Allamakee County designated a Home Base Iowa Community, voting precinct hearing set at Supervisors meeting

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 6 to address a full agenda of items including the consideration of two participation agreements relating to opioid litigation, the designation of Allamakee County as a Home Base Iowa County and setting a date and time for a Public Hearing for the Ordinance describing voting precinct boundaries.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed recent and upcoming events within the county including the Lighted Holiday Parade scheduled for Monday, December 6 in Waukon. Reinke provided an update relating to a childcare survey, housing in Waukon and community development in Postville. She also discussed continued communication with Iowa House Representative Anne Osmundson relating to aluminum can redemption issues faced within the county.

Allamakee County Solid Waste Manager Dave Mooney addressed the next matter relating to the consideration of a Kwik Trip account and credit card for the Solid Waste Department. Mooney discussed this request being brought about due to some changes with the department’s current fuel provider transitioning to fuel delivery only with local gas pumps to no longer be available for use. Mooney advised that a change to Kwik Star will be similar to the option available to other County departments with credit card availability. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Mark Reiser approved the request. Supervisor Dan Byrnes was not present at this meeting due to a scheduled absence.

The Supervisors moved into the review of plat requests with Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Stephanie Runkle providing an overview of the John F. Marsden Revocable Trust plat request, which was then approved. Runkle also provided an overview of the Roger D. and Toni M. Bakewell, John F. Troendle, Gerald F. and Jeannie Bakewell, Joanne C. Buxengard plat request, which was also approved following review by the Supervisors. The Manure Management Plan update for Grove #5 was also accepted and placed on file.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer provided an overview of the next matter relating to setting a date and time for a Public Hearing for the Ordinance describing voting precinct boundaries. Beyer advised that permanent plans to combine Precinct 3 Franklin/Post Township and Precinct 4 Postville will be part of this Ordinance with this combination having been in place as a temporary measure for the last couple years with voting taking place in the same location.

Beyer advised that this combined precinct will still be under the 3,500 population number. She provided a recommendation to set Monday, December 20 at 9:40 a.m. as the date and time for the Public Hearing, which was then approved by the Supervisors.

The meeting moved into Department Head Updates with Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussing the weather forecast with cold temperatures likely for the Lighted Holiday Parade in Waukon scheduled for later that same day with higher temperatures in the 30s and 40s predicted for later in the week. Snitker discussed an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases being seen at the State and National level. He also discussed follow-up relating to a recent hazardous materials tabletop exercise and provided an update relating to hazard mitigation planning with a grant application and other preparations being part of that process.

Runkle provided an update and discussed matters relating to ongoing work with an area campground. Beyer discussed upcoming budget work with departments and advised that tax increment financing (TIF) reconciliations and valuations will be performed in December. Beyer and Schellhammer also discussed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding with Beyer providing an overview of the process to be used in designating the specific use of these funds.

Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke discussed the next matter relating to the consideration of two Participation Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Resolution and other necessary actions relating to Opioid Litigation. Gericke discussed the settlement process and the two participation agreements in place relating to distributors and pharmaceutical companies, all the result of mediation.

Gericke provided an overview of this class action lawsuit seeking damages relating to the impact of the opioid epidemic upon the state of Iowa and counties with the January 2 deadline in place for those entities to opt in. The Supervisors approved the agenda item.

As Department Head Updates, Gericke discussed preparations in place for the County’s holiday celebration. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick briefly discussed the solar array project near the Allamakee County Public Safety Center and that the deer hunting season is going well. Mellick noted that one hunting accident did take place with a hunter being lightly grazed on his arm.

The meeting moved into an informational matter relating to Allamakee County’s designation as a Home Base Iowa County. Reinke introduced several individuals in attendance and via Zoom web-conferencing. Home Base Iowa Program Manager Jathan Chicoine of Iowa Workforce Development provided an overview of the program, which he described as a public and private partnership which matches military veterans and their families to employment opportunities and resources in Iowa counties and communities.

Chicoine said that the program focuses on three key areas, including workforce solutions and growth, quality education and student success, and community support. Chicoine added that 29 higher education institutions and 117 communities are currently participating in Home Base Iowa. He read aloud a letter from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds congratulating Allamakee County for approving its designation as a Home Base Iowa County and further discussed the merits of this program in attracting skilled military veterans and matching them with employment opportunities, and in the process making Iowa one of the most veteran friendly states in the country.

Reinke added that the Supervisors approved the Resolution relating to the County’s designation as a Home Base Iowa County at the September 13 Supervisors meeting. She said the current list of participating businesses in the area includes Waukon Feed Ranch, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC), TransferMaster, among others at this early stage with CEO Michael Coyle of Veterans Memorial Hospital indicating that he will be following up with Chicoine for further discussion of the program.

Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Director Heather Homewood read aloud a statement in support of the program, which she noted is a great resource in matching job seekers with opportunities at area businesses with participation by area businesses expected to continue to grow. Follow-up relating to the information presented was also discussed by Charlie Neubauer, Human Resources Coordinator at Aveka Nutra Processing, and via Zoom by Human Resources Manager Erika Murillo of ReelCore.