Supervisors answer questions regarding proposed conversion of Veterans Memorial Hospital from City to County ownership
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 10 to address a full agenda of matters including the First Reading of Amendments #11 and #12 to the Zoning Ordinance L, discussion of topics relating to the Veterans Memorial Hospital public measure on the November 8 election ballot, and the discussion and consideration of the Allamakee County Facade Improvement Grant Program.
During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an update relating to recent events within the county including the Sip of Lansing event held Friday, October 7 in Lansing and the Driftless Half Marathon held Saturday, October 8 on the Great River Road Scenic Byway from Harpers Ferry to Lansing.
Supervisor Dan Byrnes provided participation numbers relating to the Driftless Half Marathon, noting that 120 participants completed the half marathon, 63 participants completed the 5K and nine participants completed the relay portion of the event. Byrnes noted the work and planning by Amanda Hess and others and the assistance of the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, Lansing Police Department, Lansing Fire Department and Harpers Ferry Fire Department. He also advised that this event attracts participants from the local area and from a multi-state area.
Reinke also noted that October is recognized as Manufacturing Month and that Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is sponsoring some manufacturing tours this week for high school students. She also discussed upcoming meetings including several scheduled Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) city-to-county conversion meetings and the “Get Charged Up!” Electric Vehicle (EV) Event scheduled for Thursday, October 13 at the NICC Calmar Campus, among others.
The Public Hearing for two proposed amendments (Amendment #11 and Amendment #12) to Zoning Ordinance L were opened and closed with Allamakee County First Deputy Auditor Janel Eglseder advising that no written or verbal comments have been received. The First Reading of Amendment #11 and Amendment #12 were each approved with Second Readings scheduled for 10 a.m. at the next Supervisors Meeting October 17.
Quarterly Reports for Allamakee County Planning and Zoning, the County Sheriff, the County Auditor and the County Recorder were accepted and placed on file.
The meeting moved into the discussion and consideration of a relocation of a portion of Vine Road in Rossville. Byrnes discussed the Kent and Rhonda Stock property at 836 Vine Road and the path of Vine Road which goes across the corner of this property. Byrnes noted the request from the Stocks to have the road moved back onto the County’s right of way and off of the corner of their property. Byrnes further noted feedback provided by the Stocks indicating that the path of the road continues to move further on to their property due to vehicle traffic, a septic drain field is present in that area, ATV/UTV use of the road is a safety and liability concern, and that a request is being made to change this into a T-intersection.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour discussed a previous request made with the County requesting some buy-in by the Stocks if the road were to be moved. Ridenour discussed research relating to the plotting of roads in Rossville with information dating back to the 1930s or before showing several roads in Rossville not following established lines.
Kent and Rhonda Stock were present at the meeting and provided additional feedback relating to Vine Road and the residential structure on that property formerly known as First Presbyterian Church of Rossville. The Stocks discussed ongoing requests from their insurance provider to have Vine Road moved onto County right of way, off of their property, to resolve liability issues. The Stocks discussed other potential measures to ensure traffic flow does not travel on the property including fencing, signage and tree placement.
Ridenour noted that Vine Road could be vacated or a cost-share may be possible, with the Stocks indicating they are not in favor of either of these options. Following discussion, the Supervisors approved to move the base of Vine Road and seal coat to the center to correct this portion of Vine Road as indicated in the map presented, with the completion date of this project not specified.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick made note of the next agenda items relating to the discussion and consideration of a Reserve Deputy and Transport Officer wage rate, hiring of a part-time Reserve Deputy and a Union Contract pay item, with Mellick requesting these matters be tabled to allow for additional time to consult a Union representative. No action was taken relating to these matters.
Ridenour addressed the next matter relating to the consideration of a time extension request through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for the English Bench Site 9 Project. Ridenour discussed the request to extend this project until December 31, 2023 to allow for letting this winter, construction next summer and paperwork to be filed by December 31, 2023. The Supervisors approved this extension.
Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer addressed the next matter relating to topics associated with the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) public measure on the November 8 general election ballot. Lansing area resident Doug Mullen had presented a list of questions relating to the city-to-county conversion of VMH at the October 3 Supervisors meeting.
Schellhammer noted that he met with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Roxane Schleich of VMH relating to Mullen’s questions during Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Coyle’s absence, with additional feedback requested from Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer as needed. Below is a summary of the questions provided by Mullen and answers provided by Schellhammer:
QUESTION: What was in the petition? Did it include comments about taxation costs and property tax levies?
ANSWER: No, it did not. It included basic information relating to the city-to-county conversion of VMH with no mention of cost.
QUESTION: It is my understanding that the VMH Trustees are going to have the sole authority to set mill rates (the amount of tax payable per dollar of the assessed value of a property) and levy amounts each year. What state or county regulations limit their authority? Do the Supervisors have to approve this? Do county taxpayers have a right to vote on this each year?
