Supervisors approve funding measures for Allamakee County Public Health, some gravel bids and road project contracts, discuss other matters related to COVID-19

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 20 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of vacating a segment of Valley View Drive, a County Public Health funding request and several other COVID-19-related matters. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Dennis Koenig were in attendance at the boardroom with Supervisor Dan Byrnes attending the meeting via Zoom web conferencing from off-site.

During Public Comment, Jack Knight discussed the request by the Black Hawk County Supervisors to have Tyson Foods temporarily close its Waterloo facility to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. Knight further inquired at what point the Allamakee County Supervisors would need to step in if a similar situation were to occur at Postville’s Agristar meat processing plant.

Through Zoom web conferencing, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an update relating to a recent conference call with Senator Joni Ernst with a variety of matters being discussed including supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and steps necessary for economic recovery to follow the pandemic. Reinke recommended that individuals should consider buying locally with $1,200 stimulus checks arriving and that she has been receiving phone calls and emails from business owners relating to assistance programs and requests for suggestions and ideas during current operating restrictions in response to the pandemic. Reinke provided an update relating to several community groups and organizations that are meeting through Zoom web conferencing as an alternative to in-person meetings.

Through online web conferencing, Service Coordinator Jason Howes of County Social Services (CSS) advised that work is ongoing to assist individuals transitioning out of incarceration with mental health needs and that the Waterloo Crisis Center is still in operation.

The Supervisors reviewed Quarterly Reports from the Allamakee County Relief Office, County Sheriff and County Auditor, which were all accepted and placed on file. The Liquor License Renewal for Empty Nest Winery was reviewed and approved.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer provided an overview of the next agenda item relating to signing the Cost Allocation Plan from Cost Advisory Services for indirect cost recoveries for Fiscal-Year 2019, to be received in Fiscal-Year 2021. Beyer explained that Cost Advisory Services provides calculations necessary for the County’s financial reporting relating to post-employment benefits. The Supervisors approved to sign the Certification of Cost Allocation from Cost Advisory Services.

Beyer discussed requests to use the County credit card including the Sheriff’s Department’s renewal of Foxit software necessary for modifying pdf documents and forms to include two licenses, for the Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management, at a cost of $51.60. Beyer indicated the second request to use the credit card relates to Zoom web conferencing software with two licenses necessary to allow two simultaneous meetings to take place at a cost of $299.80 plus tax. The Supervisors approved the use of the County credit card for the software licenses.

The Supervisors discussed the public hearing for the Master Matrix Construction Permit application for Rolinda Acres, LLC and approved setting the public hearing date and time for Monday, May 4 at 9:40 a.m. Beyer advised that web and teleconferencing options would be available for neighboring landowners to attend the public hearing remotely with that information to be added to the public notice to be published.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour provided an overview of the next agenda item relating to the consideration of gravel bids received for resurfacing Secondary Roads. Ridenour discussed the bids that were opened and read aloud at the April 13 Supervisors meeting for Divisions I-V with Bruening Rock Products of Decorah as low bidder in all five divisions. Ridenour also discussed that revenue from Road Use Tax (RUT) and Local Option Sales Tax are projected to decrease by 25% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He reported that new construction and new equipment may be areas that could receive cutbacks in response to the revenue decreases.

Ridenour also discussed specifics within the Notice to Bidders including that the County Supervisors and County Engineer reserve the right to reject or accept any and all bids and to increase or decrease the tonnage and miles surfaced within 10% of contract quantities. Ridenour provided a recommendation to table Division II of the gravel resurfacing bids and to move forward with the remaining four divisions. Koenig suggested that in the future, two types of bids for gravel resurfacing may be necessary to include costs for the County to pick up gravel and another bid to include delivery. Schellhammer and Byrnes were in agreement that the bidding process in the future may involve the request for two bids to include pick-up or quarry cost and secondly to include the delivery of gravel. The Supervisors approved the bids for gravel resurfacing with the exception of Division II.

Ridenour provided an overview of quotes received for painted pavement markings with bids received from three contractors including Fahrner Asphalt Sealers of Eau Claire, WI at  $78,706.55, AAA Striping Service Co. of St. Michael, MN at $81,849.96 and Iowa Plains Signing of Slater at $115,527.25. Ridenour provided a recommendation of low bidder Fahrner Asphalt Sealers with the Supervisors approving the recommendation.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of contracts for road structures with K Construction, Inc. of Elkader. Ridenour discussed the three projects and the K Construction bids approved at the April 6 Supervisors meeting including Project L-23G1-73-03, the replacement of a 55-foot bridge east of Waterville on White Pine Road bid at $316,744.00, Project L-32T2-73-03, a 35-foot bridge replacement on English Bench Road bid at $290,242.30 and Project L-7U1-73-03, a twin 8-foot by 6-foot precast reinforced concrete box culvert on the Iowa/Minnesota state line northwest of Dorchester on Portland Prairie Drive bid at $118,639.00. The Supervisors approved the contracts with K Construction.

Ridenour discussed a request from a landowner on Valley View Drive to vacate a dead-end portion of road and to put up a gate. Ridenour indicated that the landowner owns the property on both sides of Valley View Drive and that there is no public access to the Upper Iowa River on this property. The Supervisors approved to have Ridenour proceed with the vacating process.

The Supervisors moved into the consideration of COVID-19-related items with Beyer indicating that Director Rebecca Hawes of the Allamakee County Relief Office has communicated with the Way Station Thrift Store and Food Shelf in New Albin and that no funding request is being made by the Way Station at this time. This matter was previously discussed at the April 6 Supervisors meeting with the Supervisors approving to donate $1,000 from the Relief Office Fund to each of three food banks in Lansing, Waukon and Postville. The possibility of including the Way Station in this funding at a lower level was discussed at the April 6 meeting with a formal request being necessary.

A funding request from Allamakee County Public Health was discussed with Beyer reading aloud an email statement indicating that additional funding is needed by this organization operating through Veterans Memorial Hospital with two staff members working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supervisors discussed the County’s $8,333 monthly support of Public Health and that additional support during the current pandemic is needed. With the duration of the current pandemic being a variable, the Supervisors were in agreement to review this funding on a monthly basis. The Supervisors approved to pre-pay half of the June funding allocation in May in addition to May’s regular funding level.

Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker advised that Effigy Mounds National Monument’s trail system has temporarily closed due to concerns relating to space and social distancing with Yellow River State Forest’s trail system still being open. Snitker discussed Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation and restrictions currently in place for gatherings and business operations, and provided an update relating to personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer availability for County employees. He also provided a weather forecast update with precipitation possible Wednesday through Saturday this week.

Ridenour advised the Secondary Roads Department is putting rock down, using the spray patcher and replacing culverts in addition to routine maintenance projects.

Beyer reported that May 4 is the beginning of in-person absentee voting and that an alternate plan may need to be put in place if the County Courthouse is not open to the public. Beyer recommended that the public absentee vote by mail and that the Supervisors’ Boardroom may be an option for in-person absentee voting except for Monday mornings during scheduled Supervisors meetings when curbside absentee voting or other arrangements would be necessary. A doorbell or other audio/video options were discussed to signal the Auditor’s Office that someone is present at the Supervisors’ Boardroom for in-person absentee voting, with public access to much of the courthouse requiring the escort of a County employee beyond the Boardroom. The Supervisors approved the purchase of a doorbell. Beyer further advised that plexiglass dividers will be used at polling places.