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Muscatine County Board of Supervisors

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with

Furlong, Shoultz, Dean, Kelly and Watkins present. Chairperson Dean presiding.

On a motion by Shoultz, second by Kelly, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:

All.

Discussion was held regarding an application for an Iowa Department of Natural

Resources Native Prairie, Wetland, or Wildlife Habitat property tax exemption for

approximately 20 acres owned by Darin and Salem Osland. County Assessor Dale

McCrea confirmed that the property is classified as residential making it ineligible for the

property tax exemption which only applies to agricultural property. On a motion by

Furlong, second by Watkins, the Board disallowed the IDNR Native Prairie, Wetland, or

Wildlife Habitat certification for 20 acres located in the NW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section

22, Township 77N, Range 2W in Bloomington Township and owned by Darin and Salem

Osland as recommended by the County Assessor. Ayes: All.

MAGIC Coordinator Mark Warren discussed the proposed FY10-11 MAGIC budget

stating that the final prices for the aerials are $144,760 which is less than the $277,000

originally estimated resulting in the lowest contribution by the partners in six years.

Warren stated that MP&W had already approved the budget. Watkins stated that he

cannot vote in favor of the budget because of the budgeted 3.5% wage increase. Warren

stated that the final increase is decided by the MAGIC Board and was lowered this year

to 3%. Furlong stated that he also has salary concerns, but that he feels the rest of the

budget is good. Kelly stated that she is in favor of approving the budget and relying on

the MAGIC Board to make a decision on the wage increase. Shoultz stated that he will

probably vote against this for the same reason that our employees were told no increases,

but he supports what Warren has been doing. A motion was made by Kelly, seconded by

Shoultz, to approve the FY10-11 MAGIC budget. Ayes: Kelly and Dean. Nays: Watkins,

Furlong and Shoultz. Motion failed.

On a motion by Watkins, second by Furlong, the Board approved Resolution #03-01-10-

01 Amending the Muscatine Federal Functional Classification. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Furlong, second by Shoultz, the Board approved Resolution #03-01-10-

02 Designating Evans Avenue from US Highway 6 to the Cedar County Line as

Muscatine County Highway F56. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White regarding the status of Stimulus

2 projects. White stated that he submitted the Moscow Road Overlay Project from Hwy

6 to the County line, but that the Stimulus 2 funding has not been made available yet, so

he changed it back to a Farm-to-Market project. White stated that it is still a possibility

that Stimulus 2 funding could be awarded in time for the Moscow Road Project, but if not

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Monday, March 1, 2010

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then the stimulus money could be used on the Taylor Avenue Project. The Board agreed

by consensus.

Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White regarding the status of FEMA

alternate project requests. White stated that he has received word that FEMA has

approved the alternate request of the New Era Road Project backed up by the authority to

purchase equipment.

Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White regarding the status of the Weed

Park to Wildcat Den trail project. White stated that cost estimates show they will be

short on funds to complete this project, but that the City and County could request

$70,000 of unspent Region 9 Enhancement Funds for the Muscatine River Trail – New

Era Road, Hwy 22 to Weed Park Trail Project (M-10-05 #14). White stated that the best

outcome would be to finish this project. Board consensus was to return with a letter for

Board approval at a future meeting.

Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White regarding drainage concerns of

Leslie “Joe” Everett, 21227 County Road G62, Winfield, IA in Orono and Pike

Townships along the Cedar River. White stated that he and Watkins met with Everett

regarding his concerns. Everett presented a letter to the Board that he is sending out to

area farmers which stated that the flooding problem can be solved by opening a channel

along Highway 70 South of Conesville to the County road deep enough to divert 10

million gallons of water a day which would lower the water table alleviating flooding on

six square miles of farmland. White stated that the east side of Hwy 70 is virtually flat

and there is not a lot of road right of way and not a lot they can do to clean the ditch to

make the water flow west. White stated that the landowners probably need to form a

drainage district if they want to try to make a ditch large enough to force the water west.

