The Dallas County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.
During open forum, the Dallas County Library Association approached the Board to update them on events they have supported this year. Paula James with the Adel Public Library says 612 people attended this year’s second annual Toddler Fest. Mary Murphy with the Perry Public Library said they’re now looking forward to the All Dallas County Reads One Book event this fall featuring author C.J. Box on September 17th in Perry.
The Board then approved payroll change notices for the sheriff’s office, engineer’s office, secondary roads department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department. The Board discussed the roads superintendent position in length. Engineer Jim George says five current employees have expressed interest in the promotion. Supervisor Kim Chapman questioned if the new Engineer should have the opportunity to be part of the process and select who he thinks will best fit that role, rather than George who will soon be leaving. George said he knows the staff better than a new employee would. Ultimately, the payroll change notices were unanimously approved. A public hearing was then set for 9:30am on July 7th to discuss the new County Engineer contract. As previously reported, the Board has selected Al Miller to fill the vacancy that will be left when George retires in August.
A public hearing in regards to a reuse plan of revolving loan fund and transfer to the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance was then held. Linda Wunch with the Development Alliance says this has been a three year process to get to this point. Revolving loan fund Chair Mark Meyer says applicants would be limited to around $150,000 to not “put all eggs in one basket”. The goal of the fund is to add to the tax base, increase employment and benefit the economy in Dallas County. Meyer says he is pleased with the work the County has done thus far. Wunch says the fund has not been drawn from since 2003 and there are currently two loan inquiries for the funds. Operations Administrator Connie Kinnard says getting the word out that these funds are available to be applied for is something the County has struggled with. She says the Alliance’s connections are expected to help put these funds to use for the purpose they were designed for. Wunch says the most likely use for these monies is expansion of current businesses in the area. Following the hearing, the fund transfer was unanimously approved.
A computer server hardware maintenance agreement was then discussed. Information Technology Director Todd Noah says the agreement has been amended to change language in regards to the County having the option to terminate the contract. The agreement with Solutions Inc. was approved by the Board.
The Board then voted to table the two-way voice intercom and panic button system contract. Noah says he and Sheriff Chad Leonard are still working to obtain competitive bid for the equipment. Exterior camera equipment for the courthouse was then discussed. The Board approved a bid from CEC Communications Company for the cameras and digital video recording equipment in the amount of $15,530.
Several operating transfers were then approved as presented. Among them are general basic fund transfer to the secondary road fund, a transfer from the rural basic fund to the secondary roads fund, a transfer from the Ortonville Tax Increment Financing fund and a transfer to the Ortonville Lagoon fund.
A second public hearing in regards to the final plat of Hickory Lodge plat number four was then held. This parcel of land is near Van Meter, south of F-90 on 360th Street. This is for nineteen residential lots with a cul de sac. Steve Wondrow, an attorney representing the developer, said they have worked with current homeowners to address concerns in regards to weight limits for trucks, aesthetics of the homes, fire pits and other matters. A fifth plat in the Hickory Lodge area with fifteen lots is expected to be developed in the future. The final plat was approved.
The third public hearing in regards to the purchase of cardiac monitors for the EMS department was then held. The Board spoke with EMS Director Mike Thomason about how many monitors they should purchase. Thomason says the average life expectancy for a cardiac monitor is around five years and the equipment they currently have was purchased eight years ago. Kinnard questioned if staggering the purchases may be more beneficial than purchasing all of them at once. Following the hearing, the Board approved the purchase of three Zoll cardiac monitors.
Next the Board discussed treatment of ash trees in response to Emerald Ash Borer infestation in the area. Facilities Director Eric Rose says three companies looked at the project and submitted bids. The treatments will last two years, after that time Rose says he assumes the Emerald Ash Borers will no longer pose a threat. He compared the treatments to a vaccine, rather than a cure of the pests. The Board tabled the discussion and will touch on it again at a future meeting.
The Board then got an update from Rose on the human services campus. He says there are no change orders to address at this time and they’re looking at future cleaning options.