Board of Supervisors to consider real estate listing for Makee Manor

by Bob Beach

During the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, October 28, real estate broker Jack Sweeney encouraged the Board to postpone its plans to sell the contents of Makee Manor and demolish the structure. He said that the Board has not made an adequate effort to market the property to buyers who could bring jobs into the county and asked for a commitment to give him 90 days to list the property on the Multiple Listing Service, adding that he would not seek any commission or fee from the County for the sale.
Supervisor Sherry Strub said that the Board doesn't want to tear the building down, but with the increasing cost of repairs and maintenance and no offers made to date to purchase the property, the Board had been forced to make a decision in the best interest of county taxpayers.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick said that the feasibility study for a new jail had concluded that the Makee Manor building would not be usable as a jail facility, but the question of whether the land itself might be needed for the construction of a new facility had not yet been determined. He said that the study should be completed soon, at which time the necessary square footage for the new jail could be determined. He added that if a buyer could be found for the property that would bring jobs into the county, he would consider that use to be of greater importance than a site for a new jail, as other construction sites could be found, if needed.
Supervisor Dennis Koenig said that he is very frustrated with the lack of progress in finding a suitable use for the property. He agreed that if a buyer could be found for the property that would bring jobs into the county, then that should be pursued.
Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he would like to meet with other real estate agents in the county about listing the property for sale as Sweeney suggested. The Board agreed to discuss the matter further at 10 a.m. during its regular meeting Monday, November 4, at which time it would be determined what specifically would be offered for sale on the Multiple Listing Service.
The Board also met with Hanover Township Trustee Rick Schulte, who told the Board that the way in which local option sales tax funds are distributed to townships results in some inequities, pointing out that the formula for collection of tax levies is based on assessed values, while the distribution of sales tax funds is based on population. Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse said that the formula for distribution of local option sales tax funds was established in 1997 and that computer software was developed to manage disbursements based on that formula. She agreed with Schulte that the formula can result in some inequities when the funds are disbursed to the townships, but said that she had not been able to determine how the formula had been established or where it was recorded.
Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler said that it is her hope that someone from the public might remember something about how the formula was established and come forward. Chairman Schellhammer said that more research would need to be done to determine how to move forward with a solution to the problem before renewal of the local option sales tax is presented to voters next year. The Board scheduled a special meeting on the issue for Tuesday, November 19 at 9 a.m.
The Board also met with Zoning Administrator Tom Blake, who presented the Board with the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation to amend the current zoning ordinance to establish a building permit application fee. Blake said that as the ordinance is currently written, zoning permit fees are only charged upon the issuance of a permit; the new language recommended by the Commission would establish a non-refundable fee for submitting a building permit application whether the permit is approved or not.
Blake also presented the Commission's recommendation to approve a rezoning application for property at 923 and 925 Lansing Harpers Road from R1 to R2. The Board scheduled public hearings on both recommendations for Tuesday, November 12 at 9:15 a.m. and 9:20 a.m., respectively.
During public comment time, Kristi Hager of Dorchester told the Board that she had learned that the Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect next year, includes a $15 per person tax on employer-provided health insurance policies. She said that she believes that the County's employees should be responsible for paying this tax, not county taxpayers.
Also during public comment time, Doug Mullen of Lansing said that he had looked at the 9-1-1 ordinances of other counties and determined that only Allamakee County's ordinance includes regulations regarding driveway width. He said that the only reason driveway specifications are included in the 9-1-1 ordinance is to make the regulations apply to farms, which are exempt from zoning regulations. County Attorney Kistler said that the inclusion of such regulations in county 9-1-1 ordinances is authorized under state law, adding that the purpose of the regulations is to provide safe access for ambulances and fire trucks.

In other business, the Board signed a resolution approving the County's comprehensive plan for solid waste and approved a resolution declaring November 17-23 to be Tobacco Awareness Week. The Board also accepted and placed on file a request from the City of Waterville to have the renewal of the local option sales tax placed on a special election ballot.