Washington County

Posted Tuesday, October 29, 2024 3:15 pm

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA
REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

At 9:00 am Chair Richard Young called the meeting to order in regular session, Courthouse Chambers. Items on the agenda included: Proclamation naming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, personnel change requests–Public Health, personal change request–County Attorney, personnel change request–Office of Sheriff, approval of Amendment Number Four to Grant Agreement PDMC-PJ-07-IA-2019-008 Washington County–Dogwood Avenue Flood Mitigation Project, discussion/possible action re: Washington County Solar Road Use Agreement, discussion/possible action re: Payment in Addition to Taxes Agreement with Goldfinch Solar, second reading of proposed Washington County Wind Ordinance 24-02 and consideration of a waiver of the third reading of proposed Washington County Wind Ordinance 24-02, official canvass of the September 10, 2024, Special Election for the Pekin Community School District.
Supervisors Bob Yoder, Jack Seward Jr., Marcus Fedler and Stan Stoops were also present.
All motions were passed unanimously unless noted otherwise.
The Board voted to approve the agenda as published.
Xiomara Levson, Client Advocacy Services Coordinator and Bronis Perteit, Director of Domestic Violence Services Department, presented information re: Domestic Violence Month and promoted the book Maid by Stephanie Land. This book will be highlighted at the Washington Public Library on October 26, 2024.
The Board proclaimed October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and authorized the Chair to sign the Proclamation.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Chair to sign, a personnel change request from Public Health for the increase in rate of pay for Administrator, Jenifer Roberts effective October 3, 2024, at the rate of $3,307.69 bi-weekly from $3,115.38 bi-weekly. The pay increase is per agreement after a 90-day evaluation period.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Chair to sign, a personnel change request from Public Health for a reduction in hours for Home Health Aide, Jackie Brown effective October 3, 2024, to PT at 24 hours per week from 32 hours per week.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Chair to sign, a personnel change request from the County Attorney’s Office to terminate the employment of Collections Coordinator, Justin O’Rourke effective September 13, 2024. County Attorney Repp stated O’Rourke was instrumental in building CAPP (County Attorney Payment Program). They are currently in the process of hiring O’Rourke’s replacement.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Chair to sign, a personnel change request from the Office of Sheriff for Victor Rico Guerrero of the jail changing status from FT to casual PT effective September 26, 2024.
County Engineer, Jacob Thorius, presented information re: Amendment Number Four to Grant Agreement PDMC-PJ-07-IA-2019-008, Washington County – Dogwood Avenue Flood Mitigation Project amending the Performance Period End Date to December 15, 2024. This agreement is between the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Washington County for funds which are paying for a portion of the work being done. The Board approved Amendment Number Four to Grant Agreement PDMC-PJ-07-IA-2019-008, Washington County – Dogwood Avenue Flood Mitigation Project.
County Attorney, Nathan Repp, spoke re: Goldfinch Solar Road Use Agreement and Collection Easement Agreement between Washington County and Goldfinch Solar Project, LLC. This has been an ongoing project for the past year. The Board to approve the Goldfinch Solar Road Use Agreement and Collection Easement Agreement.
Repp also presented information regarding Payment in Addition to Taxes Agreement with Goldfinch Solar. Repp referred to the agreement as a “good neighbor” agreement by Goldfinch Solar with payments to the county scheduled for thirty years. Goldfinch is not required to make this agreement with the county. The Board approved the Payment in Addition to Taxes Agreement with Goldfinch Solar.
Seward posed the question of what happens if Goldfinch should sell within the thirty years contained in the agreement. Vice-President of Development for Conifer Power, Chad Little, responded. Little stated this obligation is attached to the project and would pass to the new owner. Repp informed the Board that this is shown in Section 2.12 of the agreement. Fedler also stated additional sections of the agreement which would address this issue. After discussion, the Board approved agreement.
The Board voted to approve the second reading of the proposed Washington County Wind Ordinance 24-02.
The Board then voted to approve waiving the third reading. Waiver of the third reading was passed by a vote of four (4) aye – one (1) nay with Yoder voting to not waive the third reading.
After the roll call vote it was noted the Board made motion and approved the ordinance based on the amendments as approved during the September 11, 2024, meeting; however, those changes were not published. Ordinance second reading and approval will be on an agenda at a later date pending opinion of the County Attorney.
County Elections Coordinator, Liz Torres-Potter, presented the official results of the September 10, 2024, Special Election for the Pekin Community School District as canvassed.
The Board voted to accept as official the results of the canvass of the September 10, 2024, Special Election for the Pekin Community School District.
At 9:52 am the Board voted to adjourn.