Supervisors set second of two public hearings regarding voting precincts now scheduled for December 20, approve bridge embargo resolution

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 13 to address several matters including the review and consideration of the Allamakee County Investment Policy, setting a date and time for a Public Hearing for Ordinance LXI establishing voting precincts and consideration of a Bridge Embargo Resolution.

During Public Comment, Ric Zarwell of Lansing discussed the Bluffland Protection District and the work performed by a committee of 44 individuals over a period of three years in developing the Bluffland Protection Ordinance in Allamakee County. Zarwell requested an update on a matter potentially impacting an area within the Bluffland Protection District. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer advised that the matter has been turned over to Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke.

The meeting moved into the review and consideration of the Allamakee County Investment Policy with Allamakee County Treasurer Jennifer O’Neill providing an overview of the matter. O’Neill advised that review of the County Investment Policy is required to take place every two years with the previous review having taken place December 2019.

O’Neill discussed an update to the policy relating to the approved list of banks. Since the last policy review, as indicated by O’Neill, the Iowa State Treasurer’s Office will only be providing a list of ineligible banks on the State Treasurer office’s website and that currently all Iowa banks are eligible.

O’Neill discussed another change since the last review relating to Peoples State Bank, a Wisconsin-based bank which now has a branch in Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County. O’Neill advised that Peoples State Bank can be added to the County’s investment policy. Schellhammer and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Mark Reiser approved the Resolution naming depositories including Peoples State Bank in addition to approving the County Investment Policy as presented.

Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer addressed the next matter relating to the consideration of setting a date and time for the Public Hearing for Ordinance LXI establishing voting precincts. She explained that at the Monday, December 6 meeting, a Public Hearing for the Ordinance describing precinct boundaries was approved to take place Monday, December 20 at 9:40 a.m.

Beyer further explained that an additional Public Hearing will be necessary to take place at the same December 20 meeting relating to Ordinance LXI establishing voting precincts, to allow for public comment. The Supervisors approved to set Monday, December 20 at 9:40 a.m. for this Public Hearing. Both of the Public Hearings set for December 20 relate to permanent plans to combine Precinct 3 Franklin/Post Townships and Precinct 4 City of Postville, with this combination having been in place as a temporary measure the last couple years with voting taking place at the same location.

Consideration of an agreement with the City of Postville relating to voters from incorporated and unincorporated areas in the same voting precinct was next addressed. Beyer advised that this agreement needs formal approval every 10 years with Postville being a community with a population above 2,000.

Beyer indicated that communities below the 2,000 population threshold do not have this agreement requirement relating to a shared voting location. The agreement was approved by the Supervisors.

Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed the next agenda item relating to the consideration of a Bridge Embargo Resolution. Ridenour presented a copy of the Resolution listing 15 bridges and the permissible weight limit for each. The Supervisors approved the Bridge Embargo Resolution as presented.

The meeting moved into the discussion of COVID-19 and COVID-19 testing with Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker discussing a variety of matters relating to this agenda item. Snitker noted that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a Disaster Emergency Proclamation relating to COVID-19 extending into January 2022. He relayed that the vaccine mandate implemented by President Biden is currently paused due to pending litigation with Iowa being one of 10 states with this matter in the court system.

Snitker advised that the COVID-19 vaccine and booster are available locally, with information relating to local vaccination efforts available in the newspaper. Snitker also discussed the availability of free Test Iowa COVID-19 test kits at locations including Nightingale Drug and Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, with those test kits then shipped free of charge. Snitker, Ridenour and the Supervisors discussed recommendations relating to various scenarios involving COVID-19 exposures, testing and quarantine relating to County employees.

Under Department Head Updates, Ridenour noted that most of the Secondary Roads employees were working Saturday due to weather-related road conditions. Ridenour discussed the County’s Snow Ordinance, last updated in 2000, which he indicated could be reviewed. He said that he did not have any recommendations for changes at this time. Ridenour added that the normal hours for snow removal are 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. per the current ordinance.

Snitker advised that there were some recent power outages within the County due to ice accumulation and wind from the weekend winter storm. He discussed the weather forecast for this week with Wednesday to include some high winds due to the warm front that is being forecasted with temperatures likely in the 60s that day but a return to winter temperatures later in the week.

Prior to adjournment, Beyer discussed ongoing work relating to budgets and valuations.