Supervisors hear review of favorable audit report

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday morning, February 29 to face a relatively short agenda. Just one comment from the general public was heard, as Dennis Blocker of Waukon, who is spearheading an initiative to establish an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trail in Allamakee County, shared a recent article from the La Crosse Tribune about a study conducted in Jackson County in Wisconsin that revealed an annual revenue of nearly $8 million from ATV usage within the county.
“It’s not just chicken feed,” Blocker said in regard to those revenues. “We’re not expecting to get that kind of money, but even a tenth of that would be a boost to Allamakee County.” Blocker also said he also forwarded the article to Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp in an effort to possibly open up State Parks in the area to ATV trail usage.
Neil Schrader of Hacker, Nelson & Co., PC reviewed the annual audit report for the County's Fiscal Year 2015, highlighting some points of interest that all focused in a positive direction for the County. Schrader reported that most major funds reported increases for the County during the past fiscal year, with expenses holding very near steady from the previous year. One point of attention Schrader identified was having all employees fill out time cards consistently when it comes to vacation, comp time or other leave, a matter Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer said will be addressed with the upcoming payroll adjustments slated to take place July 1 of this year. “You had a good year,” Schrader summarized in regard to the audit report. “Most major funds have increased while expenses maintained, all of those are good signs.”
Allamakee County Coordinator of Disability Services Kim Waters updated the Board on the recent County Social Services meeting. Waters touched on items dealing with the Adult Crisis Stabilization Center, the Juvenile Detention Center and Managed Care Organizations. She also advised the Board that a new National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Center has been opened in Decorah, providing more local convenience than the previous closest NAMI Centers located in Cedar Rapids or Mason City.
In other business, the Board approved a liquor license for the Old Rossville Store, as well as the appointment of Barb Smed to the County Compensation Commission as a real estate representative. Deb Winke from the Allamakee County Recorder's Office also advised the Board of the retirement of Linda Flatland from her position in the Recorder's Office after a 21-year tenure, with that retirement date effective May 11 of this year.
The Board also approved a resolution for the contracts of performance and payment of bonds for the Allamakee County Public Safety Center. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick updated the Board on the construction progress for the Center, saying the contractors are waiting for the ground to "dry out and frost out" before moving ahead with grading and other foundation processes.
In department head updates, Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour asked the Board members when they would be available for a field trip in regard to projects anticipated for the County's five-year plan for the Secondary Roads department. The Board will look at its availability and make arrangements for the field trip.
Sheriff Mellick also updated the Board that work on the card access entry system for the Allamakee County Courthouse was underway, and that the panic alarm system for each County office will also begin to be installed this Thursday. Mellick also advised that he is nearing completion of updating the floor plan for the Allamakee County Courthouse to be used in the event of evacuation and other emergency situations, noting that "a lot has changed since the last time we did this."
Allamakee County Emergency Management Director Chris Dahlstrom advised the Board that the State of Iowa will conduct its annual statewide tornado drill March 23, with Allamakee County participating with local drills. He also said his department will be assisting Postville High School with a mock accident April 20 prior to the high school prom season.
Auditor Beyer advised the Board that Tuesday, March 1 is the closing date for the bonds funding the Allamakee County Public Safety Center. She also advised the Board of a March 24 meeting date for another County employee handbook review session.