Supervisors discuss dust control matters, approve land donation in Quandahl area to Conservation

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, September 17 to address a full agenda of items. Included on that agenda were a discussion of Irish Hollow Road dust control and safety issues, the Proclamation of National Voter Registration Month and Day and reappointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission.

District Manager Terry J. Beek with Washington National Insurance provided an overview of the company’s supplemental policies covering accidents, cancer and short-term disability. Beek proposed that County employees be given the opportunity to enroll in Washington National’s policies on a voluntary basis, allowing County employees the option to take advantage of group rates through their employer. Supervisor Dan Byrnes advised that the matter be revisited in February or March when a meeting takes place to review County employee health insurance.

The consensus of the Supervisors was to allow this coverage to be offered. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicated that Beek would be contacted by Allamakee County Payroll Deputy Janel Eglseder next year for follow-up when insurance coverage is reviewed.

The Supervisors moved into discussion of Irish Hollow Road with Candia Sanders addressing the board regarding dust control and safety issues. Sanders presented a petition signed by property owners affected by the dust level on Irish Hollow Road due to truck traffic hauling material and rock from quarries. Sanders indicated that this is a safety issue for drivers with a blinding level of dust being created by truck traffic and that dust control is needed as a safety measure.

The Supervisors accepted the petition and Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided an overview of Allamakee County’s current dust control resolution and guidelines. Ridenour advised that the current policy allows landowners to apply dust control material during certain times of the year with lignin sulfonate as the only acceptable material for use as dust control material. Ridenour further advised that policies in other counties typically require a traffic count of 150-200 vehicles daily before a cost-share would be an option.

Supervisor Dennis Koenig recommended a meeting with contractors and quarry owners to discuss traffic levels and measures to control dust levels to improve safety. Board Chair Larry Schellhammer discussed the possibility of contractors applying water to gravel roads during high traffic periods of hauling rock from quarries. The Supervisors were in agreement that the petition received and Sanders’ comments will be useful in being proactive on this matter in the future and helpful in starting the conversation with contractors and quarry owners regarding dust control measures.

The Public Hearing for the Allamakee County Fiscal-Year 2019 budget amendment was opened with Beyer discussing election-related expenses and the Public Safety Center wage increase for the Jailer/Dispatcher position as changes involved with this measure. No written or verbal comments were received and the Public Hearing was closed. The Supervisors approved to adopt the Allamakee County Fiscal-Year 2019 budget amendment and then approved as presented the appropriations resolution for that same budget amendment.

Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett discussed the next agenda item involving the consideration of the Conservation Board land donation. Janett provided an overview of the land donation process with the Conservation Foundation requesting to transfer the land to the Conservation Board. Janett discussed the two pieces of property, a combined 1.36 acres of land, formerly part of Quandahl in northwest Allamakee County, containing a house and three buildings which will be torn down with a kiosk to be constructed recognizing the history of the town of Quandahl. Conservation Board member Dennis Blocker indicated that the land donation process began four years ago. The Supervisors approved the acceptance of land by the Conservation Board.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of signing the Proclamation of National Voter Registration Month and Day. Beyer read the proclamation aloud indicating that Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has encouraged counties to recognize Tuesday, September 25 as National Voter Registration Day and September as National Voter Registration Month as part of a non-partisan effort to encourage voter registration and participation. The Supervisors approved to recognize National Voter Registration Month and Day.

Beyer discussed the request to hire part-time help for the election indicating that $1,000 has been budgeted, as in the past, for part-time help for mailing absentee ballots and various election-related tasks requiring approximately 10-15 hours per week for a five-week period. Beyer indicated that there may be interest from a previous part-time employee to fill this position again. The Supervisors approved to allow the County Auditor to hire part-time help for the election.

The Manure Management Plan for Klinge 1 was accepted and placed on file.

The appointment of one Planning and Zoning Commission member and two Historic Preservation Commission members was discussed, with Beyer indicating that applications for the three vacancies involve reappointments. The Supervisors approved the reappointment of James Pladsen to the Planning and Zoning Commission and James Magner and Mary Palmborg to the Historic Preservation Commission.

Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake provided an overview of the Garin Mississippi View Trust plat request involving a farmstead site. Blake indicated that the Planning and Zoning Commission has provided a recommendation to approve the request provided the two lots be held in common ownership.

Following review, the Supervisors approved this matter. Four other plat requests were individually reviewed and approved including John C. Dresser, Raleigh D. Buckmaster Revocable Trust and JoEllyn Buckmaster Revocable Trust, Triple M. Ridge Farms LLC and Sandra L. Bacon.

Under Department Head Updates, Blake discussed that there has been no further correspondence regarding the previously denied communications tower near New Albin and that flood plain mapping is progressing.

Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed that Iowa has received two Presidential Public Disaster Declarations for storms and flooding and tornado damage. Snitker indicated that a new automated external defibrillator (AED) has been ordered for the County Sheriff’s Department to replace a 10-year-old AED that is at the end of its lifespan. Snitker also discussed attending a workshop in Elkader regarding emergency planning and drill requirements for schools and briefly discussed the upcoming half-marathon and flyathon events.

Snitker also advised that a County Courthouse fire drill will be conducted Tuesday, October 9 at 9 a.m. and that October 3 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be testing the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system at 1:18 p.m. and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) at 1:20 p.m. Snitker indicated that the WEA system test will involve all cell phones and the EAS test will be affecting radio and television broadcasts. Snitker also briefly discussed a full-scale active shooter exercise to be conducted at the Starmont Community School involving four counties.

Beyer discussed that election ballots will be arriving early this week and absentee voting and the mailing of absentee ballots will begin October 8. Beyer also talked about the hiring of poll workers and preparations involved with the November 6 General Election.