Supervisors prepare for next year’s budget

VINTON — Benton County Auditor Hayley Rippel presented a proposed timeline for work on next year’s budget, goals and deadlines during the Sept. 30 meeting of the Benton County Supervisors.

Rippel recommended that supervisors give guidelines for wages and departmental budgets. They might also have the compensation board meet in November.

Rippel noted that supervisors may dissolve the compensation board at any time and make decisions about elected officials’ salaries themselves.

The board plans a workshop with department heads in November.

Supervisors set a land-use hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 9:15 a.m. for Dylan and Tiffany Niebes for land in Section 4, Iowa Township.

Issac Harthoorn discussed the Pioneer Cemetery budget for Fiscal Year 2025. An expense intended for last year ended up in this year’s fiscal budget, and Supervisors will have to pass a budget amendment to reflect that.

The board set a public hearing about funded activities for Benton County Conservation Tree Planting Project for 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21.

The board discussed a safety foot and eyewear policy which would reimburse employees for safety equipment. The suggestion came from the county safety committee in an effort to protect employees and avoid lawsuits.

Supervisors discussed types of safety shoes and who is required to wear them. They are focused on secondary roads and conservation workers. The board will ask the safety committee and department heads to further refine the policy.

Rippel discussed the Arcasearch and demonstrated how it works. The process makes digital images of the county’s records and files and makes them searchable online.

Anna DeMuth, of North Benton Ambulance, asked about money from the Emergency Medical Service Fund for a remounted ambulance. The department plans to pay half this fiscal year and the rest the next fiscal year, she said.

The ambulance will be picked up in November and will cost $112,000.