my husband and I, we are definitely going to join as RVers. Um, we pay a fee to be part of this group and those fees are what pay for the advertising for the host since it's since they're staying with us for free being nationwide exposure. Not that the Gothic House itself doesn't already have that, but this is just one more place to be in people's faces that we exist and to come in and, you know, see the museum, spend money in the gift shop, explore the other parts of Elden. um because I think that's a big part that I want to do also. I mean, I do it anyway being part of all the tourism um groups that I'm in. But with each of these to be able to hand them a flyer about Elvin and say, "Hey, by the way, you can eat here. You can get some supplies here. We have a depot. We have the opera house and other things as well. And here's the rest of Wapo County while we're at it. While you're here." And that's what those RVers are looking for. They're looking for those little hidden gems that you don't normally see on the big highways or in the big cities and things like that. That's what they're looking for. So, I think it'll be an awesome thing.

I do, too. Thank you, Brian. I wanted to make a comment about the snow removal in the past weeks. I have appreciated what's been happening. I think it's been done better than it has in the last 15 years. So Brad, that's for you. And if you could pass that on to the crew that accomplished that, that would be good. Thank you. Good to hear. Thank you.

I don't have a statement, but I I did write something I'd like to share with supervisors. I'm Lorraine Yuling, and I'm in support of renewable energy in Wakalo County. Um, this is part of a letter I sent to the editor, the Courier, that's not been printed yet, but I wanted to make sure you guys got it. Thank you, Lorine. Anybody else?

I am Mary Stewart. I'm a citizen here in Walo County and have no particular interest financial or otherwise in the project other than um support of renewable energies. And so I also just have a written statement for you and I've included there's um one of our younger citizens in the county who could not be here this morning because of work um also forwarded a note to the three of you as well. So there's a copy for each of you of mine and of his Yeah, I just kind of wanted to piggy back off what Jared had brought up and kind of circle back a little bit. So, you guys are going to go through mediation basically then to resolve the I mean that's kind of an official

Yeah. thing. Okay. Yeah. Because attorney had a lot of good ideas related to him. So, Brian, what did you hear from that conversation that you had about going to mediation? I mean, did you get some like reassurances that that was a way to go to solve the differences that that you have in this ordinance?

I think one of the takeaways that I received from that conversation was the idea that if we don't have an ordinance, then anything can happen. And so that kind of brought to my attention this idea that it's imperative that we move forward with an ordinance. And you know, it's like, yeah, we should have had an ordinance 10 years ago and it should be over with. And that's okay. We're we are where we're at. And so, I think it's just put the message on us to proceed. And I think the attorney had some good ideas on on balance, you know, on some of the issues that we had disagreement about. So

yeah, I I was I was really very encouraged with the conversation with the attorney. So is your mediation session then just going to be to address the differences you guys have which is you know the setbacks, the quantity, the height, those are really or is it the whole thing? We're good on

basically those three things. Okay. And then I guess the last question I have is when you guys go into this mediation session, is it your goal to get all your differences, you know, compromise or or whatever in one session to where, you know, maybe the first or second meeting in January when you guys come back from the new year that you'll have an ordinance that you'll be able to vote up or down on. Yeah. I I'd like to get this resolved kind of an agreement somewhere in the middle. get it going forward. Is it something that you'd like to see happen here early January then if you're going through all this work of mediation as soon as we can? Yes.

Yeah. Okay. We have to go through the whole reading process and all that. So right now is your mediation is it open session? Is it open meeting? Because it's okay. Okay. That's all I had. Second. All those in favor.

Yep. Yep. Hey hersburg and I know you know you guys are friends. I don't think our past cross all had