Benton County sets budget hearing

VINTON — A public hearing for Benton County’s 2025-26 budget is set for Tuesday, April 22, at 9:30 a.m., at the service center in Vinton.

After the notice about the public hearing is published, the county can’t go above its spending authority, Auditor Hayley Rippel said.

Benton County Supervisors approved payment to Thys Motors for the last of three Durangos for the Benton County Sheriff’s Department during the Board of Supervisors meeting April 1.

Sheriff Dave Upah said the sheriff’s department traded in five vehicles — three Durangos, an Impala and a pickup truck. The total for the three vehicles was $123,692.

Treasurer Melinda Schoettmer has been working with mobile home parks to get records cleaned up. She received approval from county supervisors to abate taxes on two mobile homes at Longview mobile home park in Vinton.

The mobile homes have been destroyed by the mobile home park owner, and the material has been hauled away. Taxes have not been paid for the units for several years, and they are of no value to the court. The abatement amounts were $1,229 and $2,492. The lots are now open and someone else can move in, said Schoettmer.

Supervisors discussed wages for Benton County Transportation Director Mark Erickson. Supervisor Bruce Volz looked at the proposed 145 salary increase. “I know I can almost guarantee you that if we move forward with a 14% increase in your compensation, that in less than five minutes we’re going to have a line out the door of employees and residents of this county who want to come in and play pin the tail on the supervisor.”

Supervisor Ron Tippett said he looks at comparable positions to determine elected officials’ salaries. Supervisors also pointed out this is Erickson’s first year as director. Supervisors took no action.

Benton County Attorney Ray Lough talked with the board about the mental health advocate and public health which are meant to improve services and the environment in which they all work.

The advocate job was tied to the region, but the region will not exist at the end of June, so, by statute, counties are required to have an advocate.

“When a person is in crisis, a family or law enforcement can file an emergency commitment application, which then results in the judge issuing an order to pick them up, take them to the hospital and undergo a five-day evaluation to stabilize them,” said Lough.

“It’s not a long-term treatment situation. It’s just to stabilize them,” Lough said.

A lawyer is then appointed for the hearing. Lough said it’s important that these people have follow-up services when they are reintroduced into the community, avoiding a revolving door situation.

Lough introduced Bethany Wheaton, who has been the county’s advocate for several years. The county is looking at placing her in the public health department. Lough said she now works from her home.

“Mental health is a big issue, not only in our county, but every county,” said Lough.

“The more services we can provide to keep those people in a good place, the better. So that’s why we’re here to shift the funding source.

“If we had a place for her to come and meet with her clients, that would be awesome, because right now she’s meeting them in courthouses or parking lots or wherever.”

After July 1, they will hope to know more about the county getting reimbursement from the state for this, said Lough. He will also meet with the board of health.

Lough also discussed the county-wide training coordinator and an amendment to Alisha Stach-Lorang’s employment agreement. Stach-Lorang has an emphasis on law enforcement.

They will also look at open records and using personal devices for work, Lough said. “We ought to be training our law enforcement to be the best they can be. A lot of them have never been to the courtroom in a contested trial, so we want to spend some time with how to prepare yourself.

“You know you can never have enough training on the preparation of search warrants or the arrest of domestic abuse. There’s a lot of rules to go along with domestic abuse cases and mandatory arrest requirements,” Lough said.

Lough asked for $5,000 for the next two years, plus $2,500 a year for necessary equipment. Supervisors approved the request.

Supervisors approved a new mailbox carrier for the service center. The county now has an eight-person mailbox 10 entities that use it, according to Supervisor Chairman Tracy Seeman.

The cost of a 12-person mailbox would cost $2,800. Seeman is now looking for something they can bolt onto the existing mailbox to get by.

The board acknowledged the retirement of Nancy Jorgensen in the auditor’s office, effective May 30.

The board approved the wage and classification change for Ron Ragen, secondary roads. County Engineer Myron Parizek said Ragen’s pay will increase to $28.84 and his classification will be 4D.

Ragen has been with secondary roads and currently runs a motor grader at the Van Horne shed.

Parizek also gave an update on a box culvert extension for a curve on the east side of Vinton. Parizek suggested the city pay 75% of it because more than 95% of it is in the city limits of Vinton.

Vinton City Council approved an agreement with the county. The extension will cost just under $55,000.