Board of Supervisors Minutes
March 2017

March 7, 2017:

The Fremont County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, in the Fremont County Courthouse Boardroom, with Hendrickson, Hickey, and Graham present.  A quorum was declared and the meeting officially called to order at 9:00 a.m. Minutes of the previous board session were read and approved.  The agenda was approved as posted. 

Dan Davis, Engineer, met with the board for approval of the following:

Motion was made by Hickey to authorize Chairman Hendrickson to sign the contracts and bonds on Project #BRS-CO36(74) - - 60-36-J-18/Plum Creek Road RCB. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Graham to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign utility permits for Centurylink to place fiber optic cable at the following locations:

(1) 225th Avenue & Dike Road near Hamburg
(2) 285th Street near Hamburg

Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Hickey to authorize chairman Hendrickson to sign work in right-of-way permits for Swift Services, L.L.C. to place fiber optic cable at the following locations:

1.)  (1) From the north side of Airport Road to the West ROW of Manti Road
(2) From the north side of 109th Street to the South Side of 109th Street West of Hwy 59
(3) .04 miles west of Hwy 59 starting at the end of BNSF ROW

Motion carried unanimously. 

At 9:10 a.m., the board discussed the IWILL Resolution supporting the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The board will research the resolution further and then revisit the topic at a later date. 

The Recorder’s Monthly Report for February was approved. 

In other business, claims for March 10, 2017, were approved. 

At 9:23 a.m., there being no further business, Hickey made the motion to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST:

 Fremont County Auditor                                                                                Earl Hendrickson, Chairman

March 14, 2017:

The Fremont County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in the Fremont County Courthouse Boardroom, with Hendrickson, Hickey, and Graham present.  A quorum was declared and the meeting officially called to order at 9:00 a.m. Minutes of the previous board session were read and approved.  The agenda was approved as posted. 

Let the records show that Sandy Parmenter from the Hamburg Reporter was present for this meeting. 

Motion was made by Graham to approve a resolution ordering the Treasurer to suspend taxes pursuant to Iowa Code Section 427.9 in regards to a notification received from the Department of Human Services.  Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO.  2017-18

RESOLUTION ORDERING THE TREASURER TO SUSPEND TAXES PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE SECTION 427.9

WHEREAS, notification has been received from the Department of Human Services by the Board of Supervisors that the owner of property located at 810 Alice Avenue, Riverton, Fremont County, IA belongs to a recipient of Medicaid assistance and pursuant to Iowa Code Section 427.9 and

WHEREAS, the law requires the Board of Supervisors to either suspend or abate the taxes under these circumstances,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the taxes on N 130’ of Lots 789 & 790 in the City of Riverton, Fremont County, Iowa, (parcel number 460460136000000) are hereby suspended and the Treasurer is ordered to suspend collection of all taxes, special assessments, for so long as he remains the owner during the period he receives assistance, all as provided by law.

Motion to approve made by Graham.

Approved this 14th day of March, 2017. 
 

At 9:08 a.m., Dan Davis, Engineer, met with the board for approval of the following items:

Motion made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign work in right-of-way permit for Centurylink to place fiber optic cable from 225th Avenue along 262nd Street, then Dike Road and finally along 210th Avenue. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign the following resolution for road vacation public hearing regarding a portion of 280th Avenue in Section 27, Township 70, Range 42. Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 2017-19

RESOLUTION FOR ROAD VACATION PUBLIC HEARING

Fremont County

Resolution No. 2017-19

WHEREAS, a request has been filed with the County Engineer asking that action be taken to vacate and close a section of Fremont County Secondary Road, described as follows:

                A portion of 280th Avenue, originally established as Road No. 405 (Book 4, page 114) established on August 1, 1889 lying on the East line of Section 27, T70N, R42W of the 5th PM, Fremont County, Iowa. The intention of this road closure is to vacate a portion of the public road as now established (original and with modifications) commencing at a point 2290ft North of the SE corner of Section 27, T70N, R42W being the point of beginning: thence north along the east line of said section 27, a distance of 990ft and terminating at a point 2000ft south of the NE corner of Section 27, T70N, R42W of the 5th PM, Fremont County, Iowa. See Exhibit A.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a hearing on the proposed vacation will be held in the Board Room, Fremont County Courthouse, Sidney, Iowa 51652, at 9:00 A.M. on March 28th, 2017, in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 306.

Motion made by Hickey and seconded by Graham.

Approved this 14th day of March, 2017.
 

