Minutes - 3/25/2025

MARCH 25, 2025, THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS  

The Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.  Board members present were Ung, Carper, Dietrich, Nelson, and Bittinger II. Staff members present were Joshua Widman, Assistant County Attorney, Karen James, Board Administrative Assistant, Melissa Thomas, Human Resources Director, Ryan Ericson, Budget and Finance Director, and Michelle Skaff, Auditor/Clerk to the Board. 

Motion by Nelson second by Bittinger to go into closed session per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c).  Carried 5-0 on roll-call vote.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to go out of closed session per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c).  Carried 5-0 on roll-call vote.

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

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to approve the agenda for March 25, 2025. Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to approve the following items by consent:

To approve minutes of the March 18, 2025 meeting.  Copy filed.
        
To approve the claims totaling $516,668.48. Copy filed.

To approve the transfer of Lisa Stewart, Finance Clerk III, County Auditor Dept., effective 04-07-2025, $26.34/hour, 7%=$1.67/hr.  Transfer from Treasurer Clerk II to Auditor Clerk III.; and the appointment of Cole Thomas, Summer Laborer - Temp, Secondary Roads Dept., effective 05-05-2025, $19.00/hour.  Job Vacancy Posted on 2/12/2025.  Entry Level Salary:  $19.00/hour.  Copy filed.

To approve the Woodbury County Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting Policy.  Copy filed.

To receive the appointment of Victoria Eliason as Sloan Township clerk.  Copy filed.

To approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution setting the public hearing and sale date for parcel #894730282003, 1814 W. 4th St.

WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA
RESOLUTION #13,870
NOTICE OF PROPERTY SALE

WHEREAS Woodbury County, Iowa was the owner under a tax deed of a certain parcel of real estate described as:

Lot Five (5) Block Thirteen (13) of Hornicks Addition to Sioux City in the County of Woodbury and State of Iowa 
(1814 W. 4th Street)

NOW THEREFORE, 
 
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, Iowa as follows:

1.   That a public hearing on the aforesaid proposal shall be held on
The 8th Day of April, 2025 at 4:35 o’clock p.m. in the basement of the   
Woodbury County Courthouse. 
      
2.   That said Board proposes to sell the said parcel of real estate at a
public auction to be held on the 8th Day of April, 2025, immediately
following the closing of the public hearing.
      
3. That said Board proposes to sell the said real estate to the highest
bidder at or above a total minimum bid of $1,154.00 plus recording fees. 
      
4.  That this resolution, preceded by the caption "Notice of Property Sale"
and except for this subparagraph 4 be published as notice of the
aforesaid proposal, hearing and sale. 

Dated this 25th Day of March, 2025.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

To set public hearing for Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 4:35 p.m. for the Crittenton Community Development Block Grant application.  Copy filed.

Carried 5-0.

Motion by Bittinger second by Carper to approve $280,000 in FY2026 CIP dollars to be expensed by WCICC-IT.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

A public hearing was held at 4:35 p.m. for the sale of parcel #894721355016, 410 18th St.  The Chairperson called on anyone wishing to be heard.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to close the public hearing.  Carried 5-0.

Motion by Bittinger second by Dietrich to approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution for the sale of parcel #894721355016, 410 18th St., to James Davidson Brady and Amber Brady, 1722 Douglas St., Sioux City, for $20.00 plus recording fees.  Carried 5-0.

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA
RESOLUTION #13,871

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, Iowa, that the offer at public auction of:

By      James Davidson Brady & Amber Brady   in the sum of  Twenty dollars and 00/100 ($20.00)------------------------ ------------------------------dollars.

For the following described real estate, To Wit:

Parcel #894721355016
East 54 Feet Lot One (1), East 54 Feet North One (1) Foot, Lot Two (2) Block Seven (7) of Rose Hill Addition, City of Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa 
(410 18th Street)

Now and included in and forming a part of the City of Sioux City, Iowa, the same is hereby accepted: said
Amount being a sum LESS than the amount of the general taxes, interests, costs and penalties against the said Real Estate.

BE IT RESOLVED that payment is due by close of business on the day of passage of this resolution or this sale is null and void and this resolution shall be rescinded.

BE IT RESOLVED that per Code of Iowa Section 569.8(3 & 4), a parcel the County holds by tax deed shall not be assessed or taxed until transferred and upon transfer of a parcel so acquired gives the purchaser free title as to previously levied or set taxes.  Therefore, the County Treasurer is requested to abate any taxes previously levied or set on this parcel(s).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairman of this Board be and he is hereby authorized to execute a Quit Claim Deed for the said premises to the said purchaser.

SO DATED this 25th Day of March, 2025.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

A public hearing was held at 4:37 p.m. for the sale of parcel #894726105001, 2910 13th St.  The Chairperson called on anyone wishing to be heard.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to close the public hearing. Carried 5-0.

Motion by Bittinger second by Carper to approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution for the sale of parcel #894726105001, 2910 13th St., to Dayton Bahmer and Tristen Heimgartner, 3123 McDonald St., Sioux City, for $25,000.00 plus recording fees.  Carried 5-0.

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA
RESOLUTION #13,872

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, Iowa, that the offer at public auction of:

By     Daytona Bahmer & Tristen Heimgartner                                         in the sum of        Twenty-Five Thousand dollars and 00/100 ($25,000.00)------------------------------------------------------dollars.

For the following described real estate, To Wit:

Parcel #894726105001
Lots Seven (7) through Twelve (12), both inclusive, in Block Nine (9) of Booge and Taylor’s Addition to Sioux City in the County of Woodbury and State of Iowa 
(2910 13th Street)

Now and included in and forming a part of the City of Sioux City, Iowa, the same is hereby accepted: said
Amount being a sum LESS than the amount of the general taxes, interests, costs and penalties against the said Real Estate.

BE IT RESOLVED that payment is due by close of business on the day of passage of this resolution or this sale is null and void and this resolution shall be rescinded.

BE IT RESOLVED that per Code of Iowa Section 569.8(3 & 4), a parcel the County holds by tax deed shall not be assessed or taxed until transferred and upon transfer of a parcel so acquired gives the purchaser free title as to previously levied or set taxes.  Therefore, the County Treasurer is requested to abate any taxes previously levied or set on this parcel(s).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairman of this Board be and he is hereby authorized to execute a Quit Claim Deed for the said premises to the said purchaser.

SO DATED this 25th Day of March, 2025.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to approve the CMBA contract in the amount of $15,000.00 for the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center structural project.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to approve Concrete Raising Service quote dated 3/19/25 in the amount of $48,000.00, General Contractor work $8,250.00, and project contingency of $12,000.00 for a total amount of $68,250.00.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

Motion by Bittinger second by Nelson to approve revised Policy and Procedure Memorandum #9 Dust Control Policy.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.

The board discussed a hiring freeze for unfilled positions. Copy filed.

Treasurer Tina Bertrand, County Attorney James Loomis, Sioux City Police Captain Ryan Betrand, Conservation Director Dan Heissel, Sioux City Police Sergeant John Sanders, Building Services Director Kenny Schmitz, Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan, and Doyle Turner, Moville, addressed the board regarding concerns about a hiring freeze. 

Motion by Bittinger second by Dietrich to table the FY26 funding request from the Siouxland Initiative (TDI) to be paid from L.O.S.T. funds for FY26.  Carried 5-0.  Copy filed.  

The board conducted a miscellaneous review of the budget.

Reports on committee meetings were heard.

There were no citizen concerns.

Board Concerns were heard.

The Board adjourned the regular meeting until April 1, 2025.

Meeting sign in sheet.  Copy filed.