Supervisors approve Veterans Affairs Commissioner, hear updates on Big Slough and Worker's Compensation
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, December 27 due to the Christmas holiday schedule to address a variety of topics including a recommendation for a new Veteran's Affairs Commissioner, multiple plat approvals and the disallowance of a Homestead Credit.
During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Jane Regan with Upper Iowa Insurance Agency presented a Workers Compensation dividend check in the amount of $27,360.00 from West Bend Mutual Insurance. Regan explained that the dividend is awarded 21 months after the policy effective date for the March 1, 2015 to March 1, 2016 term being discussed.
Regan also provided an overview of Allamakee County's 2015-2016 Worker's Compensation performance, which was very positive with the County's good safety record. Regan discussed that the County has had two small Worker's Compensation claims during that period which accounts for the low 2.45% loss ratio.
Veterans Affairs Commissioners Don Peters and Pat Cota were present to provide their recommendation for the vacant Veterans Affairs Commissioner position. There are three Veterans Affairs Commissioners including the current vacancy. Peters and Cota indicated that Cheryl Garin from Lansing is their recommendation. The Supervisors approved Cheryl Garin for the vacancy.
The Supervisors briefly discussed the vacancies and number of applications received for multiple boards serving the County, noting that every Board vacancy has received at least one application, with the County Conservation Board and Upper Explorerland Board vacancies each receiving multiple applications. These applications will be reviewed during a work session Friday, December 30 with consideration at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, January 3.
Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake presented plat approvals to the Supervisors. Steven G. Kolbach has requested to form two lots out of a parcel. Blake indicated that the Planning and Zoning Commission provided a conditional recommendation and approval that the two lots would not be individually developable and would need to be owned by adjoining property owners. The Supervisors approved the plat application. James Schwartzhoff has requested a three-acre lot be divided off his property for a family member to build a house. The Supervisors approved Schwartzhoff's plat request. Warren B. and June N. Barr have requested approval for a lot to be divided off of their property for a potential sale, which also received approval from the Supervisors.
Scott C., Karen K., Sigurd C. and Barbara A. Ness have requested the creation of two lots from a single property. The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of the plat request due to one of the lots not meeting the three-acre requirement and the lack of an agriculture use legend on the plat. The Supervisors followed the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and denied the application due to the absence of an agriculture legend.
The Disallowance of the Homestead Credit for Edith L. Feuerhelm was discussed by the Supervisors. The Homestead Credit was disallowed by the Supervisors due to the stakeholder being deceased.
Under Department Head Updates, Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussed the recent Big Slough clean-up project meeting held in Lansing within the past week. Snitker advised that the Fish and Wildlife Service is taking the lead in the debris field clean-up and also discussed the involvement of FEMA and Friends of Pool 9 and funding options for the project. Snitker advised that cleaning up the man-made debris is the main focus with tree limbs and natural debris likely to remain.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed the recent weather conditions over the Christmas holiday weekend and the necessary overtime for the Secondary Roads Department with snow removal and sanding. Ridenour advised that more salt has been ordered with a lot of sand and salt being used already this winter.
Ridenour also discussed the prioritization process and funding of railroad crossing signalization and crossing gates. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer also discussed the Compensation Board meeting to be held January 4.
