Wayne County Board of Supervisors
October 5, 2020
Meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors was held on the 5th day of October 2020, in the Conference Room of the Wayne County Courthouse, Corydon, Iowa, pursuant to notice duly given in compliance with Iowa Code Section 21.4. The Board noted due notice of meeting subject to said Code Section.
Present were David Dotts, Tom Swearingin, Don Seams; members of the Board, Randy Zerr, Freeman Yoder, Maylon Yoder, Benny Yoder, Reuben Hershberger, Henry Mast, Jen Reed, and Michelle Dooley.
The Corydon Times Republican is live streaming Board of Supervisors regular session meetings on their facebook page.
Unless otherwise noted, all motions were approved unanimously.
Dotts called meeting to order at 9:01 AM
Pledge of Allegiance
Seams made motion to approve the agenda, seconded by TSwearingin.
Seams made motion to approve minutes for September 21, 2020, seconded by TSwearingin.
TSwearingin made motion to approve claims for October 5, 2020 as presented, seconded by Seams.
made motion to approve payroll as presented, seconded by TSwearingin.
Randy Zerr/Engineer gave the Board an update regarding Secondary Road Department. Zerr is working on the construction design for the Cedar Road low water crossing. Calhoun-Burns is still working on the design for Medicine Creek Project. Cold-in-place phase for the Allerton S-26 Highway is completed and final surface is scheduled for October 13-16. The PCC patching throughout county is completed Zerr is working on the County Line Agreements with Appanoose, Lucas, and Decatur County, as well as Mercer and Putnam Counties in Missouri and 28E agreement with the City of Corydon regarding the courtyard and parking lots. Zerr mentioned that Secondary Roads is looking for riprap from the public and encouraging the public to call the Engineer’s office if they have any. The two new maintainers have been delivered. Secondary Roads has been awarded a defibrillator. Zerr also mentioned that Shelley Bickel, Public Health Administrator is requesting the use the south parking lot to do a flu vaccination drive thru program. Bickel had approached the City of Corydon for approval.
There was much discussion regarding the Locust Creek low water crossing on Cedar Road between the County Engineer, the Board of Supervisors, and the Amish representatives. This area of Cedar, where the low water crossing exists, is a level B road and is used as a more direct route for the Amish to save time in their travels by horse and for others that live in the area. However, this level B road is very dangerous to use in rainy conditions. Seams stated some different options to fix the west low water crossing and that the county should fix the low water crossing to avoid the loss of human life in a tragic accident. Seams reminded everyone of the near tragedy on 235th St. when three individuals were nearly swept downstream. Seams believes that an apron type of low water crossing might result in a similar tragedy. Zerr expressed that the low water crossing has to be designed and fixed appropriately to be able to support the worst storm possible and that will difficult due to the amount of runoff that is conveyed at this crossing, so the hope is to allow as much water through the low water crossing, so that erosion of the upstream and downstream banks is less than what is currently occurring. The water that flows through this area is considered Waters of the U.S. which puts the project under the DNR’s, FEMA’s, and Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictions if not other governmental agencies. Zerr also stated that he will not approve a design that does not meet their specs. There was also discussion about trees and brush in the ditches that need to be trimmed back in different areas of the county. Zerr stated that work should start in the next couple of weeks.
Aaron Hoelting, Courthouse Maintenance and Custodian has completed his 6-month employment probation with the County. TSwearingin made a motion to give Aaron a .40 cent per hour raise effective October 5, 2020, seconded by Seams.
Chariton Valley Regional Housing Trust Fund requested a commitment from Wayne County in the amount of $7,500 for FY22. Seams made motion to approve the $7,500 commitment for FY22, seconded by TSwearingin.
The Treasurer’s August Cash and Outstanding Report was presented to the Board. TSwearingin made motion to accept and approve the August Cash and Outstanding Report as presented, seconded by Seams.
Supervisor Meetings:
TSwearingin attended 10-15 Transit meeting. They are doing very well. They have taken over the Ottumwa Transit system. In the meantime, The City of Ottumwa has closed a bus stop and is now dealing with the consequences of the closure since it was federally funded. The 10-15 Transit System is seeing an increase in the number of riders using the service.
Conservation is doing well and is very busy still with campers. They are trying to make up some of the revenue lost in the spring from the late opening due to Covid-19.
Public Health is still very busy with Covid-19 and working on getting the last $40,000 in revenue for services rendered to clients in FY20.
Dotts attended Chariton Valley Planning and Development meeting where they discussed the financial status of the program. Dotts also attended SCICAP meeting and discussed their financial status. Dotts wanted to commend the Wayne County Public Health Department for their excellent job dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, Wayne County is at a 2.9% positivity rate.
Seams attended the CROSS Mental Health meeting. They are still working through issues with the Access Center in Osceola. The Access Center is not licensed to hold clients against their will. The administrator has changed, and some improvements are being made in their operations. Seams also attended a meeting for the South-Central Iowa Workforce Development Area (SCIWA) Region for Iowa Workforce Development. The Board for the Region has been selected and is in place. The Board is working on getting trained and will be taking over operations on October 13, 2020.
No Public Comments;
Claims Paid October 5, 2020
There being no further business, the next regular session meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors will be held on the 19th day of October 2020, at 9:00AM in the Courthouse Conference Room.
Seams made motion to adjourn at 9:55 AM, seconded by TSwearingin.
_________________________________ Attested__________________________________
David Dotts, Chairperson Michelle Dooley, Auditor