Supervisors hear update on property tax settlement, discuss grievance remedy and Makee Manor items

by Bob Beach

During the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, August 5, the Board met with County Treasurer Lori Hesse, who updated the Board on how the recent settlement with SHF Industries, LLC for the overdue property taxes for the AgriStar meat packing facility in Postville would be allocated.
Hesse said that the County would add $2,247.76 to SHF's settlement payment of $604,720.73 to balance the difference between the interest amounts from May used to determine the settlement amount and the interest amounts from July when the payment was received, for a total of $606,968.49. Of that total, Hesse said that $41,057.76 (7%) would be used to pay off investor certificates, $151,602.37 (25%) would go to the County, $148,937.60 (24%) would go to the Postville Community School District, $253,474.21 (42%) would go to the City of Postville and the remainder would be distributed to other entities and funds (Brucellosis/Tuberculosis fund, Post Township, Calmar Area School and County Ag Extension). Hesse said that there were "no winners" in the settlement but that "it could have been much worse for us."
The Board also revisited a grievance filed by a Secondary Roads employee who claimed that he was not called in to work overtime when he should have been. Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he and County Attorney Jill Kistler had reviewed the union contract and determined that the minimum "call back" of two hours with an option to work an additional six hours at the overtime pay rate would be the appropriate remedy to the situation.
The employee has offered to settle the dispute for eight hours of comp time, but Supervisor Sherry Strub said, "I don't like the idea of paying someone for not working." Union representative Mark Jones said that the employee would have worked for the pay had he been called in to work as he should have been.
Chairman Schellhammer and Supervisor Dennis Koenig agreed with the sentiment expressed by Strub and the Board agreed to stand by its offer of two hours paid as overtime with the option of working an additional six hours at the overtime rate. County Engineer Brian Ridenour said that if an agreement could not be reached by August 26, the matter would be taken to arbitration, a process that could take as long as three months.
Turning its attention to Makee Manor, the Board opened bids for auction services for the equipment remaining at the facility. Monroe Auction Service and Sweeney Auction Service both submitted similar bids for 10 percent commission plus additional costs for advertising and other expenses.
"This would be easier if we knew what we're selling and when," said Chairman Schellhammer, noting that a buyer has expressed interest in purchasing the property with the kitchen facility intact and that the study to determine the feasibility of using the facility to house the County jail has not been completed. Other issues at the facility remain unresolved, including replacing of the current boiler system and maintenance of the sewage lagoons.
The Board also met with Head Custodian Mike Gallagher, who told the Board that he needs to hire a part-time custodian to work at the courthouse but that offering only part-time hours was unlikely to attract applicants who may be suitable to take over as full-time Head Custodian when he (Gallagher) retires. The Board advised Gallagher to advertise for a full-time head custodian and the specifics of the available hours during a probationary period could be discussed during the interview process.
In other business, the Board discussed the need to make several appointments to the Compensation Commission, which determines property values during condemnation proceedings; two agriculture land owners, a city property owner and three real estate brokers are needed to fill the 28-member board. The Board also accepted and placed on file the year-end report from Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention.