Wayne County Board of Supervisors
December 29, 2020
Meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors was held on the 29th day of December 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, Don Seams, Tom Swearingin; members of the Board, Mike & Toni Frame, Keith Davis, 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 by Board members present.
Dotts called meeting to order at 9:02 AM
Pledge of Allegiance
The agenda was amended to include James Stutzman. TSwearingin made motion to approve the amended agenda, seconded by Seams.
Seams made motion to accept and approve minutes for December 14, 2020, seconded by TSwearingin.
TSwearingin made motion to accept and approve claims for December 29, 2020 as presented, seconded by Seams.
Seams made motion to approve December 24, 2020 payroll as presented, seconded by Dotts.
Dotts administered the Oath of Office to Keith Davis, Wayne County Sheriff.
Bill Byrns was not present but Dotts presented Byrns request. EMA was awarded $6,600 EMPG Supplement Grant due to COVID-19. Bryns was requesting for the Board to release the County’s match funds of $6,600 to EMA. TSwearingin made the motion to approve disbursing funds to Wayne County Emergency Management, seconded by Seams.
Matt Anderson was unable to attend the meeting so he designated Mike & Toni Frame to speak on his behalf. Mr. Anderson is requesting a 2nd driveway entry at his new residence on Old Highway 2 and Liberty Road. Toni Frame read Mr. Anderson’s reasons for making the request. The Anderson home is the last residence on the Humeston Postal Route and with one driveway the mail carrier would have to back onto the highway. They have plans to build an outbuilding in the coming years. Mr. Anderson have kids and grandkids that play outdoors and need a safe place to ride bikes, park and unload cars, etc. Ms. Frame also noted that their contractor would put in the 2nd driveway and there would be no additional cost to the county. Zerr has already denied Mr. Anderson’s request per the policy currently in place by the Engineer’s office. Seams mentioned that the policy pertained to 40-acre parcels. Zerr noted that there is additional expense to the county to maintain multiple driveways. TSwearingin stated he believes that the Board of Supervisors should not change policy for one resident because of future repercussions. There was discussion that the policy follows the Iowa Code Section but that the policy may need to be reviewed. Seams stated that the highway is narrow, and one driveway entry is a hazard and that Section 4B in the policy allows for additional driveway entries. Seams also stated that outbuildings should be secondary to safety.
Seams made motion to approve 2nd driveway entry. The motion died for a lack of a second.
TSwearingin made motion to table the decision on the 2nd driveway entry till future meeting, seconded by Dotts.
TSwearingin & Dotts AYE
Seams NAY
Dotts asked Zerr to revisit the site and to reconsider his decision. Zerr agreed to reevaluate but Zerr is not willing to change is decision. Zerr has reached out to Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) attorney and will be reaching out to Al Wilson, Wayne County Attorney and Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP) who carries the county’s liability insurance. Dotts also requested the Driveway/Entry Policy be reviewed and amended if necessary.
Randy Zerr, Wayne County Engineer stated that Secondary Roads is working on the Cedar Road Low Water Crossings and that a culvert was put in for a temporary fix for the west crossing. The road over the west crossing is still legally closed. Still moving forward with the Medicine Creek project and the letting date is still scheduled for August 17, 2021. Zerr is working on county line agreements as well as the 28E agreement with the City of Corydon. Zerr is gathering information and hopes to have the 28E agreement in place by spring 2021.
Zerr also mentioned that 2 bridges were closed in the last week. D-4045 east of Sunny Slope Church on Summit Road and J-4335 south of Allerton on 105th Street. Both bridges are 3-ton bridges but are severely decayed and failed pier piles by the Calhoun-Burns bridge inspectors.
Seams made motion to approve the November Reports from the Recorder’s Office and Clerk of Court, seconded by TSwearingin.
Supervisor Meetings:
TSwearingin- missed Conservation Board meeting for Monday, December 14, 2020.
TSwearingin attended 1015 Transit meeting by phone. 1015 Transit is doing very well. The City of Ottumwa currently owes 1015 Transit 1 million dollars. New officers for 2021 were voted on.
Dotts attended DECAT and TAC meeting to discuss year end standings.
Seams attended the Wayne County Home Care Aid (Homemakers) meeting with Holly Arnold. The Homemaker Board has noticed a decline in participants with Meals on Wheels. They are reviewing their options to improve the program.
No Public Comments
James Stutzman was present to discuss his final payment to Wayne County for bringing 200th Street up to a Level-A Road. Mr. Stutzman final payment was for $11,300 and Mr. Stutzman requested to have a receipt stating that he met his obligation in full.
Claims Paid December 29, 2020
There being no further business, the next regular session meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors will be held on the 4th day of January 2021, at 9:00AM in the Wayne County Courthouse Conference Room.
Seams made motion to adjourn at 9:43 AM, seconded by TSwearingin.
_________________________________ Attested__________________________________
David Dotts, Chairperson Michelle Dooley, Auditor