Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, January 23, 2012 – Special Session
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 9:00 A.M. with
Furlong, Howard, Kelly, Watkins and Sorensen present. Chairperson Kelly presiding.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Furlong, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Howard, claims dated January 23, 2012 were
approved in the amount of $275,920.91. Ayes: All.
Veteran Affairs Administrator Sara Creamer reviewed the FY12/13 budget request for
Veterans Affairs stating that the Van is being utilized 4-5 days a week, increasing in the
last few months. Creamer stated that Veterans are very appreciative of this service and
they could use more volunteer drivers. Creamer stated she is currently servicing 40-45
ongoing veterans and 25 new veterans. Creamer explained that the $10,000 State Grant
has to be used for office expenditures, new equipment, training and outreach. Watkins
asked Creamer to pass on to the drivers, appreciation for their service.
Community Services Director Mike Johannsen reviewed the FY12/13 budget request for
General Assistance stating he is presenting a status quo budget. Johannsen stated that
Muscatine County helps both poor and needy below 100% of the poverty line. Johannsen
stated that the County has partnered with the food pantry for food and the MCSA Shelter
Program for shelter in an effort to help both the poor and needy. Johannsen stated that
the Y-Family Program is unique in that it helps steer people in other directions for help
away from County services. Howard asked if the funding went away for the Y-Family
Program, what would happen. Johannsen stated that the question has to do with what is
the right balance and what is in the best interest of the poor people in Muscatine County
and he thinks the balance is good and the County is getting a lot of service for its
investment. Johannsen stated that the Y-Family program gets people away from welfare
and steers them towards standing on their own. Watkins asked if programs should
consolidate to eliminate some of the administrative costs. Kelly stated she does not think
there is a lot of duplication because each group is serving a different clientele. Kelly
stated that the Y-Family Program is providing a lot of service for the small amount of
funding they are getting from the County. Sorensen stated he would like to know how
many clients are referred to the Y-Family Program.
Community Services Director Mike Johannsen reviewed FY12/13 budget requests for
Mental Health stating that he is presenting a status quo budget even though current
legislation sunsets them on July 1, 2013. Johannsen stated the Governor’s proposal would
allow Muscatine County to keep the property taxes, case management reimbursement,
consumer payments, trust fees and some miscellaneous revenue. Johannsen stated he
believes Muscatine County will be able to make it through this fiscal year and next.
Johannsen stated that his area of concern moving forward is that if there is a move
towards regionalization, what will Muscatine County be able to keep. Watkins suggested
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, January 23, 2012 – Special Session
Page 2
Johannsen draft a letter for Board signature to the Legislators suggesting no
regionalization and development of an accreditation program that can hold counties
accountable. Watkins stated he has no problem with allowing Counties who want to
regionalize voluntarily. Board consensus was for Mike to develop the letter for the Board
to approve at a future meeting.
The Board recessed at 10:30 A.M. and reconvened at 10:40 A.M.
The Board held ongoing discussion of the proposed FY12/13 Muscatine County Budget.
Budget Coordinator Sherry Seright provided fund summaries and levy information based
on departmental requests. Seright stated borrowing 3.5 million over 10 years at 3.5%
would still lower the Debt Service levy by 16 cents. Seright also estimated a reduction of
6 cents to restore the General Basic levy back to $3.50 per thousand and a reduction to
the Mental Health levy of 8 cents. Seright stated the total reduction to the County levy
would be 30 cents per thousand. Seright stated that the reduction to the Debt Service
levy includes borrowing 3.5 million a cost of approximately 24 cents per thousand.
Furlong stated he would like to know how much of the increase of valuation is due to the
retirement of the SSAB TIF and he might consider reducing the Rural Services levy.
Kelly stated she feels the funding is needed for the roads and bridges and does not want
to reduce the rate. Sorensen stated he would support giving more to Secondary Roads.
County Assessor Dale McCrea stated that the increase in valuation for SSAB is about
$76,000,000 which accounts for most of the increase in valuation. Furlong stated he is
much more comfortable leaving the levy rate for Rural Services as is since most of the
increase is due to SSAB and new construction. Furlong suggested increasing funding to
Secondary Roads to increase the brush cleaning effort.
