VINTON — The Benton County Supervisors committed funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to several projects during its Oct. 15 meeting.
Supervisor Tracy Seeman said he objected to a $5,000 camera on the tower on the sheriff’s office. Somebody else is going to have to pay the bill, he said, since they took it down and never put it back up.
Also on the list is $64,000 for a patrol truck for Benton County Conservation. Steam pipe insulation at the information technology office in the basement will cost $1,200.
Supervisors are considering installing a panic button at the courthouse and service center at a cost of about $37,500. Another $35,000 will be used for a rescue boat for the sheriff’s department, a jet boat built for low water.
Other projects include concrete work costing $23,000 to finish a driveway at the transportation building and a battery backup for the sheriff’s department for an estimated $86,500.
The county is looking into updating the courthouse but is checking to see if it can complete the updates on a historical building.
After earmarking funds for these projects, Benton County is left with $29,000 non-committed funds from its $4.9 million in ARPA funds.
The money has to be committed by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, according to Auditor Hayley Rippel.
Supervisors approved an Iowa Department of Transportation pre-construction agreement for a primary road project on Iowa Highway 8, V-37 to Highway 218.
The board approved culvert replacement on 52nd Street in Polk Township just east of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.
The board approved the DOT Federal Aid Agreements for that project and for bridge replacement on 16th Avenue in Cedar Township.
A land use hearing was set for Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 9:15 a.m. for Ben Twedt, for a part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30, township 85, range 9.
Shelby Williams, of Benton County Conservation, and Eric Schares, with Integrated Roadside Management, discussed the County Weed Commissioner’s annual report. The week commission spent $41,000 on chemicals.
Williams gave an update on the bids received for the Tree Canopy Grant for the Atkins Roundhouse Area. The county received seven bids.
Supervisors approved the bid of $234,973 from Bill Miller and Sons Logging in Dubuque which was approved by the conservation board.
East Central Council of Governments is administrating the grant. Work should be completed by March.
Sam Berglin, mental health and disability services coordinator, and Mona Onken, with Social Services, discussed Benton County’s compliance with a Memorandum of Understanding Exhibit B dealing with documents from patient advocates.
Seeman suggested they together with the sheriff by November to resolve it.
The board approved a loan agreement between Benton County and Fremont Township to repair the township hall that was damaged in the 2019 derecho.
The board approved an amended request from Vinton Unlimited for use of the courthouse on Nov. 21 instead of Nov. 14.
