By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – The public hearing for Benton County’s 2025-26 budget was set for Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., at the service center in Vinton. The action took place at the service center on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Vinton.
The budget hearing notice will be published in local newspapers. This will also be posted on South Benton County Area News website.
Once it is published, the county can’t go above its spending authority, Auditor Hayley Rippel explained.
Sheriff’s vehicles
A hand-written check was approved for the sheriff’s department to Thys Motors. Sheriff Dave Upah said this is for the last three Durangos for the department. They traded in five vehicles, which are three Durangos, an Impala and pickup truck. The total for the three vehicles is $123,692.
Mobile homes
Treasurer Melinda Schoettmer received approval to abate taxes on Parcels 11253355 and 479828N0655. These are mobile homes. She has been working with mobile home parks to get records cleaned up. These are at Longview, which is a mobile home park in Vinton. These have been destroyed by the mobile home park owner and the material has been hauled away. Taxes have not been paid on them for several years, and they are of no value to the court. This is for $1,229 and $2,492. Now the lots are open and somebody can move in new mobile homes, Schoettmer said.
Wage clarification
A wage clarification was discussed for Benton County Transportation Director Mark Erickson. Supervisor Bruce Volz looked at the proposed 14-percent salary increase. Volz commented, “I know I can almost guarantee you that if we move forward with a 14 percent increase in your compensation, that in less than five minutes we’re going to have a line out the door of employees and residents of this county who want to come in and play pin the tail on the supervisor.”
Erickson asked about using comparable information for salaries. Supervisor Ron Tippett said he looks at comparables for determining elected officials salaries.
Supervisors also pointed out this is Erickson’s first year as director.
No action was taken.
Mental Health Advocate and training
Benton County Attorney Ray Lough talked with the board about the mental health advocate and public health. These are items that are meant to improve services and the environment in which they all work. The advocate was tied to the region. The region will not exist at the end of June, so by statute, counties are required to have the advocate.
Lough explained, “When a person is in crisis, a family or law enforcement can file an emergency commitment application, which then results in the judge issuing an order to pick them up, take them to the hospital and undergo a five-day evaluation to stabilize them. It’s not a long-term treatment situation. It’s just to stabilize them.” A lawyer is then appointed for the hearing. Lough said it’s important these people have follow-up services when they are reintroduced into the community, avoiding a revolving door situation.
Lough introduced Bethany Wheaton, who has been the county’s advocate for several years. They are looking at placing her into the public health department. Lough said she now works from her home.
Lough said, “Mental health is a big issue, not only in our county, but every county. The more services we can provide to keep those people in a good place the better. So that’s why we’re here to shift the funding source. If we had a place for her to come and meet with her clients that would be awesome, because right now she’s meeting them in courthouses or parking lots or wherever.”
After July 1, they will hope to know more about the county getting reimbursement from the state for this. No action was taken, as Lough said they were just giving information to the board. He will meet with the board of health also.
He also discussed the county-wide training coordinator and an amendment to Alisha Stach-Lorang’s employment agreement. She has an emphasis on law enforcement. They will also look at open records and using personal devices for work. Lough said, “We ought to be training our law enforcement to be the best they can be. A lot of them have never been to the courtroom in a contested trial, so we want to spend some time with how to prepare yourself. You know you can never have enough training on the preparation of search warrants or the arrest of domestic abuse. There’s a lot of rules to go along with domestic abuse cases and mandatory arrest requirements.”
Lough asked for $5,000 for the next two years, plus $2,500 a year for necessary equipment. Supervisors saw this as a good idea and a benefit, and it was approved.
Other business
A new mailbox carrier was approved for the service center. The county now has an 8-person mailbox right now and they have 10 entities that use it, according to Supervisor Chairman Tracy Seeman. They looked at getting a 12-person mailbox, but the cost is $2,800. Seeman is now looking for something they can bolt onto the existing mailbox to get by.
The board acknowledged the retirement of Nancy Jorgensen in the auditor’s office, effective May 30.
The board approved an amendment to the current fiscal year budget. Rippel explained these are different line items, the dissolving of the mental health region, and making extra spending authority, radio equipment and paying new deputies.
The board met with Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser and new city administrator Scott L. Flory.
The board approved the wage and classification change for Ron Ragen, secondary roads. Engineer Myron Parizek said Ragen’s pay will increase to $28.84 and his classification will be 4D. This is his first anniversary. He currently runs a motor grader at the Van Horne shed.
Parizek also gave an update on a box culvert extension for a curve on the east side of Vinton. Parizek suggested the city pay for 75 percent of this, as it is 95 to 100 percent in the city limits of Vinton. An agreement was approved by the city council. The extension is just under $55,000.
Jim Magdefrau 