Motion was made by Hickey to approve a 2017 IDOT Budget and 5-Year Program.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion was made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign two temporary easement agreements for Gary Gladwin on Project #STP-S-CO36(75) - - 5E-36. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign the final payment voucher on Project #BROS-CO36(68) - - 5F-36. Motion carried unanimously.

At 9:25 a.m., discussion was held regarding the current allocation of the hotel/motel tax. Supervisor Graham would like to revisit the amounts that the organizations of FREDCO, Tourism, and Welcome Center receive. He would also like to explore possible having another entity work on economic development. Hendrickson suggested possibly partnering with SCIA (Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association) since a much of their business lies in Fremont County. Graham will meet with FREDCO at one of their regular meetings to discuss this further. 

At 9:26 a.m., Fremont County Attorney, Brenna Bird, joined the meeting. 

At 9:44 a.m., Chuck Douglass with the Fremont County Tourism Board presented by-laws that he had created for the tourism board. County Attorney Bird stated that she thought a resolution would be more appropriate than by-laws to clarify how the board is set up and how the money is dispersed. The resolution would state how the terms would run and when people could apply or re-apply for the board among other items to clarify the tourism board’s responsibilities. Bird will prepare a resolution for the board to review. 

At 10:13 a.m., motion was made by Hickey to approve the use of an available space at the courthouse for a coffee with Congressman David Young. Motion carried unanimously. 

At 10:18 a.m., Hickey made a motion to authorize Chairman Hendrickson to sign 28E Agreements for the East Nishnabotna Watershed Coalition Articles of Agreement and the West Nishnabotna Watershed Coalition Articles of Agreement. These agreements are between cities, soil and water conservation districts, and counties affected by the watershed project. Motion carried unanimously.  

10:08 a.m. Motion was made by Hickey to go into public hearing.  A public hearing for adoption of the 2017/2018 Fremont County Budget was held. Present were Supervisors, Earl Hendrickson, Randy Hickey and Terry Graham, and Auditor Dee Owen. At 10:20 a.m. Hearing no objections motion was made by Hickey to close the hearing, and pass the following resolutions to approve the FY 2017/2018 Budget.  Motion carried on a vote:  Ayes 3, Nays: 0.

RESOLUTION NO. 2017-20

WHEREAS, the Fremont County Compensation Board meets annually to recommend a compensation schedule for elected officials for the fiscal year immediately following, in accordance with Iowa Code Chapters 331.905 and 331.907, and

WHEREAS, the Fremont County Compensation Board met on December 27, 2016, and made the following salary recommendations for the following elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017:
 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fremont County Board of Supervisors adopts the salary recommendations for elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, as recommended by the Fremont County Compensation Board.

Approved this 14th day of March, 2017.

FREMONT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
 

RESOLUTION NO.  2017-21

RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION OF BUDGET AND CERTIFICATION OF TAXES:

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Fremont County Board of Supervisors this 14th day of March 2017, that the proposed budget for fiscal year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018, after one public hearing as required by law on March 14th, 2017, be adopted as proposed and published.  Property taxes levied will be as follows:  County wide levies; General Basic amount of $2,093,032 with a rate of 3.50000, General Supplemental amount of $1,259,084 with a rate of 2.10546; County Services Fund amount of $196,524 with a rate of .32863, County Debt Levy (LEC) $382,225 with a rate of .63254 with a countywide valuation without gas and electric of $582,839,318. Rural Services with a valuation without gas and electric of $473,261,467, for an amount of $1,561,763 at the rate of 3.30000.  Grand total dollars are $5,393,016.

Motion to approve by Graham, carried unanimously.
 

RESOLUTION NO.  2017-22

RESOLUTION FOR APPROPRIATIONS

WHEREAS, it is desired to make appropriations for each of the different officers and departments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 in accordance with Section 331.434, Subsection 6, Code of Iowa.

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Fremont County Board of Supervisors this 14th day of March 2017, the following:  SECTION 2: The amounts itemized by fund and department on the attached schedule are hereby appropriated from the resources/fund as shown.   SECTION 2: Subject to the provisions of other county procedures and regulations, and applicable state law, the appropriations authorized under Section 1 shall constitute an authorization for the department/officer listed to make expenditures or incur obligations from the itemized fund, effective July 1, 2017.  SECTION 3: In accordance with Section 331.437, Code of Iowa, no department/officer shall incur any liability in excess of the amount appropriated to this resolution.  SECTION 4: If, at any time during the 2017/2018 budget year the Auditor ascertains that the available resources of a fund will be less than said fund's total appropriations, he/she shall immediately inform the Board and recommend appropriate corrective action.  SECTION 5: The Auditor shall establish separate accounts for the appropriations authorized in Section 1.  The Auditor shall report the status of such accounts to the applicable departments/officers monthly during the 2017/2018 budget year.  SECTION 6: All appropriations authorized pursuant to this resolution lapse at the close of business on June 30, 2018.  The above and foregoing resolution was adopted by the Fremont County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 14th, 2017.

