Supervisors hear further comment on animal confinement operations, disabilities services update

by Bob Beach

During public comment time at the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, November 2, Dave Anderson of Waukon suggested that the Board consider passing a resolution of some kind to reflect the growing unpopularity of confined animal feeding operations, noting that the lack of local control over such operations continues to be problematic. He said that elected county officials making a statement about the lack of local control may get the attention of the state legislature, the governor and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He pointed out that the County has no recourse to recover costs associated with such operations, primarily road use, which amounts to the County subsidizing such operations. Anderson also pointed out that operations that include containment tanks to store manure receive a tax break.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he learned that the tax break Anderson referred to was established sometime in the 1970s and that under Iowa’s tax laws, manure pits are classified as “pollution control devices” with tax-exempt status. Schellhammer said that Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp has said that tax-exempt status for manure pits is no longer necessary, but to make any significant changes would be “a tough fight” at the state level. “This is something that I would like to see moved forward and it’s a process worth attempting to recognize that ag has changed a lot,” Schellhammer said.
During regular business, the Board met with Allamakee County Coordinator of Disabilities Services Kim Waters, who updated the Board on a recent meeting of the County Social Services (CSS) Board. Waters said that CSS is looking at expanding programs to help families deal with suicidal teenagers. She also said that efforts continue to reduce the burden on law enforcement to transport mental health patients by expanding the role of “48-hour holds” at hospitals with a goal of reducing the number of patients who get caught up in the criminal justice system.
Waters also suggested that the County explore securing contracts with out-of-state facilities for substance abuse treatment services, but added that it would be premature to commit to those contracts until it becomes clear how managed care organizations will address the issue when they take over Medicaid services in Iowa January 1, 2016.
In other business, Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer suggested that the County’s payroll system be changed so that all employees are paid on the same schedule - currently, some employees are paid a week behind while others are paid “current.” The Board agreed that the proposed change would be sensible but that the situation should be clearly explained to employees before implementing the change. The Board also signed a service agreement with Northland Securities related to the upcoming bond sale to fund the construction of the new jail and public safety center.

CLARIFICATION
It was inaccurately reported in the October 28 edition of The Standard that Troy Peterson co-owns Paul Link’s hog confinement operation south of Waukon. Peterson completed the Master Matrix construction permit application on Link’s behalf but is not an owner. The Standard apologizes for the error and for any confusion it may have caused.