Board of Supervisors hears concerns over recommended closure of Luster Heights, insurance recommendations

by Bob Beach

During public comment time at the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, February 4, Kris Kovarik, a counselor at the Luster Heights correctional facility south of Waukon, told the Board that Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s budget recommends closure of the Luster Heights facility. Kovarik said the closure is intended to fund additional staff for an expanded women’s penitentiary and a new prison in Mitchellville.
He pointed out, however, that the annual budget for the Luster Heights facility is $1.6 million, which brings the annual per inmate cost to just $19,000, the cheapest in the state. He also pointed out that the facility employs 15 people who reside in Allamakee and Clayton counties and that inmate work programs, along with community service activities, contribute $250,000 worth of labor to Allamakee County annually.
Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that if the Luster Heights facility were located in Polk County, it would be lifted up as a model for other correctional facilities in the state. He said that he would contact Allamakee County’s state senator and state representative, as well as the governor and lieutenant governor to lobby for keeping the Luster Heights facility open.

MORATORIUM
Last Thursday, January 31, the Board held a public hearing regarding a proposed moratorium on frac sand mining operations in the county and heard many comments in support of the moratorium and none in opposition to it. Following that hearing, Supervisor Dennis Koenig suggested delaying action on the moratorium as Supervisor Sherry Strub was unable to attend. During Monday’s regular meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance, to waive the second and third readings and to adopt the ordinance, effective February 4. The moratorium will remain in effect until July 1, 2014 unless otherwise repealed.
Chairman Schellhammer said that he appreciated the public’s input and patience, adding that the passage of the moratorium is not the end of the county’s consideration of frac sand mining operations, but only the beginning. Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake said that the Planning and Zoning Commission will continue to study the issue and will present its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
Ric Zarwell, president of the Allamakee County Protectors, a citizen group formed to oppose frac sand mining operations, said that the Protectors will continue to work with the Board of Supervisors and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

HEALTH INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Board also met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour and several members of the Health Insurance Committee regarding the Committee’s recommendation regarding health insurance for County employees. Ridenour said the Committee’s recommendation includes an increase in the County’s contribution by $12 to $576 per month per employee to cover the increase in premiums in the Gundersen Lutheran Health plan.
He said the recommendation includes dropping the $500 deductible plan and adding $1,500 and $2,000 deductible options. The $576 County contribution would cover the full cost of the $1,000 deductible plan for a single employee, while the additional cost of coverage for spouses, children and families would be the responsibility of employees. The Board will consider the Committee’s recommendation as it concludes budget discussions later this week.

OTHER BUSINESS
Ridenour was also present for the opening of bids for a bridge deck replacement at Ash Acres, a driveway access bridge south of Lansing. Brennan Construction of Lansing submitted the low bid of $25,295.02 for the project, which Ridenour said is essentially an installation project, with the County providing the materials. Also bidding on the project were Minowa Construction ($44,677.60) and Reilly Construction ($28,347.00). Ridenour said that he would review the bids and make a recommendation to the Board, noting that Brennan’s bid was significantly lower than his own estimate of the project cost.
In other business, the Board held its monthly meeting with department heads, with several departments reporting, and met with Jane Regan of Leschensky Insurance to review the County’s property, automotive, worker's compensation and liability insurance. The Board approved the appointment of a special prosecutor for a case in which the Allamakee County Attorney’s Office has a conflict of interest and accepted and placed on file the Sheriff’s quarterly report. The Board also approved the levy for the Upper Iowa Drainage District.