Board of Supervisors Minutes

March 17, 2009

The Tama County Board of Supervisors met at 9:30 a.m., March 17, 2009. Present: 1st District Supervisor, Larry Vest; 2nd District Supervisor, Kendall Jordan and 3rd District Supervisor, Dan Wilkens.

Motion by Jordan, seconded by Wilkens to approve the minutes of the March 10th, 2009, regular meeting. All voted aye. Motion carried.

The Board met with Lyle Brehm, Tama County Engineer to get a road projects report.

Mr. Brehm asked the Board to sign a Federal Aid Agreement for the Highway E69 project which is being funded by stimulus money supplied by the federal government. Motion by Wilkens, seconded by Jordan to approve the Federal Aid Agreement #01-09-ESP-022 for the Highway E69 project. All voted aye. Motion carried. The Board was also asked to sign the IDOT Budget for Tama County. This is the same budget that was approved by the Board for the engineer's office on March 10, 2009. Motion by Jordan, seconded by Wilkens to approve the IDOT Budget for Tama County for fiscal year 2010. All voted aye. Motion carried.

There was a discussion about the budget specifically regarding pay raises and salaries. In order to bring the raises for elected officials and non-elected/non-union employees more in line with each other Mr. Wilkens suggested a $900 raise for every employee except those covered by a union contract. In making budgeting recommendations to the department heads in January for salaries the Board recommended a 3 ½% increase for non-union/non-elected employees and a 3% increase for elected officials. The Board then passed a 2% wage increase for elected officials creating a gap between elected official and non-union/non-elected employees wages. Mr. Vest stated he was uncomfortable with the flat dollar amount as it was in conflict with what the previous Board had verbally agreed to with the sheriff office employees, which was that they would be treated as the union employees were as far as wages. Since the Board has already had their public hearing and adopted their budget if there is a change in wages/salaries it would create a slight increase in the ending fund balance for the general fund. Mr. Jordan was not totally in favor of Mr. Wilkens proposal. The Board will look at other options before making a decision. No action taken. This will be discussed again next week.

Tama County is currently in a 28E Agreement with 16 other counties and the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora for services. There are two new counties wanting to participate in this agreement: Palo Alta and Buena Vista. This will require a new 28E Agreement. Motion by Wilkens, seconded by Jordan to approve the new 28E Agreement with Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora, which will now include 18 counties. All voted aye. Motion carried.

Motion by Jordan, seconded by Wilkens to approve the claims for payment as presented. All voted aye. Motion carried.

Chairman Vest adjourned the meeting at 10:35 a.m.