Supervisors approve second reading of ATV/UTV trail ordinance; Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds to visit Harpers Ferry this Wednesday

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 2 to address a variety of issues, among them additional readings of the ATV/UTV ordinance and the manure management plan for the Churchwood facility, both of which have drawn considerable public interest and comment recently. After approving the previous meeting's minutes and the current meeting agenda, the floor was open for public comments.

Bruce Blair, a forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Yellow River Forest, addressed the Board with some suggestions regarding the proposed ATV ordinance. He recommended using signage to better indicate where ATVs are allowed, mentioning that boundary areas between parks and roads are a concern.

Rural resident David Anderson was next to address the Board with his concerns about local control, which, Anderson said, the Board has on the ATV issue but not on the factory farms, creating an imbalance between these economic development factors which are not compatible. Anderson said without getting more local control of factory farms, tourism will not reach its potential.

LT. GOVERNOR TO VISIT HARPERS FERRY
Ardie Kuhse, Business & Tourism Coordinator with Allamakee County Economic Development, announced that Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be visiting Harpers Ferry at 9:30 a.m. this Wednesday, May 4 at the boat landing by the Allamakee County Conservation Office. She plans to highlight the importance of the Mississippi River for trade and speak about economic development. Reynolds has been promoting the Iowa Feeds The World campaign and plans to have time to visit with the public and would like to have farmers present to speak with them about how Iowa feeds the world.

REGULAR BUSINESS
After the public comments concluded, the Historic Preservation Commission report for 2015 was accepted and placed on file. The manure management plan for the proposed Churchwood hog facility was the next topic to be addressed on the agenda. Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer mentioned that this is a new application, as the DNR had determined that Reicks View Farms’ original 13,000-hog number for the proposed Village Creek Area facility was not able to be approved and the new application indicates that the Churchwood facility will now hold 2,499 hogs. According to the management plan, most of the manure for this facility will be kept on-site. The motion to accept and place the plan on file was approved by the Board.

The contract and bond from Wiltgen Construction in the amount of $292,581.32 for Division 4 gravel resurfacing of County roads was approved. The consideration of bids for box culvert work on County Road B38-Cherry Valley Road was the next item for discussion, and Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour explained that there were some corrections being made to previous bids. K Construction's bid of $115,599.93 has been corrected to $115,595.93 and the Progressive Structures bid of $121,043.00 has been corrected to $124,173.00. These corrections are the result of taking bids by unit price multiplied by quantity, which can sometimes results in calculation error. Rolling Hills Concrete provided the lowest bid for this work at $84,517.75, and Ridenour recommended Rolling Hills for the project, with the Board approving that recommendation.

The Board approved detouring traffic onto County Roads A44 and X12 for the Waukon Corn Days Parade and Corn Days Street Fair in August. The letting date for patching concrete pavements on secondary roads was set at 10 a.m. May 16 with approval of the Board.

ATV ORDINANCE
The crowd in attendance continued to increase to room capacity for the 10 a.m. agenda item, the consideration of the second reading of the ordinance regarding ATV/Off-Road UTV use of secondary roads. Chairman Schellhammer mentioned that there was not going to be a lot of public comment but some specific concerns could be addressed.

Engineer Ridenour addressed concerns regarding some of the language in the ordinance that seemed confusing to some in attendance. There was discussion about whether or not to change the portion of the ordinance that reads "February 1st to December 1st at which time said operations shall cease" to "sunrise to sunset, February 1st to December 1st as the time allowed for operation".

Chairman Schellhammer also asked if there are concerns with the portion of the ordinance referring to “in any park”. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick stated that his department would not be able to enforce the ordinance in Yellow River Forest on the roads going through the State park, unless there is signage stipulating that no ATV use is allowed. Signage was mentioned as necessary to eliminate confusion when dealing with forests, parks, State and County roads and boundaries between counties.
It was mentioned that the ATV Club will be distributing maps to help keep riders compliant with the ordinance and state law in using permissible county roads. Ridenour expressed concerns that signage is necessary but expensive, and that much of the signage may be in areas not close to homes, and susceptible to vandalism.

Supervisor Dennis Koenig expressed that the ATV Club is a great way to teach ATV safety to young people and distribute information. He mentioned that this ordinance is "testing the waters" and may need to be revised moving forward. Local resident Chip Lamb informed the Board that he is looking into becoming an ATV Safety Instructor, suggesting that classes could be conducted once or twice a year.

Chairman Schellhammer suggested that the Board approve the second reading of the ordinance and have the County Attorney address some of the concerns mentioned before the third reading. Upon approval of the second reading of the ordinance by the Board, it was also agreed to hold the third reading of the ordinance at the next Board of Supervisors Meeting Monday, May 9 at 9:55 a.m.

OTHER MATTERS
Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer requested temporary part-time help in her office to assist during election time. A couple of candidates that were suggested are no longer available or have moved away. The position would likely be just two to three hours a day, not necessarily every day, starting May 23 for a three-week period. Auditor Beyer suggested hiring her daughter, Claire Beyer. She has already inquired about any issues in hiring a relative, and as a short-term, part-time position, this is not in violation of any policy. The Board approved the hiring recommendation.

The Interstate Service Agreement for Involuntary Substance Abuse Care with Gundersen Health System was approved by the Board. Kim Waters, Allamakee County Coordinator of Disability Services, stated that she will be sharing this information with other counties in the future as results are determined. Waters also provided an update on the recent County Social Services meeting. She mentioned that County Social Services has co-sponsored the University of Northern Iowa Informed Care Conference and that funding has been approved for NAMI Basics Classes and training materials for family members and caregivers assisting individuals with mental illness.

John Hansen of Midwest Construction Consultants provided an update on the construction of the Allamakee County Public Safety Center, noting that rebar is on-site and footings will be put in the ground soon, and that the project should be progressing quickly moving forward. Hansen explained that some unsuitable soil at the south end of the former Makee Manor facility had been encountered, but that more preferable black dirt was available for fill and other purposes from the pond dredging project being completed by Jim Hanson in the Waukon City Park. Hansen explained that this is good soil that can be used in a variety of ways at the site, and can be obtained at nearly a fourth of the cost of other such soil that may be needed for the project because of the proximity and timing of the pond dredging project.