Kelly stated she is in favor of hiring the collections person and the victim coordinator, but
not the additional attorney in the Attorney’s Office.
Watkins wants to discuss staffing issues sooner than the 31
st
. Furlong left at 11:35 A.M.
Board consensus was to discuss staffing tomorrow, along with capital projects.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:39 A.M.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
_______________________________
Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor
Jeff Sorensen, Vice-Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, January 23, 2012 – Regular Session
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. with
Furlong, Howard, Kelly, Watkins and Sorensen present. Chairperson Kelly presiding.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Watkins, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert presented bids for replacement of the floor at
Optimae as follows: Noble Construction - $21,945.50 with a unit price of $92 a piece for
“sistering” 2 X 12 floor joists; and North Construction - $22,000.00 with a unit price of
$365 a piece for “sistering” 2 X 12 floor joists. On a motion by Watkins, second by
Howard, the Board accepted a bid for replacement of the floor at Optimae from Noble
Construction subject to review by Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sorensen, minutes of the Monday, January 16, 2012
regular meeting and Tuesday, January 17, 2012 special meeting were approved as
written. Ayes: All.
Correspondence:
Notice of a public hearing February 13
th
at 7:00 P.M. for a proposed annexation in
the City of Wilton.
Howard received an email and phone call regarding the handling of budgets,
levies and County unions. Howard stated that over the past 17 years
previous Boards have done well at controlling the budget as evidenced by
relatively stable levy rates over that period.
Howard received a phone call from a Paul Ryder, a slag vendor from Indiana.
Kelly received a phone call reporting junk vehicles at 1936 Jewett Avenue.
Howard and Sorensen received a call eliciting support through County funding for
the Muscatine County Fair Board.
Committee Reports:
Sorensen attended a Wilton Development Corporation meeting January 18
th
.
Watkins attended a Riverbend Transit meeting January 18
th
.
Watkins and Furlong attended a MUSCOM meeting January 19
th
.
Furlong attended a West Liberty Economic Area Development meeting January
19
th
.
Furlong attended a Muscatine County Fair Board meeting January 19
th
.
Howard attended a Muscatine County Conservation Board meeting January 16
th
.
Watkins stated that he read about a yellow dot program which is in operation in Illinois
and Scott County that informs emergency personnel that a person has medical
information stored in their glove box.
The Board reviewed the health/dental fund balance as of December 31, 2011.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, January 23, 2012 – Regular Meeting
Page 2
The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 P.M.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
______________________________
Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor
Jeff Sorensen, Vice-Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 9:00 A.M. with
Furlong, Howard, Kelly, Watkins and Sorensen present. Chairperson Kelly presiding.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Furlong, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
The Board reviewed the FY12/13 MUSCOM budget with MUSCOM Manager Lorrie
Lacina. Lacina stated that the budget was approved by her Board last night. Furlong
stated they are reducing carryover by $25,000 to keep the budget down, but that Lacina
does a good job of staying within her budget so there may be funds left at the end of
FY11/12 to cover the $25,000 proposed reduction to reserves. Lacina stated she has
added Lead Shift Supervisors who are paid a 50 cent per hour premium.
The Board held ongoing discussion of the proposed FY12/13 Muscatine County Budget.
Discussion was held regarding County staffing with Howard stating he feels staffing has
not kept pace with technology and the Board should look at a reduction. Howard stated
that the County Treasurer talked about taking over driver license issuance from the State
without adjusting his staff which looks like he is currently overstaffed. Howard stated he
feels the Board needs to also look at the Recorder, Auditor, Administration and Assessor.
Furlong stated this was brought up two years ago and he agrees that the Board should
look at this again. Watkins and Sorensen stated that they agree. Kelly stated that
personnel are still needed to operate the technology. Administrative Services Director
Nancy Schreiber was directed to ask department heads from the Auditor, Recorder,
Treasurer and Administration to meet with the Board next Tuesday to discuss staff levels
in those offices. Schreiber was directed to request that the Assessor add staffing level
discussion to their Conference Board agenda. Schreiber was directed to also add
severance package discussion to the agenda.
