Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with
Furlong, Howard, Kelly, Sauer and Sorensen present. Chairperson Sorensen presiding.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Sauer, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
A Public Hearing was called to order by Chairperson Sorensen at 9:02 A.M. on proposed
plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for Phase 2 – DHS Building
HVAC Design Project. Vic Amoroso, AJ Associates, stated that the project is to provide
HVAC upgrades inside the building for the basement and ground floor. Amoroso stated
that the project also includes alternates to take care of the top two floors. Amoroso stated
the estimated cost of the project base work is $570,250. No one spoke against the
proposal. On a motion by Kelly, second by Furlong, the public hearing was closed at
9:06 A.M. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.
On a motion by Kelly, second by Furlong, the Board approved Resolution #02-11-13-01
Approving Plans, Specifications, Form of Contract and Estimated Cost for Phase 2 –
DHS Building HVAC Design Project. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.
Discussion was held with Sheriff Dave White regarding the 2013 HIDTA Award. White
stated there is a substantial reduction in the award this year. White stated he is meeting
with Cedar, Louisa and Washington Counties at the end of the month to discuss the
possibility of creating a regional task force. White stated the grant awards are now being
based on the numbers, for example most federal cases and most drugs seized, so working
as a region will increase our numbers. On a motion by Kelly, second by Howard, the
Board authorized the Chair to execute a Memorandum of Understanding for the 2013
HIDTA Award, in the amount of $35,138.00. Ayes: All.
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met as a Board of Canvassers for the
Louisa-Muscatine Community School District Physical Plant and Equipment Levy
Special Election held on Tuesday, February 5, 2013. The Board certified the following
results to be a true and correct abstract of the votes cast in the election: For Votes: 93;
Against Votes: 96; Total Votes: 189. The measure was not adopted.
On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, minutes of the Monday, February 4, 2013
regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.
Correspondence:
Howard and Sauer received calls regarding the W. G. Block property donated to
Muscatine County Conservation Board.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 11, 2013
Page 2
Committee Reports:
Kelly attended a Muscatine Community Health Association meeting on
February 6
th
.
Kelly attended a Seventh Judicial District meeting on February 8
th
.
Sorensen attended a Safety and Health Committee meeting on February 6
th
.
Howard attended a Conservation Board special meeting on February 6
th
.
Furlong attended a statewide Supervisors meeting in Ankeny on February 6
th
.
Recorder Cindy Gray addressed the Board regarding their discussion in last week’s Board
meeting about the position in the Administration Office. Gray stated that she has asked
many times to have her part time employee made full time and the Board has ignored her.
Gray stated she would like to start having regular meetings between Department Heads
and the Board of Supervisors. Gray stated she would be coming periodically to Board
meetings to push for her staff.
On a motion by Kelly, second by Furlong, the Board approved Resolution #02-11-13-02
Resolution to Fix a Date for a Public Hearing on a General Obligation Loan Agreement.
Roll call vote: Ayes: All. The Public Hearing was set for Monday, February 25, 2013 at
7:00 P.M.
On a motion by Kelly, second by Sorensen, the Board approved appointing Debra L.
Elliott to the Conservation Board for a 5-year term ending December 31, 2017. Ayes:
All.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Sorensen, the Board approved appointing Howard
and Sauer as Board members to a special steering committee to develop the master plan
for the W. G. Block property recently donated to the Conservation Board. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Howard, the Board approved a Revised Policy on
Acquisition of Unknown Owner Parcels including revisions from the County Attorney.
Ayes: All.
On a motion by Furlong, second by Kelly, the Board approved the proposed FY13/14
budget for publication. Ayes: All.
The Board reviewed the health/dental fund balance as of January 31, 2013.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:51 A.M.
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 11, 2013
Page 3
ATTEST:
_______________________________ _________________________________
Leslie A. Soule, Auditor
Jeff Sorensen, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with
Howard, Sorensen, and Sauer present. Furlong and Kelly were absent. Chairperson
Sorensen presiding.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, the agenda was approved as written. Ayes:
All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, claims dated February 18, 2013 were
approved in the amount of $378,800.26. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sorensen, the Board approved Resolution #02-18-13-
01 Authorizing Weight Embargoes on Secondary Roads. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Sauer, the following utility permits were approved:
Windstream – placing a copper cable across Moscow Road to service a new house at
1014 Moscow Road; Eastern Iowa Light and Power – replacing power poles and
conductor along 122
nd
Street East off of Penn Avenue. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, the Board approved a right-of-way acquisition
plat adding additional Saulsbury Park property to the road right-of-way for the BROS-
C070(58)—8J-70, Saulsbury Bridge Project. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Sauer, the Board approved contract documents for
FM-C070(42)—55-70 Hampton, 250
th
Street and Independence PCC Overlay Project.