Motion to approve by Graham, carried unanimously.
 

In other business, claims were approved for March 17th, 2017. 

At 10:28 a.m., there being no further business, Hickey made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST: 

Fremont County Auditor                                                                                Earl Hendrickson, Chairman

March 21, 2017: 

The Fremont County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in the Fremont County Courthouse Boardroom, with Hendrickson, Hickey, and Graham present.  A quorum was declared and the meeting officially called to order at 9:00 a.m. Minutes of the previous board session were read and approved.  The agenda was approved as posted. 

Let the records show that Kristan Gray from the Valley News was present for this meeting. 

Motion was made by Hickey to sign Cost Advisory Services Certification of Cost Allocation Plan.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Fremont County Engineer, Dan Davis, met with the board for the approval of the following items:

Motion made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign a payment voucher with HGM Associates for engineering services on Project #STP-S-CO36(65) - - 5E-36 (J-18 from US 275 to L-68). Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign a payment voucher with HGM Associates for engineering services on Project #BROS-CO36(68) - -5F-36 bridge replacement J-22/150th Street bridge over Nishnabotna River. Motion carried unanimously. 

Motion made by Hickey to sign a temporary easement purchase agreement with CSL Iowa System, LLC on Project #STP-S-CO36(75) - - 5E-36. Motion carried unanimously. 

At 9:10 a.m., Nancy Henneman, Community Services, met with the board regarding the provider cost audit for year ending June 30, 2016. This is a yearly audit required by the state. Motion made by Hickey to allow Henneman to sign the request for the audit. Motion carried unanimously. 

At 9:15 a.m., let the records show that Pat Hume, John Whipple, and Sheryl Sanders, Arnold Emberton, IT, & Brenna Bird, County Attorney, joined the meeting. 

Supervisor Terry Graham discussed the prescription benefit that Fremont County receives free of charge for being a member of NACO (National Association of Counties). This benefit can be used by any Fremont County resident to offset prescription costs. NACO will provide a press release information and other materials to distribute to people. Motion made by Hickey to enroll in the NACO prescription plan. Motion carried unanimously. 

At 9:20 a.m., Sheriff Kevin Aistrope met with the board regarding the purchase of car and body cameras for the sheriff’s office. County Attorney Bird spoke briefly about the changing times and how lucrative it is to have camera footage for different situations. The car cameras are useful in situations like OWI cases, but in certain situations body cameras are necessary to help with criminal prosecutions and to protect the county in civil suits. They currently have 4 cameras and would need 5 more. Sheriff Aistrope would like to use room and board money that has been collected for the purchase. That money is split into two categories per state guidelines. Sixty percent of that money must be used for infrastructure improvements of a jail or juvenile detention center, and/or courthouse security and law enforcement personnel costs. The other forty percent may be used when the sheriff and the board of supervisors develop a plan for the use of funds. In this case, the sheriff would like to use the forty percent towards the purchase of the five cameras needed. The cost would be around $48,000. Graham made a motion to allow Sheriff Aistrope to develop a plan to purchase the cameras using those funds. Motion carried unanimously. 

Sheriff Aistrope also discussed with the board the contract with Accurate Controls. There are several different options to choose from. The board will review those options provided and act on the contract later. 

The board reviewed a resolution prepared by the county attorney regarding the tourism board. This resolution is intended to show the role of the tourism board and to set up a regular schedule for terms. The board had no changes to the resolution and will act on this item next week. 

Let the records show that no one from the City of Thurman attended the meeting regarding the agenda item for county held tax sale certificate #2012-00329. 

At 9:41 a.m., members of the Fremont County Welcome Center Board, Pat Shull, Sheryl Sanders, Pat Hume, and John Whipple met with the board in response to an article in the paper last week that included the welcome center. They wanted to brief the board on information about the welcome center. They currently have about 80 volunteers. They presented numbers from the past 4 years. In 2013, when the center was only open from July through December (due to issues from the flood) they had 6,075 visitors. In 2014, they had 14,010 visitors. In 2015, they had 12,615 visitors and in 2016 they had 12,259 visitors. They continue to be one of the busiest welcome centers in the state with visitors from all over the world. They discussed signage being mandated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the DOT. They discussed the operation of the gift shop which is managed by Pat Hume who has completed training to become a certified Tourism Counselor. The board thanked them for the update. 

