Supervisors approve permit fees, discuss issue with Schulte property

by Bob Beach

During public comment time at the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, April 9, Frank Gaines of Lansing objected to proposed increases in zoning fees, saying that the County should not be “putting up roadblocks to bringing new people into the county.” Supervisor Lennie Burke responded that the choice the Board faced at budget time was either raising administrative fees for zoning or raising property taxes, adding that the proposed fees are lower than fees charged in surrounding counties. Supervisor Sherry Strub said that she does not believe that the modest fees proposed are significant enough to drive business or new development away from Allamakee County.
Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake again presented a schedule of proposed fees for the Board’s approval, having added a fourth tier to building permit fees; projects with a projected cost of less than $20,000 would require a permit fee of $20, projects with a cost of $20,000 to $60,000 would require a permit fee of $60, projects with a cost of $60,000 to $100,000 would have a fee of $100, and projects with a projected cost of over $100,000 would require a permit fee of $150. The Board approved the building permit fees as well as administrative fees for other zoning requests, such as rezoning and creating subdivisions.
The Board met with attorney Rick Zahasky, who recently concluded contract negotiations with the unions representing the County’s Secondary Roads and Sheriff’s Department employees. Zahasky said that the union representing the Sheriff’s Department employees had agreed to a two-year contract that includes a two percent wage increase the first year and a two and a half percent increase the second year; the union representing Secondary Roads employees agreed to a one-year contact that includes a 45 cent per hour pay increase for all employees. The Board approved both contracts as presented.
The Board also met with Mary Schulte of Waukon, Pat Ward of Waterville, County Assessor Ann Burckart, County Engineer Brian Ridenour and County Attorney Jill Kistler regarding a recent adjustment of Schulte’s property line on Eighth Avenue NW in Waukon. Ridenour explained that the original deed to the property, created in 1899, and the plat, created in 1900, disagreed on the location of the south property line - one placed it in the center of the street, while the other placed it at the road's edge.
According to County Assessor Burckart, an error was discovered when a survey of the adjacent plat, owned by Innovative Ag Services, was done pursuant to a pending sale to Caledonia Haulers. That survey showed that Schulte’s property had been incorrectly assessed, as the south property line is in the center of the street, not at the edge of the street. As a consequence of that adjustment, which moves her lot approximately 25 feet south, Schulte effectively loses the 25 feet on the northern edge of her property to Innovative Ag Services.
Burckart said that future assessments would not include the 25 feet of property that are in the street, but that news came as small comfort to Schulte, who said, “This is just wrong. All of a sudden this 25 feet is taken away. Innovative Ag is getting my 25 feet that I’ve paid property taxes on for 29 years.”
Supervisor Burke sided with Schulte, saying, “The County government recognized it from the right of way for the last 112 years. We’ve recognized it and collected taxes on it. What about the money we’ve collected for 30 years? We’ve got to try to make this right.”
County Attorney Kistler disagreed, saying, “I don’t see that Schulte has any legal claim. Schulte had the use of the property and she paid taxes on it.”
Chairman Larry Schellhammer voiced his sympathy for Schulte’s situation, but said, “The County has done nothing wrong. We’re going to stand by the legal survey. Any time you buy property, it’s best to get a survey, and that is the right and the responsibility of the buyer.” He added that Schulte should obtain an attorney if she wishes to pursue the matter further.”
In other business, County Engineer Ridenour asked the Board to set a date for the letting of bids for the resurfacing of County gravel roads and the Board set Monday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m. as the date and time to open bids for the project. The Board also approved the trade-in and purchase of two Caterpillar motorgraders from Zeigler Incorporated in Postville at a total cost of $215,000. Ridenour also presented a letter to W&M Ag, LLC, owners of the proposed hog facility on Wilder Drive near Dorchester, expressing concern about the impact on County roads during construction of the facility and once the facility is operational. The Board signed and approved the letter.
Following the meeting, the Board toured the new Aveka facility located in Waukon at the former Foremost Farms property. Currently 15 to 16 employees work at the facility and as many as 30-35 additional employees could be needed as other production operations get underway.