Harrison County Supervisors Meeting March 6, 2025 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order with members Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda was made by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Motion to approve minutes from February 27th was made by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Paul J. Rhoten, Michele Stirtz, Brock Leaders, David Sherer, Dustin Wallis, Scott Thomas, Jack Jones, Marty Loftus, Curt Nelson, Drainage Maintenance Contract The Board met as Trustees for the Board Supervised Drainage Districts and discussed the following: Maintenance contract: The maintenance contract with Shearer Contractors was presented for renewal. Michelle Kersten, Drainage Clerk, presented the Board with the contract. There were no changes from the previous year and the contract length will still be for 1 year ending February 1st, 2026 with a clause allowing termination of the contract by either party with a 30 days’ notice. On a motion by Wilkerson, seconded by Smith, the contract was unanimously approved. C & R Approval of Invoices The Board met as Trustees for the C & R Drainage. Michelle Kersten, Drainage Clerk, presented the Board with information and after discussion the following were approved: Pay invoice in the amount of $14,610.00 to Midwest Mechanical Industrial Services, LLC was unanimously approved on a motion by Smith and seconded by Wilkerson. Pay invoice in the amount of $2,500.00 to Olson Contracting, Inc was unanimously approved on a motion by Smith and seconded by Wilkerson Count Substance Abuse Program Public Health Director David Sherer provided an update on the funding of the County Substance Abuse Program and how the changes in funding are affecting the program. The County Opioid Committee has approved the funding for the program out of the County Opioid funds. The committee is also looking at grant options and applying for reimbursement for a portion of the program from the new BH-ASO program through the state. Learning for Life Program Public Health Director David Sherer provided an update on the Learning for Life Program. The Harrison County Learning for Life Program is largely funded by the ECI board. At the end of January, the Public Health Department was made aware that the ECI board would be combined with the new BH-ASO and would group Harrison County with other Northwest Iowa Counties. He was advised that one of their primary concerns is with in-home visit programs like the one Harrison County offers. The Harrison County program has been looking for other funding sources knowing that the current funding sources may not be available going forward. Sherer has reached out to a group in the county that funds early childhood programs like this to see if funding would be available and they advised that they may be able to help fill in some of the gaps from other funding sources. Noxious Weed Resolution Brock Leaders presented the noxious weed resolution. The resolution was approved with a motion by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Public Hearing for Melody Oaks Trail reclassification from Level B to Level C Motion to set the public hearing for Melody Oaks Trail road reclassification from Level B to Level C for April 3rd, 2025, for 9:30 in Harrison County Courtroom was made by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Reimbursement for care of soldiers’ graves The board discussed possible options for increases and what would be a reasonable amount. The board chose to table this until they could get more information on what the money is used for and what is needed. Engineer Hours of operation Chairman Rife advised that a union employee reached out to him expressing concerns with the hours of operation that were brought up for the new 10-hour days that will begin with the daylight savings time change. Member Smith stated that he believed the issue had been resolved between the roads’ employees and the foreman. Rife stated that he had received concerns about the hours interfering with daycare since they had always been previously set at 6:00 – 4:30 and are currently being set at 7:00 – 5:30. Chairman Rife made a motion to set the union employees’ hours from 6:00-4:30 starting with daylight savings time change. Motion died due to lack of second. Agreement with Dustin Wallis as temporary County Engineer Wallis presented the board with the 5-year plan that had been presented by the previous Engineer and advised which projects would be able to continue forward and which ones would be on hold without a permanent engineer. Dustin advised that if he was hired as temporary County Engineer, he would be able to help continue with projects and keep the State funding coming into the county. Member Wilkerson and Smith stated that they would prefer to go with Pottawattamie County contract that was started with the prior Engineer. Pottawattamie County Engineer Agreement The board reviewed the contract from Pottawattamie County that was presented on February 20th. Chairman Rife commented that the County Attorney had previously advised that it was not a contract that she would recommend because it did not protect Harrison County. Motion to approve the contract with Pottawattamie County as the Interim County Engineer effective March 17th, 2025, motion by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Rife Nay. Wilkerson Yay. Smith Yay. Utility permit for Harrison County REC The board was presented with a utility permit from Harrison County REC. The board chose not to act on the permit until the interim Engineer could review the permit. Public Comment Jack Jones – Provided comments on the process of hiring a County Engineer Michelle Stiritz – Provided comments on the boards decision to not move forward with the Harrison County resident as the temporary County Engineer Marty Loftus – Had comments about the Melody Oaks Trail public hearing and about the petition that was turned in Scott Thomas – Had questions about live streaming the Board of Supervisors meetings Member Wilkerson had comments on revising the public comment policy. She also provided an update from Hungry Canyons Alliance that the county’s project had been denied. With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Smtih. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brain Rife, Chairman NOTE: These minutes are as recorded by the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors and are subject to Board approval at the next regular meeting. MVTN 3-12-25 TDR 3-13-25