In other business, claims were approved for March 24, 2017. 

At 10:02 a.m., there being no further business, Hickey made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST: 

Fremont County Auditor                                                                                Earl Hendrickson, Chairman

March 28, 2017:

The Fremont County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in the Fremont County Courthouse Boardroom, with Hendrickson, Hickey, and Graham present.  A quorum was declared and the meeting officially called to order at 9:00 a.m. Minutes of the previous board session were read and approved.  Hickey moved to amend the agenda to include the public hearing for 9:00 a.m. regarding the road vacation. The public hearing was approved in Resolution 2017-19. Motion carried unanimously. 

Let the records show that Kristan Gray from the Valley News, Treasurer Judy Crain, Engineer Dan Davis, Sanitarian John Travis, Erin and Shannon Smith, Jan Zach, and Curt Boyd were present for this meeting. 

At 9:01 a.m., Hickey made the motion to go into public hearing regarding the road vacation of 280th Avenue. Motion carried unanimously. At 9:03 a.m., there being no public input, Hickey moved to go out of public hearing. Motion carried unanimously. The resolution to vacate the road will be on as an action item next week. 

At 9:04 a.m., Hickey made a motion to approve the Tourism Board Resolution that was discussed in the previous meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO.  2017-23

WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 423A provides for a local hotel and motel tax.

WHEREAS, the funds received from the State for the local hotel and motel tax are provided to the County.

WHEREAS, it the intention of the Fremont County Board of Supervisors, through this resolution, to utilize an advisory Tourism Board to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for how this money should be allocated.

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Fremont County Board of Supervisors this 28th day of March, 2017, that an advisory Fremont County Tourism Board shall be created.  It shall exist until terminated by the Board of Supervisors.  The Fremont County Tourism Board shall be subject to the following:

1.             Members: It shall have five members. Four members will have four year terms with one term expiring each year.  The fifth member shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors and shall be appointed by
                the Board of Supervisors annually.  Members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors. Terms are from July 1 until June 30.  Members are eligible for reappointment.
2.             Compensation: Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement.
3.             Open Meetings and Open Records: The Board shall be subject to Open Meetings and Open Records laws, as well as other applicable laws.
4.             Year: The Board’s year shall be from July 1 until June 30. 
5.             Duties: The Board shall take applications for funds and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for allocation.
6.             Conflict of Interest: If any member has a conflict of interest, he shall inform the Board and recuse himself from all discussion and voting related to the matter.  The Board shall inform the Board of Supervisors
                of the conflict of interest at the time they make their recommendations for allocations to the Board of Supervisors.
7.             The Board of Supervisors shall designate one member as Chair. 
8.             The Board shall designate one of its members as Secretary.
9.             Initial terms shall be as follows:
                             

Motion to approve made by Hickey.
 

John Travis, Sanitarian, met with the board to inform them that he was resigning his duties effective March 23rd, The board thanked him for his service.  

Jan Zach and Curt Boyd of Mule Slough Drainage District met with the board regarding progress of the merger. They informed the board that they had turned in the paperwork to begin merger. Dee Owen, Auditor, advised the board that her office received the notice from Attorney Jim Hudson yesterday. She finished preparing the notice and sent it to the paper. Her staff mailed out over one hundred letters to the landowners of the district. The landowners have a period before the meeting to object to the merger. Attorney Jim Hudson and Engineer Don Etler will be present for the hearing at the Percival Fire Station at 4:00 p.m. on April 19, 2017, to answer questions from the public. Treasurer Judy Crain informed the district and the board that engineering firm Bolton & Menk will be holding their stamped warrants & may possibly sell them at later date. 

Engineer Dan Davis met with the board regarding a possible new hire for the assistant engineer position. The engineer and board discussed a salary range for recruiting and hiring an engineer’s assistant and that the engineer would have some discretion regarding salary based on the applicants’ experience and qualifications. 

Motion by Hickey to allow Chairman Hendrickson to sign contract with McClure Engineering for construction phase services on Plum Creek Box Project #BROS-CO36(74) - - 60-36. Motion carried unanimously. 

The Sheriff’s Monthly Report was approved for February. 

In other business, claims were approved for March 31, 2017. 

At 9:39 a.m., there being no further business, Hickey made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST:

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