By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors agreed to go with the compensation board’s recommendation on elected officials’ salaries next fiscal year, at their meeting Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the service center in Vinton.
This came one week after the board approved salary increases for the auditor and attorney, but kept the salaries the same for the sheriff, recorder, treasurer, and supervisors. This was a 2-1 vote, with Ron Tippett and Bruce Volz in favor, and Tracy Seeman opposed.
The compensation board recommended raises for all elected officials, except the supervisors. This was approved, 3-0.
Volz started discussion, saying that following the previous week’s meeting he visited with the auditor and observed, “There were some things in the resolution that I seconded the motion and then voted aye on. There were some things in that that I wasn’t aware of and I should have been educated myself more prior to
the meeting, which I did not. I apologize that I didn’t do that.”
He asked Auditor Hayley Rippel to put this back on the agenda to be looked at again.
Volz made a motion to accept the resolution, and to not omit any departments as far as compensation.
Tippett said he was contacted by many departments about this. They have shown their work. He seconded the motion.
Before action on the motion, Sheriff Dave Upah said no one asked him to show his work and what his department has done. He detailed the department’s work since Jan. 1, 2025, regarding deputies, detectives, hiring from within for a jail administrator, insurance audit on vehicles, addressing a vehicle shortage, dispatch fees, doubling contract rates with area communities, in-car body cams to reduce litigation, reducing overtime in jail staff, took out the part-time jail program, started a work release program, audit of telephones, and part of the budget being moved to information technology.
Upah stressed they are trying to do what’s best for everybody.
“Appreciate all your hard work,” Tippett told Upah.
Also visiting with the board were Recorder Lexa Speidel, Treasurer Melinda Schoettmer and Treasurer Deputy Joy Weiditz.
The approved resolution called for the following raises:
- Auditor $3,000
- Treasurer and recorder $2,800
- Attorney $6,000
- Sheriff $4,000
- Supervisors – no raise.
This is effective July 1, 2025.
Other business
The board approved 40 hours of vacation carryover and clarification on wages for Mark Erickson.
The Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plan was approved.
The board approved the Mental Health and Developmentally Disabled plan.
A fireworks permit was approved for Iowa Pyrotechnics Association on April 26, June 7 and June 8. It is null and void if there is a burn ban.
The meeting closed with a citizen visiting with the board about the carbon pipeline.
The board talked with Dean Vrba about upgrading the Benton County Iowa Municipal Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. He recommended going with Two Rivers, based out of Texas, for the plan. The board tabled the matter for two weeks. VIDEO.
Jim Magdefrau 