Minutes - 1/2/2024 - *9:00 a.m. start time*

JANUARY 2, 2024, FIRST MEETING OF THE WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 

The Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.  Board members present were Nelson, Ung, Bittinger II, Radig, and Taylor.  Staff members present were Karen James, Board Administrative Assistant, Dennis Butler, Finance and Budget Director, Joshua Widman, Assistant County Attorney,  and Michelle Skaff, Deputy Auditor/Clerk to the Board.

The regular meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Moment of Silence.

Motion by Taylor second by Radig to appoint Ung as Temporary Chair to preside over Election of Chairperson.  Carried 5-0.

Ung was nominated by Bittinger as Chairperson for the 2024 session.

Motion by Ung second by Nelson to close the nominations. Carried 5-0.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to appoint Ung as Chairperson for the 2024 session.  Carried 5-0 on roll call vote.

Bittinger was nominated by Nelson for Vice-Chairperson for the 2024 session.

Motion by Ung second by Nelson to close the nominations. Carried 5-0.

Motion by Nelson second by Taylor to appoint Bittinger as Vice-Chairperson.  Carried 5-0 on roll call vote.

Motion by Ung second by Taylor to approve the agenda for January 2, 2024.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Ung second by Taylor to approve the following items by consent:

To approve minutes of the December 19, 2023 meeting.  Copy filed.  

To approve minutes of the December 15, 2023 Special Legislative Roundtable meeting.  Copy filed.

To approve the claims totaling $978,205.25.  Copy filed.

To approve the existing rules for public participation in board meeting.  

To approve the appointment of Maria Reyes, Custodian, Building Services Dept., effective 1-08-24, $16.79/hour. Job Vacancy Posted 8-16-23.  Entry Level Salary:  $16.79/hour.; and the promotion of Isaac Martindale, District Foreman, Secondary Roads Dept., effective 01-08-24, $3,056.66/bi-weekly.  Promotion from Motor Grader Operator to District Foreman. Copy filed.

To approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign the Authorization to initiate the hiring process for Motor Grader Operator, Secondary Roads Dept.  CWA:  $26.93/hour.  Copy filed.

To approve the deauthorization of Director, Community and Economic Development Dept.   Copy filed.

To approve the casualty policy with Princeton Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Company.  Copy filed.

To approve the appointment of County Engineer, Mark Nahra.

To approve the appointment of County Medical Examiner, Dr. Julie Breiner.

To approve the appointment of Jered Jepsen as Weed Commissioner.

To approve The Sioux City Journal, The Sergeant Bluff Advocate, and The Moville Record as the County’s official newspapers.  Copy filed.

To approve the appointment of Cindy Bennett, 2501 Apache Dr., Sioux City, to the Conservation Board.  Copy filed.

To approve the appointment of Judy Turner, 1511 Carlin Ave., Sioux City, to the Siouxland District Health Board.  Copy filed.

To approve the appointment of Leo Jochum, 1691 250th, Salix, Blake Flewelling, 7462 Correctionville Rd., Sioux City, Dennis Reyman, 1823 Safford Ave., Correctionville, Julie Hamann, 4424 230th Ave., Correctionville, Tony Ashley, 3356 170th, Correctionville, Bradley Hopp, 2475 Hwy 20, Lawton, and Eric Nelson, 1514 Jasper Ave., Moville, to the Commission of Assess Damages Category A – Owner/operators of Agricultural Property; Bob Batcheller, PO Box 3311, Sioux City, Ruth A. Groth, 305 North Cauley Ave., Anthon, Robert Stewart, 4101 Country Club, Sioux City, Melissa Tjeerdsma, 1090 Pachsama Ct., Sioux City, and Cheryl Reynolds, 2207 Hanford St., Sioux City to the Commission to Assess Damages Category B – Owners of City Property; Colleen R. Baker, 3422 Jackson St., Sioux City, Tori Jackson, 4601 S. Ridge Rd., Sioux City, Rachel Raak Law, 1407 Megan’s Way, Correctionville, Jason Geary, 3316 5th Ave., Sioux City, Joe Krage, 4313 Lincoln Way, Sioux City, and Eric Hoak, 6808 Cypress Point, Sioux City, to the Commission to Assess Damages Category c – Licensed Real Estate Salesman or Real Estate Broker; and Patrick Curry, 502 Huntington Court, Sgt. Bluff, Linda Mathison, 5008 Ravine Park Lane, Sioux City, Doug Lehman, PO Box 1381, Sioux City, Barbara Sloniker, 1336 Buchanan Ave., Sioux City, Doyle Turner, 2738 200th St., Moville, and Donald Eggerling, 3 Rose Lane, Sioux City, to the Commission of Assess Damages Category D – Persons Having Knowledge of Property Values in the County by Reason of their Occupation.  Copy filed.

To receive the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.  Copy filed.

To approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution authorizing the County Engineer to close any Secondary Roads for the purpose of construction, maintenance, or emergencies during 2024.