Ayes: All.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Howard, the Board approved plans and
specifications for BRS-C070(59)—60-70, F58 Bridge Project, a 140’ X 40’6”
Continuous Slab (CCS) Bridge over Mud Creek. Ayes: All.
Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White on a request to purchase two
tandem truck/cab chassis units for dump/plow trucks. White presented the following
quotes: Twin Bridges Truck City – (2) 2014 Mack GU813 - $219,680.00 less $12,500 per
trade-in; Truck County – (2) 2014 Freightliner 114 SD SBA - $216,130.00 less $12,000
per trade-in; Hawkeye International Trucks – (2) 2014 International 7600 SBA -
$229,180.00 less $16,300 per trade-in; Twin Bridges Truck City – (2) 2014 Volvo VHD
64B200 - $226,100.00 less $12,500 per trade-in; and Quad City Peterbilt – (2) 2014
Peterbilt 367 - $278,000.00 less $8,000 per trade-in. White stated he plans to trade-in a
1998 International (#29) and 1998 International (#30). White stated that International’s
engines are not EPA compliant. White recommended purchasing the Macks due to price
and brand experience. White stated he is contemplating trading in three trucks and
purchasing two. White believes the Mack is the industry standard for off road use. White
stated that Freightliner is generally accepted as more of an economy built truck so he
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 18, 2013
Page 2
would expect the Mack to perform better. Sauer asked if the County would be better off
selling the trade-ins outright. White stated that his experience is that they get a better
deal on trade-in, but he always looks at the market before he opts for trade-in. Howard
stated he does not have a problem with either the Mack or the Freightliner because they
are both highly rated. Sorensen stated that the Mack is running the most efficient engine
while the International is still running on diesel which could become obsolete at some
point in the future. On a motion by Sorensen, second by Sauer, the Board authorized the
County Engineer to purchase two 2014 Mack GU813 tandem truck/cab chassis units for
dump/plow trucks from Twin Bridges Truck City at a cost of $219,680.00 less $12,500
per trade-in. Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, minutes of the Monday, February 11, 2013
regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.
Correspondence:
Sorensen reported communication from a resident on Sweetland Road concerned
about speed and safety issues which he forwarded to the Sheriff and
Engineer.
Committee Reports:
Sauer attended a Muscatine County Hazard Mitigation meeting February 13
th
.
Howard attended a Muscatine County Search and Rescue meeting February 13
th
.
Howard spoke about County government to a local men’s group on February 14
th
.
Sorensen attended a Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce Business Alliance Meet
and Greet with the Chinese delegation on February 13
th
.
County Auditor Leslie Soule stated that she has not scheduled a presentation yet for the
Precinct Atlas Electronic Pollbook because the Secretary of State has developed their
own electronic pollbook and she feels she needs to research both systems before deciding
which one to present to the Board and pollworkers. Soule stated she attended a
demonstration last week in Des Moines of the Secretary of State’s Electronic Pollbook.
Soule encouraged the Board to attend demonstrations at the ISAC Spring Conference and
provide her with their feedback.
On a motion by Sorensen, second by Howard, Eric Knoerschild was appointed to the
Muscatine Civil Service Commission to fill a vacancy for a term ending June 30, 2014.
Ayes: All.
On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, Neva Rettig Baker and William H. Koellner
were appointed to the Muscatine County Board of Health for 3-year terms ending
December 31, 2015. Ayes: All.
Howard stated that today the Board approved a purchase that was higher than the lowest
bid. Howard stated that people think government has to accept the lowest bid, but that is
not necessarily true and he is very pleased that this Board is able to look at things in a
Muscatine County Board of Supervisors
Monday, February 18, 2013
Page 3
common sense approach because sometimes the long range view is just as important as
the short term.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:02 A.M.
ATTEST:
______________________________ _____________________________
Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor Jeff Sorensen, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors