Allamakee County Board of Supervisors organizes for the new year, proclaims January as National Mentoring Month and hears funding request from RSVP and union negotiation update at pair of meetings

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s time, Tuesday, January 2 and Monday, January 8, following the closure of the County Courthouse Monday, January 1 in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2
The Board of Supervisors’ organizational meeting was called to order by Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer. The appointments of Dan Byrnes as Board of Supervisors Chairperson and Mark Reiser as Chairperson Pro-Tem were approved. Procedurally, Byrnes then assumed leadership of the meeting with the Supervisors approving their weekly 2024 meeting schedule for 9:30 a.m. Mondays with 10 minutes of public comment time from 9:30-9:40 a.m.

During Public Comment, Beyer provided a brief update relating to a letter being sent to Compensation Commission members with a copy of that letter provided to each Supervisor for reference. There was no comment provided by the public during the time allotted for public comment.

The Supervisors next reviewed the list of Board, Commission and Committee appointments with that list then approved. The Standard - Waukon and the Postville Herald were approved as official newspapers for the County with Beyer clarifying that this designation is for the purpose of claims, meeting minutes and public notices from the County.

The Resolution setting the County’s 2024 mileage reimbursement rate as 50 cents per mile was approved. The 2024 bounties for coyotes at $5 each and gophers at 50 cents per pair of front feet, required in clear bags with no more than 10 pair per bag, were approved.

The Supervisors approved the appointment of Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker as alternate voter for the Board of Supervisors on the Northeast Iowa Response Group. The appointment of Environmental Health Director Laurie Moody as 2024 Weed Commissioner was also approved.

The meeting moved into the consideration of 2024 wages for Precinct Election Officials (PEO), alternates, Health Care Facility (HCF) Team and the Absentee Board. The Supervisors approved compensation for Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) and Primary Elections Precinct Officials to be paid $15 per training; regular PEOs $175 per day and Precinct Chairpersons $215 per day; alternate PEOs $15 per training and $50 on-call pay; HCF Team and Absentee Board Members $10 per hour; and the Absentee Chairperson $12 per hour, at a minimum of two hours for HCF and Absentee Board in addition to mileage for all positions. In that same motion, compensation was approved for General Election PEOs at $15 per training; regular PEOs at $200 per day and Precinct Chairperson at $250 per day; alternate PEOs at $15 per training; and $50 on-call pay and HCF Team and Absentee Board Members at $12 per hour and HCF and Absentee Chairpersons at $15 per hour, with minimum pay of two hours in addition to mileage for all positions.

The Supervisors next addressed the discussion and consideration of adopting the Construction Evaluation (Master Matrix) Resolution for February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025. Byrnes noted that this matter allows the Board of Supervisors to provide comments and scoring to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)relating to the construction or expansion of confined animal feeding operations (CAFO). The Resolution was approved.

The meeting moved into the consideration of the Resolution Authorizing the County Engineer to Execute the Certification of Final Completion of Work for all Farm-to-Market and Federal or State Aid Construction Projects. The Resolution was approved.

The Supervisors next discussed Board appointments and reviewed applications with appointments approved including Lynn O’Hara for a three-year term and Dr. Thomas McMullan to the Board of Health for a one-year term, Shawn Gibbs for the Board of Adjustment, Steve Weymiller for the Conservation Board and Byrnes for one additional year on the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) Board.

The Manure Management Plan update for Saffron LLC was accepted and placed on file. Beyer also provided an overview of the Report of 2023 Valuations for taxes payable in Fiscal-Year 2024-2025. No action was taken relating to this discussion matter.

Under Department Head Updates, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick noted that it was a busy weekend with ice and snow impacting road conditions Saturday resulting in several vehicles in the ditch. Mellick noted that trials are scheduled in the coming months and that work continues with Jacob Dougherty relating to Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) ambulance/mutual aid agreements. Mellick also advised that union negotiations will begin this week with budget work to continue.

Allamakee County E911 Director Chris Fee noted that he did not have an update. Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker made note of the next Commission meeting and upcoming legislative matters.

Allamakee County Conservation Director Ross Geerdes reported that the warmer than usual temperatures have allowed for work to continue outside. Geerdes advised that some ash trees have been cut down and that budget work continues. He also discussed the next Conservation Board meeting and the review of DNR contracts, among other matters.

Beyer noted that planning and preparations for the March 5, 2024 LOSST election continues in addition to ongoing budget related work. Prior to adjournment, the meeting moved into a budget planning work session.

MONDAY, JANUARY 8
Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes called the Monday, January 8 meeting to order with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that matter.

