Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, June 25, 2012 – Tour of County Roads
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in special session to tour County roads at 9:00
A.M. with Kelly, Watkins, Howard, Furlong and Sorensen present. No media was present.
Chairperson Kelly presiding.
County Engineer Keith White led a tour of the following County Roads:
231
st
Street to view erosion of the road.
Independence Avenue to view a wide and difficult road to maintain. White plans to seal
coat the road.
Cranston to view a bridge that needs to be removed.
Viewed 231
st
Street newer bridge with existing old bridge that needs to be taken out.
White stated the new bridge is longer than the old bridge.
Drove along Blue Heron to where seal coat ends.
Viewed 245th Street to Edgewater to view a bridge to Edgewater that is in very bad
shape. White stated estimated costs may be $350,000 - $500,000.
Viewed bridge on 230
th
Street for which the plan is to use box culverts.
Viewed Davis Avenue where semis and grain hauling are destroying the roads.
Viewed road behind new sports complex in West Liberty. White plans to develop an
agreement with West Liberty as to who will maintain roads.
Viewed Lundy Avenue.
Road to Wendling Quarries which is very rough.
N. Isett Avenue to view a bridge that is in the five year program.
Viewed 104th Street in Wilton being used as the haul road for the Taylor Avenue
Project. The County seal coated the road by the cemetery and it is holding up.
Viewed the finished part of Taylor Avenue.
Viewed County road Y26 Vail Avenue.
Viewed roads thru Stockton to Hwy 61.
Viewed Zachary Avenue curves that are in the paving project.
171
st
Street to view the County’s patching job. The road is in the five year plan for next
year. Also drove on test slag.
Drove on 170
th
Street which is a very narrow dead end road.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 P.M.
ATTEST:
__________________________
________________________
Leslie A Soule, County Auditor
Kas Kelly, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. with
Furlong, Howard, Kelly, Sorensen and Watkins present. Chairperson Kelly presiding.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Sorensen, the agenda was approved as written.
Ayes: All.
The Board received the Leadership in Historic Preservation award from Michael Maharry
and Brandon Bartenhagen on behalf of Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation.
Discussion was held regarding property line issues related to various properties in the
Town of Moscow. MAGIC GIS Manager Mark Warren reviewed the Muscatine County
Geographic Information System and Bratt and Henderson’s Addition line work in
Moscow. Watkins stated that the problem in Moscow is that when it was laid out it was
off by approximately thirty feet. County Auditor Leslie Soule reviewed the history of
Bratt and Henderson’s Addition with the Board. Soule stated that when the lots were
built they were slightly off from the originally recorded subdivision. Soule further stated
that although the lots are shifted they are still the same size and are fine for assessment
and taxation purposes. Soule stated that she had discussed this issue with County
Attorney Alan Ostergren. Soule stated she would only order a survey if there was
something wrong with the taxation or assessment, which is not the case. Soule stated that
all an Auditor’s Plat does is force surveying on the property owners, who would be
responsible for paying for the survey. Soule stated that if the property owners cannot
work this out amongst themselves, then they have an avenue through the courts to have a
judge work it out for them. Howard stated that it is not the County’s responsibility, but
the land owner’s responsibility. Surveyor Gary Whitacre discussed surveying options
with the Board. Jim Hull, 1085 Ocean Avenue, stated that Jerry Poor’s house was the
first house laid out and all others were laid out from that point. Hull stated the other
houses were plotted out from railroad ties on Poor’s property. Hull stated the problem
has only been since a new property owner has moved into the subdivision. Anna Monk,
1093 Ocean Avenue, stated that they measured 190 feet from the stake shown to her by
Hull. Kelly discussed having an impartial third party and the property owners meet in
Moscow to measure the property to resolve the dispute. Kelly agreed to meet Hull and
Monk Tuesday, June 26
th
at 1:00 p.m. in Moscow.
