Supervisors approve memorandum of understanding to allow county morgue to stay at VMH, set public hearing date of April 20 for Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 30 to address a full agenda of matters including the discussion and consideration of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital relating to space for the location of the county morgue, consideration of setting a letting date for gravel road rock resurfacing, and the discussion and consideration of back-up internet options.
The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present. During Public Comment, Byrnes and County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed meeting with representatives of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Thursday, March 26 at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing as part of that agency’s 99-County Tour.
Byrnes advised that all three of the Supervisors were present at this meeting in addition to most of the county’s department heads. Byrnes discussed ISAC’s role in providing services to county governments relating to information technology (IT), health insurance and training sessions for department heads and elected officials, among other offerings. Beyer made note of ISAC’s election-related software ensuring compliance with state regulations with Beyer also noting that the Thursday, March 26 ISAC meeting included discussion of several legislative matters under consideration at the state level.
Following the time allotted for Public Comment, the Supervisors opened the Public Hearing for Amendment 20 to Zoning Ordinance L relating to Data Centers. Zoning Administrator Stephanie Runkle discussed work by the Planning and Zoning Commission in developing standards and recommendations associated with small-scale and large-scale data centers relating to setbacks, fire safety planning and proximity to other data centers and state and national byways, among other factors.
Runkle clarified that the term “data center” relates to all facilities involved in data processing, cryptocurrency or artificial intelligence (AI). Following discussion of other specifics, the public hearing was closed. The Supervisors then approved the First Reading of Amendment 20 to Zoning Ordinance L relating to Data Centers with the Second Reading scheduled for Monday, April 6 at 9:20 a.m. and the Third Reading scheduled for Monday, April 13 at 9:20 a.m.
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