Board of Supervisors hears updates on Driftless Area Center, proposed changes to ATV ordinance
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 23 to discuss a variety of issues, including the Wennes Communications tower lease, approval of the Postville Trail property sale and Northeast Iowa Community College's (NICC) 50th year proclamation. There were no comments made during the public comments portion of the meeting.
The first regular business agenda item involved the consideration of the NICC 50th year proclamation. Erica Nosbisch, NICC Waukon Center Director, addressed the Board with details regarding NICC's positive impact on Allamakee County, claiming one in 10 residents in the county has been served by NICC and that the community college has saved area families an estimated $1,339,213 in tuition costs.
Nosbisch asked the Board to consider signing the proclamation honoring the 50-year history of NICC as a way to show its support of the community college and its 50-year anniversary. Board chairman Larry Schellhammer and fellow Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig approved the signing of the proclamation, both signing the proclamation and having their photo taken with Nosbisch.
Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler addressed the Wennes Communications tower lease with the Board. The lease will be a 20-year term with an option to renew at 20 years. Wennes Communications will be paying $400 per acre in rent. The tower and equipment is the company's property and will be required to adhere to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. The current contract is expiring May 30 with the new contract going into effect May 31 if signed at the next meeting on that date.
Kistler also addressed some areas of the recently-approved ATV ordinance allowing for the use of County gravel roads by such vehicles that may need to be updated to clarify specific points following her conversations with various law enforcement agencies. Kistler recommended using license plates rather than stickers to help law enforcement better identify ATVs on roads or trails. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick added that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sticker on such vehicles can be too small to read and that a plate that included or matched the DNR sticker would be preferable.
Various additional issues relating to the ATV ordinance were discussed, including managing and collecting license fees from those riding for only a weekend. Kistler addressed the section of the ordinance restricting riding groups at 24 ATVs, while recommending bringing that number down to groups of 12 or spacing the larger group of 24 appropriately. Sheriff Mellick commented that he did not receive any calls regarding ATVs for the first weekend the ordinance was in effect.
The public hearing on the proposal to sell the Postville Trail property was opened. Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett made some brief comments regarding the procedure of the sale, but there were no other comments from the public. The sale of the property to Andrew Moore at $6,001.50 was approved by the Board.
Janett then provided an update on the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center being constructed at Lansing, stating things are progressing at the construction site and that masonry work is starting. The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation has recently closed on the McElroy challenge grant that yielded $550,000 for the project, and Janett reported that the Community and Tourism (CAT) grant of nearly $470,000 through Iowa Economic Development has been awarded to the project, but the Foundation does not have the grant contract back as of yet. Janett reported that with grants and donations there has been a total of $3.1 million raised for the project.
Plat approvals were reviewed and approved by the Board for Robert P. and Sandra L. Reinke, Walter J. and Dorothy J. Gelo Trust, Dennis M. and Suzanne Bresnahan, and Lorraine J. Cornelius.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided his recommendation to the Board as bids were considered for patching concrete pavements on County secondary roads. Ridenour recommended the bid from Rolling Hills Concrete of $71,790 for the project. A date of Monday, June 13 at 10 a.m. was set as the letting date for the bridge deck repair to be completed on Waterville Road/X32.
Kody Benzing was approved for hire as a temporary part-time scale person by the County Secondary Roads Department at a rate of $10.50 per hour with no benefits. Benzing's start date will be May 31.
Consideration of purchasing a new vehicle for the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department was the next item discussed by the Board. Sheriff Mellick discussed several options and dealerships, recommending the purchase of a Ford Interceptor through Stivers Ford in Des Moines at a cost of $28,400 that includes extra lighting and options for a pursuit grade vehicle. The Board approved the purchase.
Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed setting a date requiring the use of accrued vacation time above the limit listed in the County's employee handbook. Beyer's recommendation of July 1, 2017 was approved by the Board.
Departmental updates were the last item on the agenda. Engineer Ridenour discussed the Wexford Bridge, advising that the east widening side of the project has been poured. Ridenour also advised that a new tractor/backhoe will be arriving soon for the Dorchester Secondary Roads shop, and that crews are mowing grass near pavements in preparation of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Ridenour further reported that he has seen an increase in complaints from property owners near secondary roads regarding dust control, stating that there has been some increased traffic on some secondary roads due to detours. The Supervisors agreed to add dust control on secondary roads to next week's meeting agenda.
Sheriff Mellick mentioned that the exterior footings are now poured at the Public Safety Center north of Waukon and crews are digging the interior footings, further advising that rain may become an issue with that part of the project this week.
Auditor Beyer advised she has received approximately 100 absentee ballots so far for the June 7 Primary election. She said the notice of election and sample ballots are being published in The Standard and Postville Herald newspapers this week; located on Page 5B in this week's issue.
