Benton County discusses Supervisors hours

VINTON — The Benton County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Dec. 27 that clarifies employment terms for the Board of Supervisors.

Sheriff Ron Tippett presented research about part-time supervisors in the Iowa Code. Tippett retired as sheriff and was sworn in as supervisor in January. He planned to opt out of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System.

“It doesn’t appear, like most of the counties, or any of them, have it in writing,” Tippett said in December. “They’re going back to this piece in the code that says it’s allowed. That’s kind of where we’re at.”

To be eligible for IPERS, the position has to be part-time.

According to Tippett, the supervisor position is part-time according to the handbook.

“I would feel much more comfortable if we open that up,” Supervisor Chairman Richard Primmer said. If the county does it for part-time elected officials, they should not slight the county employees who are not elected, he said, acknowledging that it would be a “heck of a kick” to the budget.

“We need to treat everybody fairly and equally,” Primmer said.

Township trustees are also part-time elected officials. Tippett said this is all explained in the Iowa Code in terms of part-time and seasonal employees.

Supervisor Tracy Seeman said supervisors are part-time with full benefits in Iowa County. Jones County classifies supervisors as full-time.

In other business Dec. 27, the board tabled acknowledging the retirement of Mark Johnson from the sheriff’s office. There is no official date yet.

The board approved issuing a new Visa card for the new sheriff.

During the first meeting of the new year, Jan. 2, supervisors, the sheriff, auditor and deputies were sworn in.

Tracy Seeman was appointed chairman of the supervisors, and Tippett was chosen vice chair.

The board approved putting timed items back on the agenda. They decided that during public forum, people need to come forward and state their names. Otherwise they are off camera, and Supervisors don’t always catch their names.

The board authorized the auditor to issue warrants per Iowa Code 331.506 and execute ACH and financial agreements for 2025. They also authorized the auditor to issue warrants per Iowa Code 331.506 and execute ACH and financial agreements for 2025.

The board authorized the treasurer authorize the treasurer to execute ACH agreements for 2025.

The board denied the construction evaluation resolution for 2025 regarding hog confinement operations.

Tippett was appointed to the Area Substance Abuse Council and the juvenile detention board. Volz was named to the Eastern Iowa Tourism Board.

Tippett will serve on the HACAP, North Benton Family Resource, mental health and emergency management boards.

Volz is on Heartland Insurance Group and Iowa Workforce Development. Tippett is on the Sixth Judicial Department of Corrections board. Seeman continues on the solid waste commission.

Seeman will be on conservation and the Eastern Iowa Housing Trust Fund. Shelby Williams is on the REAP board.

Auditor Hayley Rippel, Engineer Myron Parizekand Attorney Ray Lough were appointed ADA Coordinators for 2025 They make sure buildings are ADA compliant.

Rippel and Parizek were also named to the safety committee.

Jean Ohlen and Lori Mott were appointed to the Board of Health.

Dan Hill was appointed to the conservation board.

Kate Robertson, Bruce Visser and Seeman were appointed as members to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments Boards and Committees.

Eminent Domain Commission appointments for 2025 will remain the same.

Members were appointed to the Benefited Fire Districts.

Allison Hicks and Phil Borleske were appointed to the Benton County Historic Preservation Commission.

Shelby Williams was named to the vacant Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Committee spot. The other members will remain the same.

Solid Waste Commission members representing the county were reappointed. They are Nancy Jensen, Mike Seeck, Jon Kaestner, Amy Boddicker, Terry Hertle, Jennifer Zahradnik and Seeman.

Zoning Commission members were reappointed. They include Mark Happel, Elaine Harrington, Mark Katouc, Connie Barnes and Deb Christensen.

Myron Parizek was appointed to Airport Eastern Iowa Zoning Board. Gary Marlow was appointed to the Airport Vinton Zoning Board.

The Civil Rights Coordinator for 2025 is John Lindeman.

Official newspapers for 2025 are the Cedar Valley Times and the Vinton Eagle, as well as the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Trustee and Alternate to Heartland Insurance Risk Group are Volz and Rippel.

Heartland Safety Coordinator for 2025 is Doug Kearns of secondary roads.

Parizek was appointed county engineer pursuant to Iowa Code 309.17

Township appointments included Steve Runyan and Paul Zander as Cedar Township Trustees; Carl Gerhold, Mike Rathje as Fremont Township Trustees; Dale Seeck and Lindsay Staton as Homer Township Trustees; Mike Knupp and Mark Kotouc as Homer Township Trustees; Paula Denison and Matt Garbers as Union Township Trustees.

The Jan. 2 meeting closed with talk about the budget for the next year fiscal year. Tippett said he’d like a different approach on the budget. He wants to see the approach that was used when he was police chief in Belle Plaine.

Tippett said he was given a dollar amount as the bottom line. He could not cut wages, personnel or benefits. “You plug in the numbers and make them work,” Tippett said.

Tippett said the county does not have a lot of extra money. Rippel agreed that the county has to stop using its reserves. Rippel said she was told the recommended reserves is 30%, which could keep the county going for a year if there is ever a budget freeze.

Supervisors looked at the impact of health insurance and the importance of increasing employee participation in physicals.

They also talked about the 3% cap on tax valuations, budget amendments, spending authority, the Iowa State Association of Counties and reserves.

Rippel said she would print a three-year look at the county budget for the supervisors.