Supervisors hear library updates and funding requests, approve resolution for grading, paving one mile of Four Corners Road following public hearing

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session twice within a week’s time following the Monday, January 20 closure of the County Courthouse in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday with scheduled meetings taking place Tuesday, January 21 and Monday, January 27 during this past week. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
The January 21 meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an update in which she noted attending a recent event coordinated by the Community Venture Network. Reinke advised that this networking opportunity included economic development representatives and potential investors from a seven-state area with small businesses and individuals being able to pitch for funding and manufacturing space, among other needs to allow for new business start-ups and expansions. Reinke also provided an overview of upcoming events including Effigy Mounds National Monument’s January Film Festival scheduled for Saturday that same week, a childcare legislative event to take place Friday at Sunflower Childcare Center in Decorah, in addition to an upcoming tourism-related legislative event scheduled in Des Moines.

The meeting moved into the notification of an e-filed Manure Management Plan (MMP) update for Scott Sanness. Byrnes noted that a short form update was submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and that questions from the public relating to viewing this update online may be directed to the County Auditor’s office.

The Supervisors, County Auditor Denise Beyer, Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker and Head of Courthouse Maintenance John Roe then toured the fourth floor of the Allamakee County Courthouse to discuss the use of office space and storage relating to that portion of the courthouse. Snitker noted office space utilized by Helping Services for Youth and Families on the fourth floor in addition to a state-mandated lactation room, areas that potentially could be relocated elsewhere in the courthouse. Snitker also discussed options available to limit public access with authorized County personnel to be required to use a key fob or security code to gain access from the elevator or a secured door reached from the stairway. No action was taken relating to this discussion matter.

The meeting moved into the Riverview Center update and Fiscal-Year 2026 (FY26) funding request. Director of Development and Public Relations Sam Blatt with the Riverview Center provided an overview of the organization’s services, which are free and confidential to those impacted by sexual assault. Blatt advised that 21 children and 12 adults within Allamakee County received crisis intervention services in the past year relating to legal, medical and social advocacy with over 900 hours of work by this agency directed to Allamakee County during this time.

Blatt noted the trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach of the Riverview Center including the efforts of the sexual assault response team which works with local law enforcement, the county attorney, and hospitals, in addition to the training provided to school districts and clergy in providing referrals. Blatt noted that the organization’s Decorah office serves a northern six-county area with advocates available in-office and on call 24/7 with a response time of less than an hour.

Blatt made note of the organization’s $3,000 funding request for FY26. Bilingual Sexual Assault Advocate Lupita Solis discussed the flexibility necessary to meet with children or adults impacted by sexual assault to include bilingual/translation services and locations that include schools, churches and libraries. Blatt and Beyer discussed training provided by the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) in addition to Beyer making note of Safe At Home, a program providing a legal-substitute address for survivors of sexual assault, violence or other crimes to allow mail forwarding and confidentiality relating to voter registration and absentee voting. No action was taken, with this funding request to be reviewed with other requests during the budgeting process.

The Supervisors moved into the Northeast Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) update and Fiscal-Year 2026 (FY26) funding request with RSVP Director Deanna Hageman providing an overview of the organization’s history and services. Hageman thanked the Supervisors and the County for last year’s support at the $2,000 level and asked for consideration of an increase to $3,000 for FY26. Hageman explained that RSVP is an organization serving Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties which matches individuals 55 years of age and older with volunteer opportunities.

Hageman noted that over 42,000 volunteer hours valued at over $1.2 million benefited the Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee region in the last year through RSVP’s 618 active volunteers at 82 stations. Hageman noted a variety of volunteer opportunities available relating to Emergency Management, food pantries, event assistance, meal delivery, long-term care centers, after school programming and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, among others. She advised that the organization’s office space is located within the Decorah Public Library with 1.4 staff members including her position and a newly hired .4-time Volunteer Coordinator.

In response to a question from Supervisor Clark, Hageman advised that RSVP volunteers do not replace employees but are in addition to or aid those in existing positions. Byrnes noted that the FY26 funding request would be considered with other budget requests during the budget process. No action was taken at this time.

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