Discussion was held regarding recommendations from the Advance Notification System
Committee. Kelly stated that Muscatine County residents can be notified of poor air
quality alerts, burn bans and other warnings by text message, e-mail, the weather channel,
the Emergency Alert System, Local on the Eights and radio. Kelly stated the committee
recommends the Board approve starting the process for the Advanced Notification System
including signing up on the Nixle website. On a motion by Watkins, second by Furlong
the Board approved commencing the Advanced Notification System process. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Watkins, an ordinance was approved rezoning
approximately one acre of property located in the Bloomington Township from R-1
Residential District to R-2 Residential District on the second of three readings. Roll call
vote: Ayes: All
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, June 25, 2012
Page 2
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, claims dated June 25, 2012 were approved
in the amount of $575,883.32. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Howard, minutes of the Monday, June 18, 2012
regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.
Correspondence:
None.
Committee Reports:
Kelly attended a DECAT meeting June 22
nd
.
Howard attended a Muscatine County Conservation Board meeting June 18
th
.
Furlong attended a Muscatine County Fair Board meeting June 21
st
.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, the Board approved the hiring of Kristina
Healey as Legal Secretary at $28,502 (Grade 8, Step 3) for the County Attorney’s Office.
Ayes: All.
Discussion was held on a request to approve a fireworks permit. Furlong stated that the
permit should be approved unless there is a burn ban at that time. On a motion by
Furlong, second by Howard, the Board approved a fireworks permit for Robert L. Ross
unless there is a burn ban at the time of the fireworks. Ayes: All.
Discussion was held with Budget Coordinator Sherry Seright, regarding a proposal from
A&J Associates PC for consulting engineering services for a control system upgrade at
the Community Services Building. On a motion by Howard, second by Sorensen, the
Board approved a proposal from A&J Associates PC for consulting engineering services
for a control system upgrade at the Community Services Building in the amount of
$3,000.00 plus miscellaneous expenses. Ayes: All.
Discussion was held with Budget Coordinator Sherry Seright regarding a maintenance
agreement with Northwest Mechanical for building environmental systems at Community
Services, Jail, Rescare, Administration building and DHS building. Furlong stated that
the agreement should be for one year, not three years. On a motion by Furlong, second by
Howard, the Board authorized the Chair to sign a maintenance agreement with Northwest
Mechanical for building environmental systems at Community Services, Jail, Rescare,
Administration building and DHS building in the amount of $77,624.00 as amended.
Ayes: All.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, the Board approved Resolution #06-25-12-
01 FY2012-13 Budget Appropriations. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.
The Board scheduled fiscal year-end cash counts with County departments.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Sorensen, the Board accepted the resignation of
Maintenance Supervisor Troy Sievert effective June 19, 2012. Ayes: All.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, June 25, 2012
Page 3
Administrative Services Director Nancy Schreiber distributed a draft of Guiding Principles
for a possible 7
th
Judicial Region from Community Services Director Mike Johannsen.
Schreiber stated that Johannsen requests the Board review the draft and give him feedback.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 P.M.
ATTEST:
Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor
Kas Kelly, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with
Howard, Kelly, Watkins and Sorensen present. Furlong was absent. Chairperson Kelly
presiding.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Howard, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
Discussion was held with Greg Jenkins, Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry regarding economic development in Muscatine County. Jenkins requested that
he be allowed to change membership from the Eastern Iowa Economic Alliance to the
Quad Cities First Economic Development Agency at a cost of $5,000 per year. Jenkins
felt that this would be a good move for Muscatine County as it provides more advantages
to Muscatine County. Sorensen stated that he agrees this is a good move. Jenkins stated
that Wilton, West Liberty and the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce have
already approved the move. Board consensus was to align with the Quad Cities First
Economic Development Agency.