RESOLUTION #13,688
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO CLOSE ANY
SECONDARY ROAD FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION, ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE, OR EMERGENCIES DURING 2024

WHEREAS, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors is concerned about traffic safety involved during construction and maintenance work or during natural or traffic emergencies on the secondary road system, and 

WHEREAS, they are further interested in making appropriate traffic accommodations for the traveling public, adjacent landowners and related users during construction and maintenance operations, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors under section 306.41 of the Code of Iowa can delegate the authority to temporarily closure of roads to the County Engineer, 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors give Mark J. Nahra, Woodbury County Engineer the authority to temporarily close sections of highway in Woodbury County’s Road system when necessary because of construction, maintenance, emergencies, or natural disaster. 

DATED this 2nd day of January 2024.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

To approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution authorizing the County Engineer to execute Certification of Completion of Work on Federal Aid, State Aid, and Farm to Market Construction during 2024

RESOLUTION #13,689
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO EXECUTE
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION OF WORK ON FEDERAL AID, STATE AID, AND
FARM TO MARKET CONSTRUCTION DURING 2024

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, Iowa, that Mark J. Nahra, the County Engineer of Woodbury County, Iowa, be and is hereby designated, authorized, and empowered on behalf of the Board of Supervisors of said County to execute the certification of completion of work and final acceptance thereof in accordance with plans and specifications in connection with all Farm-to-Market and federal or state aid construction projects in this county.

Dated at Sioux City, Iowa, this 2nd day of January 2024.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

Carried 5-0.  

Motion by Radig second by Ung to approve the permit to work in the right of way for the City of Sergeant Bluff.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Ung second by Radig to approve amending The Baker Group agreement from $10,000 up to $15,000 for assisting in ARPA funding requirements.  Carried 4-1, Taylor opposed.  Copy filed.

Applicants Daniel Hair and Jeff Hanson introduced themselves to the board.

Motion by Taylor second by Ung to approve the appointment of Daniel Hair to the Board of Adjustment for a new five-year term (2024 to 2028).  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Applicants Jeff Hanson, Dave McWIlliams, and Jeff O’Tool introduced themselves to the board.

Motion by Radig second by Bittinger to approve the appointment of Jeff Hanson to the Zoning Commission for a new five-year term (2024 to 2028).  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Radig second by Ung to approve the Construction Evaluation Resolution relating to Construction Permits for Large Animal Confinement Operations. Carried 5-0.

RESOLUTION #13,690
CONSTRUCTION EVALUATION RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Iowa Code section 459.304(3) sets out the procedure if a board of supervisors wishes to adopt a "construction evaluation resolution" relating to the construction of a confinement feeding operation structure; and

WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution can submit to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) an adopted recommendation to approve or disapprove a construction permit application regarding a proposed confinement feeding operation structure; and
WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution and submitted an adopted recommendation may contest the DNR's decision regarding a specific application; and

WHEREAS, by adopting a construction evaluation resolution the board of supervisors agrees to evaluate eve1y construction permit application for a proposed confinement feeding operation structure received by the board of supervisors between February l, 2024 and January 31 2025 and submit an adopted recommendation regarding that application to the DNR; and

WHEREAS, the board of supervisors must conduct an evaluation of every construction permit application using the master matrix created in Iowa Code section 459.305 but the board's recommendation to the DNR may be based on the final score on the master matrix or may be based on reasons other than the final score on the master matrix·

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WOODBURY COUNTY that the Board of Supervisors hereby adopts this construction evaluation resolution pursuant to Iowa Code section 459.304(3).

DATED this 2nd day of January 2024.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

Information regarding Veteran’s ability to record DD214s was given by Jeremy Taylor, Board of Supervisors.  Copy filed.

Reports on committee meetings were heard.

There were no citizen concerns.   

Board concerns were heard.

State of Budget was presented by Dennis Butler.  Copy filed.

Radig exited the meeting at 10:00am.

Motion by Taylor second by Ung to receive the General Relief Administration budget as submitted.  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Taylor second by Bittinger to receive the General Relief Assistance budget with edits to reduce the budget by $1,500.00 (moving $6,500.00 from utilities to rent and budget a total of $,2000.00 for utilities) .  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Bittinger second by Taylor to reduce the County Library budget county allocation by $93,608.00.  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Ung second by Bittinger to receive the Department of Human Services budget as submitted.  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Ung second by Bittinger to receive the Civil Service budget as submitted.  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Taylor second by Ung to receive the Veteran Affairs Administration budget with edits to reduce the budget by $15,600.00 (reductions are $600.00 in telephone expense, $10,000.00 in machinery and equipment, and $5,000.00 in repairs and equipment).  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Taylor second by Ung to receive the Veteran Affairs IDVA Grant budget as submitted.  Carried 4-0.

Motion by Ung second by Bittinger to receive the Veteran Affairs Assistance budget with edits to reduce by $7,200 (reductions are $5,100.00 in rent assistance, $1,000.00 in food assistance, and $1,100.00 in utility assistance).  Carried 4-0.

The Board adjourned the regular meeting until January 9, 2024.
    
Meeting sign in sheet.  Copy filed.