By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors approved EMS claims and took land use change action at their Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, meeting at the service center in Vinton.

Claims approved for EMS (Emergency Medical Services) were: 

• Belle Plaine Ambulance, medical supplies 1,983.11
• Blairstown EMS, safety supplies, $106
• Keystone First Responders, medical supplies, $1,166.78
• Norway Area Firefighters, medical supplies, $127.54
• Urbana/Polk Township Fire, vehicle equipment $6,190.47, training $95
• Van Horne First Responders, medical supplies, $2,074.77
• Packet Totals: $11,743.67

Vacation carryover was approved for Barb Fetzer of the sanitarian/land use office. 

The board approved public health’s temporary increase of the credit limit on the department credit card. 

A tax abatement was approved for the State of Iowa. It totaled $7. 

A land use change hearing was scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. for Matt and Michelle Friedman, for land in Section 17, Iowa Township.

A land use change hearing was held for Cole Baumgartner for land in Section 7, Polk Township. This is two miles west and north of Urbana. They are building a single family dwelling.

The board approved County Attorney Derek Marsh to be Benton County’s representative in collective bargaining negotiations.

A closed session was held with the county attorney pursuant under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j): To discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the government body would receive for that property. The minutes and the audio recording of a session closed under this paragraph shall be available for public examination when the transaction discussed is completed 

After the closed session the board approved setting the minimum bid for the Cherveny railroad property at $2,000 that after the sale will be awarded by a quit claim deed.
They also set the minimum bid for the Dog Pound property at $10,000 which after the sale is final will be awarded by quit claim deed.

There will be a future public notices prepared with this information along with the board setting the date and time for the bid letting process in regards to both the conservation properties for sale, according to Auditor Hayley Rippel.