By BARBARA PROFFITT | June 21, 2023

The Linn County Commissioners met on Monday, June 19, with the first order of business being the approval of the minutes of the last meeting.

The commissioners then approved two separate claims registers after County Clerk David Lamb explained that after payroll was ran with the new system another check came in. He added that they are working through the glitches. Commissioners approved one register in the amount of $475,901.96 and one in the amount of $794.84.

Galen Anderson with AMR reported they have done 17 transports in the last week and 50 so far this month. 

Randy Hegwald, Linn County Rural Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator, reported the fire department had responded to five incidents in the last week.  Hegwald noted there is an issue with mowing at the fire stations, Prescott in particular, was not mowed last year, the city mowed and this year it was brought to their attention and they mowed at the wrong address. Hegwald believes the payments, at $45 per mowing should not have been paid. County Counselor Gary Thompson noted that a total needed to be calculated and their next payment needs to be reduced by that amount. 

Economic Development Director Jessica Hightower presented the department budget proposal for 2024 Commissioner Jason Hightower asked about a line item on her budget and the infrastructure for the industrial park. Commissioner Hightower asked what it takes to bring a business in and EDA Hightower responded there is a need for someplace for the businesses to go and a need for a workforce, which goes back to the need for affordable housing. Commissioner Hightower clarified that the industrial park for new businesses needs new infrastructure. Commissioner McCullough noted phase 3 is available across the road at the Pleasanton site and EDA Hightower stated an EPA study needs to be done and infrastructure needs to be on site so that the sites are shovel-ready.

Commissioners requested EDA Hightower obtain cost estimates on everything discussed and bring them back next week.

Commissioner McCullough stated he would like to see more explanations within the budget proposals so that the county residents are aware of what their tax dollars are being used for. 

EDA Hightower then read off her budget and then answered several questions regarding her budget. Commissioners opted to hold approval of the proposed budget until the numbers they requested are in.

Amanda Snyder, Linn County Health Department, then spoke regarding upcoming events and the classroom project at the Health Department. Snyder said she anticipates using the new classroom several times a month at a minimum. Commissioners gave approval on the request for bids on the classroom project.

Snyder then presented the proposed budget for her department. Commissioners requested further detail on the grants portion of her proposed budget.

Commissioners then opened the one real estate bid that was received on current Senior Center in Pleasanton from Faithful Steward for $5. Commissioners rejected the bid and agreed to put out a notice that the county is inviting real estate agencies to provide the information requested.

Fire Chief Randy Hegwald presented the budget for Rural Fire and after a review of the proposed budget commissioners gave tentative approval.

Hegwald then presented the proposed budget for Emergency Management with few changes from this year and commissioners approved that one as well.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Darin Wilson noted the Planning Commission will be holding a special meeting on the findings for the zoning and subdivision regulations on June 27 at 7:30 p.m., which requires commissioners to review them on July 5. Commissioners opted to keep their regular meeting on Monday, July 3, and set a special meeting on Wednesday, July 5, at 9 a.m. for the regulations only.

Linn County Sheriff Kevin Friend then presented the proposed budget for his department. (See related article in this edition.) Commissioners gave tentative approval of the proposed $3.88 million budget.

Commissioners then entered into a 20-minute executive session with Shaun West with 15 set for legal matters and five for personnel matters. No action was taken.

Commissioners then entered into executive session for the purposes of interviewing for a new road foreman.