Discussion was held regarding proposed FY12/13 capital projects. Projects were
presented and discussed individually by Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert. Board
consensus was to meet with the Historical Society in February to discuss possible
disposition of the “Old Sheriff’s” Office.
The Board recessed at 10:21 A.M. and reconvened at 10:40 A.M.
Board consensus was to complete the following in the current fiscal year: Community
Services Roof - $50,000; Optimae Water Heater - $5,000; Optimae Tuckpoint - $50,000;
“Old Sheriff’s” Building - $90,000; Historic Jail Tuckpoint - $65,000; Historic Jail
Exterior Rehabilitation - $20,000, Courthouse Sprinkler System - $12,000; Judges
Chamber Remodel - $25,000; Courthouse Sidewalks - $125,000; Optimae Flooring -
$22,000; Community Services Handrail - $10,000; Community Services Controls -
$23,000 for a total of $497,000.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Page 2
Board consensus was to include the following in the FY12/13 capital projects budget:
DHS Geothermal (phase 1) - $674,000; “Old” Jail Geothermal - $1,173,000; and
Administration Building Rehabilitation and HVAC - $1,753,000 for a total of
$3,600,000.
Board consensus was to move the following to FY13/14 for further review: DHS Roof
Repair - $65,000; and Optimae HVAC - $193,000 for a total of $258,000.
Further discussion ensued regarding possible bonding of $3,600,000 to fund the FY12/13
capital projects. Board consensus was to add $150,000 to the proposed borrowing to
enable the Board to fund projects for both FY12/13 and FY13/14 and to break it down to
a $750,000 project for DHS Geothermal/Roof and a $3,000,000 borrowing and carryover
to cover the other projects. On a motion by Watkins, second by Furlong, the Board
authorized Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert to proceed with bid letting for the
Optimae Tuckpoint/Water Heater, Community Services Roof/Handrail, Courthouse
Sidewalks (with Heated Sidewalks as an alternate option)/Lawn Sprinklers/Judges
Chambers Remodel, and Historic Jail Tuckpoint/Rehabilitation projects. Ayes: All.
The Board directed Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert to develop a construction
calendar on the County’s website. Sievert was also directed to return next week with a
schedule for getting the approved projects completed.
Discussion was held regarding FY12/13 Capital Expenditure requests with Budget
Coordinator Sherry Seright. Board consensus was to include the following in FY12/13
Capital Expenditures: Auditor - $11,000 for archival of old books; Conservation -
$35,000 for replacement of the small dump truck. Sheriff - $105,000 for four squad cars;
Recorder - $7,000 for a copier and passport camera; Secondary Roads - $597,000 in the
Secondary Roads budget for replacement of equipment. Board consensus was to reserve
$80,000 for electronic pollbooks in the General Supplemental fund balance, but it will
not be appropriated to the Election budget and will require a budget amendment should
the Board decide they want to move forward with the implementation of electronic
pollbooks.
Information Services Director Bill Riley stated that he is waiting to hear from MP&W on
a cost for a connection between the Sheriff’s Office/Engineer and the Administration
Building. Riley stated he can replace the current wireless connection to allow for a full
duplex connection between the two sites at a cost of $8,000. Riley stated that annual
maintenance for Microsoft costs $26,405.97, but may have to be revised due to the
addition of deputies to the system and the recent hiring of additional corrections officers.
The Board directed Riley to proceed with the password reset/unlock tool for $520 per
year. Riley stated that the Dell virtual server budgeted for $40,000 next year is available
right now for $19,776 if purchased by February 3, 2012, but would require a budget
amendment this year. Board consensus was to proceed with purchasing the equipment by
February 3, 2012. Board consensus was to replace the $40,000 in next year’s budget for
the virtual server with $8,000 in next year’s budget for the wireless connection.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Page 3
Watkins stated he wants to place consideration of a deadline for the Clerk of Court to
clean out the dungeon and former County Attorney front area on next Monday’s agenda.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:12 P.M.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
_______________________________
Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor
Jeff Sorensen, Vice-Chairperson
Board of Supervisors