Supervisors discuss local option sales tax distribution, address road and other items

by Bob Beach

During the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, April 8, the Board discussed possible changes in the way that local option sales tax (LOST) funds are distributed. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer explained that currently 25% of LOST revenues are allocated to E-911, 33% to the townships, 20% to Secondary Roads and 22% to rural services. Beyer said that with the upcoming special election scheduled for August 5 to re-authorize the tax, the Board has the option of making changes to the distribution percentages and can also decide whether or not to continue the 10-year "sunset date" of the tax. The members of the Board agreed that they would need to collect more information before making any decisions on the matter.

QUARRY INQUIRY
The Board also met with Ron Strong, owner of Strong Rock and Gravel, who wanted to know why the County is not purchasing more rock from his quarry. He said that his quarry produces quality rock and that he would guarantee the lowest price.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour said that the larger companies tend to have more quarries, which partially accounts for the disparities in the amount of rock purchased from companies like Bruening and the amount of rock purchased from Strong's quarry. Ridenour pointed out that larger projects must go through a process of bid letting and that because Strong's company is not listed as a qualified bidder, he is not able to bid on those projects. He also noted that the rock produced at Strong's quarry is also not certified by the Department of Transportation (DOT). He said that Strong's quarry is capable of producing certified stone, but that Strong had not completed the necessary paperwork with the DOT.
Chairman Larry Schellhammer encouraged Strong and Ridenour to work through their differences, but Ridneour said he had explained the certification process to Strong. "I can't do his work for him," Ridenour said. Strong said that he would do whatever he needed to do to secure more business from the County.

OTHER MATTERS
Ridenour also asked the Board to set a bid letting date for the concrete overlay of Prairie Drive. The Board set Tuesday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. as the day and time to open the bids for the project.
The Board also reviewed the bids for the repainting of pavement markings on County roads and awarded the contract to AAA Striping Service of St. Michael, MN for the low bid of $60,879.07. Other bidders for the project included Vogel Traffic Services of Orange City ($62,872.78) and Iowa Plains Signing of Waterloo ($86,495.79). The Board also approved a supplemental agreement with WHKS Engineering to cover additional costs associated with completing the paperwork necessary to secure federal funding for repair projects from flooding last summer.
In other business, the Board voted to terminate the contract for maintenance of the elevator at Makee Manor and agreed to contact the auctioneers who previously submitted bids to auction off the contents of the building. The Board also approved an increase from $3.75 per meal to $4.00 per meal for inmates at the County Jail, which are provided by Southcrest Manor, and accepted and placed on file quarterly reports from the Allamakee County Auditor and Planning and Zoning.