Furlong stated that the Board of Supervisors is responsible for road drainage not private

drainage. Shoultz stated that his understanding is that we would be doing this to drain

private fields rather than maintaining secondary roads and he feels that the landowners

need to form a district and he would support forming that district. Dean suggested that

Everett talk to the farmers in that area about forming a drainage district.

Kelly stated that Russ Alderin contacted her requesting an identifier coming off of new

Hwy 61 onto old Hwy 61 South of Muscatine as a dozen people live there and giving

directions is confusing. White stated that there are no identifiers on the other end by

Ripley’s and Casey’s either and he will look into it.

On a motion by Furlong, second by Shoultz, the Board approved Reserve Officer Gary

Rhonzeimer’s Application to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council to be

Certified to Carry Weapons. Ayes: All.

Sheriff Dave White stated that fire alarm wiring was not where it was supposed to be

according to the drawings from the original construction of the Jail and were cut when

micropilings were drilled incurring a cost of $500. The Board advised White to include

the cost as part of the project. White stated that they are running into many areas where a

Muscatine County Board of Supervisors

Monday, March 1, 2010

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small hole in a ceiling reveals that pipe and wiring are not where they are supposed to be

and that Project Manager Stu Willits is prepping some of these areas to keep the costs

down, but that the Board will be seeing some change orders due to these issues.

On a motion by Shoultz, second by Furlong, the Board approved a renewal application

for a Class B Beer License, Sunday Sales Privilege and Outdoor Service Permit for the

City of Muscatine, dba Muscatine Municipal Golf Course, 1820 Hwy 38, Muscatine, IA.

Ayes: All.

On a motion by Watkins, second by Kelly, minutes of the Monday, February 22, 2010

regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.

Correspondence:

Watkins received calls regarding property tax issues.

Kelly received a call from Russ Alderin requesting an identifier on roads leading

to his property.

Dean and Shoultz received calls about snowmobiles ruining a driveway.

Furlong received a call regarding the building permit process.

Committee Reports:

Kelly attended a Bi-State Drug & Alcohol Consortium February 23

Dean attended a Bi-State Regional meeting February 24

Shoultz attended an E911/Emergency Management Board meeting February 23

Furlong attended a RC&D Revolving Loan Fund meeting February 26

Dean, Kelly and Watkins attended a Leadership Muscatine Retail Seminar on February

Discussion was held regarding an agreement with American Legion Post 27 for repair

and replacement of the Civil War Memorial Monument at the Muscatine County

Courthouse. Civil War Memorial Committee representative Lee Miller stated that

Muscatine Power & Water is donating a lift truck for them to remove the soldier this

week and requested that the Board allow the removal of the soldier prior to him providing

a plan per the agreement being considered by the Board and that he will provide the

Board with a plan next week. Administrative Services Director Eric Furnas stated that he

authored the contract which has been reviewed by Jeff Miller, Miller and Harrison, and

Assistant County Attorney Dana Christiansen. Board consensus is that they did not have

a problem with removal of the soldier prior to the plan being provided to the Board. On a

motion by Watkins, second by Kelly, the Chairperson was authorized to sign an

agreement with American Legion Post 27 for repair and replacement of the Civil War

Memorial Monument at the Muscatine County Courthouse. Ayes: All.

Administrative Services Director Eric Furnas stated he received notice that a state energy

efficiency grant from the Office of Energy Independence that he applied for last summer

was approved in the amount of $187,655 to assist with our geothermal project. Furnas

stated that a $184,700 federal energy grant is tied up in review due to concerns with

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Monday, March 1, 2010

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geothermal fields and heat pump technology and it has been suggested that he rewrite a

portion of the grant to request assistance in paying for internal components of the project

rather than mentioning the field. Board consensus was to make the adjustment.

The meeting adjourned at 10:42 A.M.

ATTEST:

______________________________

Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor

Esther J. Dean, Chairperson

Board of Supervisors