Supervisors hear updates on meeting of Mississippi River Parkway Commission and status of Big Slough

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 24 to address a variety of topics, including the signing of the Tobacco Awareness Week proclamation, consideration of a request to quote County insurances and multiple plat approvals. Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.

During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Jane Regan of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, provided an update concerning the recent Mississippi River Parkway Commission meeting with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Regan explained that annually a report is published of the organization's work. Regan said the Iowa Commission received the prestigious Pilot's Award from the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission for the work accomplished in the last fiscal year.

She further said that Iowa is now part of National Geographic's Geo-Tourism website, noting that, currently, over 1,500 attractions and sites have been vetted and are listed on that website, with an additional 2,500 waiting to be vetted. Regan advised that Iowa's information on the National Geographic website is in addition to the state website hosted by Travel Iowa. She explained that, based on a year of data, the Iowa Great River Road section of the Travel Iowa website has received the longest views - over six minutes per visit - when elsewhere on the site views are averaging just three minutes. Regan explained this is a positive indicator that people are interested and reading the information on the site.

Tobacco Prevention Specialist Laura Albert and Prevention Specialist Jennifer Kimber, both of Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, were in attendance with Waukon High School sophomore students Allison Goltz and Aubree Cota, who are members of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT). Albert, Kimber and the students introduced themselves and discussed the proposed Tobacco Awareness Week proclamation. Albert read aloud the proclamation which brings awareness of the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. The Supervisors approved the Tobacco Week Awareness proclamation for the week of November 13-19.

Insurance Agency President Gary DeVilbiss of Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank was present with Insurance Agent/Office Manager Sandi Riha and Insurance Agent Denise Timp to discuss their request to quote County insurances. DeVilbiss discussed his organization's interest in bidding on Allamakee County's insurance coverage, representing the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), a group self-insurance program for Iowa public entities. It was explained that a Request for Proposal (RFP) would need to be created using information on file or available to the Supervisors. The Supervisors tabled the matter after discussion with DeVilbiss, who agreed to present additional information in a few weeks regarding the process.

Allamakee County Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Blake presented multiple plat approvals to the Supervisors, all of which were approved. The Randy J., Richard R., Reginald T., Raymond J. and Mary A. Burke and Cynthia L. Iverson plat involved eight acres for a building site. The Thomas Schabacker plat involved a property in a sub-division that will be divided into two and sold to the adjoining property owners. The Mark A. and Karla L. Stone plat involved selling off a parcel to an adjoining landowner. The Tracy E. and Darcy A. Dibert plat involved the division of ten acres of existing farmstead into separate properties to be sold individually.

Blake also addressed the next agenda item involving the removal of an agricultural exemption legend for Lucas Guese. Following a divorce settlement, Guese has provided three acres of farmland to his ex-spouse, who plans to live on the property without farming. The legend removal was approved.

The Supervisors and Blake also discussed the disallowance of claim for the Homestead Tax Credit for Patrick Schleeter. Schleeter is living out of state and the agenda item was approved.
The First Judicial District Department of Corrections Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Report was accepted and placed on file.

Under Department Head Updates, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker advised that he met with representatives from FEMA and Homeland Security in Des Moines regarding the Big Slough debris field where the Upper Iowa River empties into the Mississippi River. He said the jurisdiction and responsibility is still being discussed. Snitker will be meeting with Friends of Pool 9 and Living Lands and Waters for an inspection of the Big Slough debris field to conduct a cost estimate. Snitker will be forwarding this cost estimate to Homeland Security. After discussion with the Supervisors, Snitker agreed to draft a letter to Iowa Legislators requesting their support of the Big Slough debris clean-up and assistance in securing funding.

Snitker said he will also be part of the Allamakee County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting being held Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m. in the Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that training sessions for election workers are taking place this week. Beyer estimates that after Monday, over 2,000 absentee ballot requests will have been received for the November 8 General Election.