The meeting moved into the consideration of appointments to Supervisor-appointed Boards and Commissions. The Supervisors approved the appointment of Jack Knight for a three-year term to the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) Board.

The Manure Management Plan update for Humpal Site 2 was accepted and placed on file. The Quarterly Report for the County Recorder was also accepted and placed on file. The 2023 Weed Commissioner Report was also reviewed and approved by the Supervisors.

The meeting moved into the next agenda item relating to a personnel matter in the Auditor’s office. Byrnes read aloud a statement provided by Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer providing a recommendation to increase Accounts Receivable Clerk Lori Cahoon’s hourly wage by 50 cents, moving from $18.93 per hour to $19.43 per hour. Beyer’s statement noted the quality of Cahoon’s work, training and professional growth in her role within the Auditor’s office. The Supervisors approved the 50 cent per hour raise.

The Supervisors addressed the consideration of signing the Nyhart Service agreement for preparation of Fiscal-Year 2024 (FY24) and Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) General Accounting Standards Board (GASB) data and services utilized in the County’s accounting and financial reporting procedure. The Supervisors approved to sign the agreement.

With time remaining before the next agenda item, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick provided his Department Head Update noting that the union met last week with an exchange of proposals by both sides. Mellick noted that either he or Attorney John Anderson may be on the agenda next week for discussion of union negotiations in closed session.

Byrnes and Mellick noted that the Supervisors will be meeting Tuesday, January 16 following the closure of the County Courthouse Monday, January 15 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Mellick further noted preparations for weather conditions predicted this week.

The meeting moved into the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Annual Update and Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) funding request with RSVP Director Deanna Hageman providing an overview of the program. Hageman noted that Northeast Iowa RSVP, a volunteer program for those 55 years old and above, reached a milestone last year with 36,000 volunteer hours valued at over $1 million per private sector standards.

Hageman further noted that Northeast Iowa RSVP is the largest program of its kind in Iowa with 680 volunteers over the three-county area that includes Allamakee, Clayton and Winneshiek Counties. Hageman added that volunteers assist in a wide range of services including three food pantries, tax programs, mentoring, meal deliveries, among other activities. Hageman discussed the Fiscal Year 2025 funding request of $5,000 from Allamakee County. No action was taken by the Supervisors.

Mellick discussed the next agenda item relating to the use of the County credit card for the purchase of plumbing parts not to exceed $200. Mellick advised that three detention area toilets at the Public Safety Center have plumbing parts requiring replacement at a cost just under $200. The Supervisors approved the use of the County credit card not to exceed $200 for plumbing parts.

The meeting moved into the Proclamation of National Mentoring Month with Mentoring Coordinator Kathy Schwartzhoff of Helping Services for Youth & Families providing an overview of the matter. Schwartzhoff advised that Helping Services’ mentoring program has been active in Allamakee County for 24 and a half years.

Following Schwartzhoff’s introduction, individuals present for this Proclamation introduced themselves including Executive Director Carson Eggland of Helping Services, Mentoring Intern Maya Pribbenow with Helping Services, Steering Committee Member/Pastor Bryan Robertson of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, Mentoring Coordinator Colinne McCann of Helping Services and Steering Committee Member Danny Schlitter. Schwartzhoff noted that the mentoring program matches youth from six to 16 years of age with mentors as positive role models. She advised that mentors commit to spending four hours each month with youth.

Schwartzhoff discussed the program’s successes in 2023 advising that a total of 89 youth were served, 148 individuals served as mentoring volunteers, 159 adult participants attended substance abuse trainings offered through the program, 97 percent of youth can say “no” to drugs, presentations on substance abuse prevention issues have taken place, among other positive factors of youth mentoring through Helping Services. McCann read aloud the following Proclamation:

National Mentoring Month 2024
Whereas, studies show that mentoring is a highly effective strategy for preventing several key problems that young people face; and
Whereas, mentors are needed;
Now therefore, we, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors do hereby proclaim that January 2024 is National Mentoring Month in Allamakee County. As public officials we call upon all citizens in our county to join us in raising awareness of mentoring in its various forms, helping to recruit individuals to mentor youth, and support the rapid growth of mentoring in Allamakee County.

The Supervisors approved the Proclamation of January 2024 as National Mentoring Month.

Prior to adjournment, Eggland provided an overview of the Helping Services for Youth & Families update and the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) funding request. Eggland noted various programs including youth mentoring, substance misuse prevention and domestic abuse resources available through Helping Services. Eggland thanked the Supervisors for the County’s past support and requested support for Fiscal Year 2025 in the amount of $1,500.