Discussion was held with County Auditor Leslie Soule regarding the State estimated
appropriations to fund the Homestead Tax Credit, Military Service Property Tax
Exemption, and Elderly and Disabled Tax Credit for FY2012-2013. Soule stated that the
State would only be funding 78% of the Homestead Tax Credit this year and did not
recommend the County funding the shortfall. On a motion by Watkins, second by
Sorensen, the Board adopted the State estimated appropriations and funded the
Homestead Tax Credit at 78%, Military Service Property Tax Exemption at 100%, and
Elderly and Disabled Tax Credit at 100% for FY2012-2013. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sorensen, the Board approved Resolution #07-02-12-
01 Abating Partial Amount Taxes for Disabled Veterans. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, Ordinance #07-02-12-01 Rezoning
Certain Real Property in Bloomington Township, Muscatine County, from R-1
Residential District Zoning Classification to R-2 Residential District Zoning
Classification was approved on the third and final reading. Roll call vote: Ayes: All
On a motion by Howard, second by Sorensen, minutes of the Monday, June 25, 2012
road tour and Monday, June 25, 2012 regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes:
All.
Correspondence:
All supervisors received an invitation to a project update of elected officials from
Kent Corporation.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, July 2, 2012
Page 2
Committee Report:
Kelly and Sorensen attended a Bi-State Regional meeting June 27
th
.
Watkins, Sorensen and Howard attended the Iowa Concrete Pavers Association Tour of
the Lafarge Cement Plant in Buffalo and the Continental Cement Distribution Terminal
in Bettendorf on June 28
th
. Kelly helped the Monk’s and Hull’s determine a property line
location in Moscow on June 26
th
.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Watkins, the Board authorized the Chairperson to
execute a FY2009 Methamphetamine Drug Hot Spots Grant Program Award Notice in
the amount of $14,926.00. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, the Chair was authorized to execute the
FY13 Federal Violence Against Women Contract with the Crime Victim Assistance
Division of the Iowa Department of Justice in the amount of $2,727.00. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Watkins, the Chair was authorized to execute a
contract between the Iowa Department of Public Health (Division of the State Medical
Examiner’s Office) and Muscatine County for reimbursement of costs for Todd Heck to
attend the Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Watkins, the Board approved and authorized the
Chair to execute an agreement regarding the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy
Sheriffs between Muscatine County and Chauffeurs, Teamsters & Helpers, Local Union
#238 for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. Ayes: All.
Discussion was held regarding a grading recommendation for a revised Elections/Real
Estate Administrator position in the Auditor’s Office. Howard stated he cannot support
this because it is an increase to the department when their goal was to reduce the
department. County Auditor Leslie Soule stated that this is not an increase because a
person was eliminated and this merely moves that employee’s duties to another employee
which causes a significant change in that person’s responsibilities and the Board should
compensate them for that additional responsibility. Soule stated that the Board still
accomplishes a savings in excess of $30,000 due to the elimination of a person. On a
motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, the Board approved a revised class specification
for the Election/Real Estate Administrator, formerly known as Real Estate/Elections/
Records Clerk, and classified it as a Grade 8. Ayes: Kelly, Watkins and Sorensen. Nay:
Howard.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, the Board approved a fireworks permit for
Robert Timmons unless there is a burn ban at the time of the fireworks. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Watkins, second by Sorensen, appointments to the Muscatine County
Compensation Commission were approved for the period July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.
Ayes: All.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, July 2, 2012
Page 3
Administrative Services Director Nancy Schreiber stated that the following Boards still
have vacancies: Veterans Affairs is seeking a female applicant; Board of Appeals is
seeking a female applicant; and Benefitted Fire District #6 is seeking a male applicant
from Muscatine County.
Steve Salemink, West of Nichols, stated that a proposed hog confinement facility is being
constructed next to some ground he farms with his father and requested information on
the contesting process. The Board referred Salemink to Zoning Administrator Jodee
Stepleton for complete explanation of the regulations and process for contesting the
construction of the facility. Salemink also expressed concern about the effect on property
valuation next to a hog confinement facility.
Kelly wished everyone a Happy Fourth of July, but asked them to stay safe and well
hydrated due to the extreme heat, but have a good time and enjoy the Fourth of July
activities throughout the County.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 A.M.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
_______________________________
Julie Holliday
Kas Kelly, Chairperson
Election/Real Estate Administrator
Board of Supervisors