ANSWER: I am assuming you are referring to the authority to raise or lower the levy. VMH falls under Iowa Code § 347A.3 with their maximum levy at 1.08, with the maximum levy being requested. The only way to exceed that amount would be to request additional funding for FICA and IPERS, the only excess above the max levy that can be requested. VMH’s levy will be submitted similarly to the school district’s levy. Mullen and the Supervisors noted that increased property valuations will increase the amount of revenue provided by the 1.08 rate. Once this levy is passed, it is not voted on a yearly basis.
QUESTION: At the VMH City to County Conversion meeting, we were told that an amount of 14 million dollars may be needed over the next ten years to upgrade the hospital. The first year’s levy would be $950,000.
ANSWER: VMH was discussing a wish list of items that could be updated. VMH realizes they need to be sustainable and need to make money.
QUESTION: After I left the County Supervisors meeting September 26, a comment was made the VMH taxation was not coming out of the County budget. Of course it is! The City of Waukon is transferring the ownership of the hospital to the County, the County is contracting a private entity to run the hospital and the VMH Trustees are levying property taxes on everyone in the county.
ANSWER: Technically, that is correct (taxation not coming out of the County budget) but it is part of the tax bill/tax statement levied on the entire county. The Supervisors have three levies that we are in charge of.
QUESTION: At the meeting, it was said that the City of Waukon does not contribute to VMH, a City-owned building. They do. They provide services such as sewer and water, snow removal, etc. Is the County going to have to pay for these services?
ANSWER: The City of Waukon does not provide a levy but they do provide sewer and water services with discussions that this will continue.
QUESTION: It is my understanding that VMH Trustees will be elected by county-wide votes in the future. Maybe the elections could be set up in districts so all parts of the county have representation?
ANSWER: That is correct (county-wide votes). Regarding districts, that question has not yet been answered. If passed, the Supervisors will appoint the Board of Trustees, which could move from five trustees to seven trustees, allowing for more rural representation. The Board of Trustees will be elected in the 2024 general election.
The Supervisors moved into the discussion and consideration of allowing a “Blessing Box” on County property to be donated by an anonymous donor in addition to discussion of the location and maintenance of this item. The Supervisors discussed potential locations along the south Courthouse sidewalk and parking lot.
The “Blessing Box” was discussed as a metal food pantry allowing for 24-hour access to assist individuals and families during times of food insecurity. Assistance from the County Relief Office was discussed as a possibility. The Supervisors agreed to add the matter to the Monday, October 24 Supervisors Meeting agenda.
Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher addressed the next matter relating to the Allamakee County Facade Improvement Grant Program. He noted that he has received several inquiries into this proposed program. Kelleher presented the updated program language, scoring/evaluation criteria and the grantee agreement. He advised that the program should be “city blind” allowing anyone within the county to have access to this program.
Kelleher further recommended that Cities not be fiscally involved with the County program but that Cities could be allowed to step in and give additional funds to a grantee within their city limits. Schellhammer, Byrnes and Supervisor Mark Reiser tabled the matter to be placed on next week’s agenda, allowing for Allamakee County Attorney Tony Gericke to provide feedback on the updated program language.
The Supervisors viewed potential locations for the “Blessing Box” placement on County Courthouse property and then walked to the Allamakee County Veterans Museum and Waukon City Hall on Allamakee Street to view the location of the retaining wall project in addition to the discussion and consideration of the Veterans Museum retaining wall bid. Improvements are being made at the north entrance of Waukon City Hall to include an interior and exterior door, cement steps leading to the east parking area, cement walkway and canopy.
As planning for this project progressed, Black Hills Energy determined that a gas line will need to be moved with a small portion of lawn between the Veterans Museum, the former Vet’s Club, and Waukon City Hall needing to be disturbed. Schellhammer was approached by Waukon City Manager Gary Boden regarding potential improvements to this area that could coincide with the City Hall project.
As a result of these discussions, a retaining wall and railing have been planned for stability of the lawn and improved safety due to the steep incline of that area. Schellhammer provided an overview of the blacktop to be added in the parking lot area, the retaining wall and safety railing. On site, the Supervisors reviewed and approved a bid from Sweeney Builders for the retaining wall, to be paid with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
Under Department Head Updates, Mellick noted the fall harvest season, advising motorists to be cautious of agriculture-related traffic on roadways.
Ridenour discussed paving projects including County Road A26, Skyline Construction handling dirt work on Makee Drive, and Bacon Concrete currently doing patching work on pavements. He noted that spray patching will be wrapping up for the year with sand hauling to start in preparation for winter. Ridenour also advised that a transfer took place within the Secondary Roads Department with a vacancy to be advertised.
Eglseder advised that Hacker, Nelson & Co. has completed work in the County Auditor’s office relating to the annual audit, with that process running smoothly. Eglseder noted that next week’s Supervisors meeting will take place at the New Albin Public Library as part of the Supervisors’ annual schedule of library visits within the county. She added that the County Auditor’s office has been busy with election work.
