By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – Court officials pointed to a good working relationship with Benton County at the Benton County Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the service center in Vinton.

Judge Lars Anderson and Kelly Cortez met with the supervisors on Sixth Judicial District Courts. Anderson thanked the supervisors for all they do for them and the courthouse. His said this is one of their favorite courthouses to come to. Benton County and Vinton have a lot of pride in their courthouse and their town. He also praised the staff as being top notch.

Cortez, district court administrator, said they appreciate all the board does to support them. The only update was technology. She said there is a court reporter shortage, which means there is a need for recording equipment for some proceedings and doing hearings on Zoom. 

Julie Hessenius, clerk of court, was also at the meeting. She also pointed to the working relationship they have with local staff, sheriff’s office and county attorney. They keep each other updated so things run smoothly. 

Counties in the Sixth Judicial District are Benton, Tama, Iowa, Linn, Johnson and Jones Counties.

Law enforcement

A law enforcement contract was approved with Urbana. The contract is increasing from 2.5 hours a week to 12 hours, according to Sheriff Ron Tippett. The total is $12,005 a year. The total time is 625 hours. 

Supervisor Chairman Richard Primmer asked if they were getting closer to resolving things there. Tippett said he did not know. There are attorneys involved with what’s going on, Tippett said. There is litigation. 

Primmer said he didn’t want this to become a full-time Benton County responsibility. 

Tippett said he did not know what their plan is for moving forward full-time, and he’s not sure if they know. Primmer said there is no doubt they need more law enforcement exposure there.

Questions from the audience dealt with the city’s police department. 

Other business

Historical Preservation members gave an update on grant work and outreach activity. Allison Hicks talked about plans this fall for a flea market in Vinton. She also talked about a program for restoring historic windows. They are applying for a grant for next spring. They are asking for $6,000, with a local match of $2,750.

Approval was given for a wage and classification change for Donald Erger, secondary roads. His new hourly wage is $28.88.

Approval was given for the Iowa Department of Transportation Federal-Aid Agreement for bridge replacement on 32nd Ave. Dr. in Florence Township.

A resolution was approved to remove a bridge embargo for a bridge on 21st Ave. Dr. in Big Grove Township. The new bridge is open for traffic.

Engineer Myron Parizek was asked by Supervisor Gary Bierschenk how many bridges Benton County has. Parizek said the county has 325 to 330 structures, including box culverts. The federal definition of a bridge has an opening greater than 20 feet. 

Highway 30 lighting

Parizek also talked about lighting of intersections with county roads on Highway 30. He said the county took the initiative on this. The state takes care of intersections with state roads. The DOT will pay half the cost.

In an email delivered on Aug. 14, Parizek gave more detail on lighting along Highway 30.

Parizek: The single intersection lighting that is currently at the paved intersections (21st Ave, 16th Ave, 15th Ave & 13th Ave), Benton County has coordinated with the utility companies that supply power to those locations.

The full intersection lighting that is currently at 27th Ave, 30th Ave & 33rd Ave were installed by the IDOT at that time because the intersecting side roads were state highways at that time.

The full intersection lighting that is currently at 26th Ave was installed by Benton County. The IDOT determined that full lighting was warranted there and recommended requesting some special grant funding. The county secured that funding and were reimbursed for 55 percent of the construction cost.

Since the intersections of 21st Ave, 16th Ave, 15th Ave & 13th Ave are all county roads now, I have asked the IDOT to determine whether full lighting is warranted there and if so, whether the same special funding would be available again to pay for 55 percent of the construction cost.

The IDOT does not look at lighting or propose lighting at side road intersections unless they are state roads. This makes any lighting interest solely the responsibility of the county but IDOT permission is required to do any lighting at these intersections also.

I am waiting to hear back from the IDOT with regard to the lighting requests I have made.