By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors had a short meeting to open the week when they met on Monday, Nov. 10, at the Benton County Service Center in Vinton.

The board talked about wording changes to the sick leave policy in the handbook. Alisha Burmeister of the auditor’s office met with the board about the use of quarter hour increments and half hour increments. A resolution was approved that amends that section of the handbook to half hour increments.

Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek discussed a speed limit request on 70th Street in Van Horne. He said the City of Van Horne has reached out to him about the road on the east side of Van Horne, where Van Horne has annexed some of the ground that has two newer houses. There is a 35 mile-per-hour speed limit now for traffic coming into town and a 55 mile-per-hour limit for traffic leaving town. The city has requested the county extend a 45 mile-per-hour limit for incoming traffic and making it 45 miles-per-hour for traffic leaving town.

Parizek said he observed traffic and people are beginning to slow down already as they come into town. He added that this is a county right of way. It has nothing to do with the city at all. He recommended going along with the city’s request. He said he could draft a resolution to do this. Board members said they had no problem with Parizek’s recommendation. Action is expected at next week’s meeting.

The board acknowledged the resignation of Jamie Kane from the secondary roads department. This is effective on Nov. 17.

The board discussed the use of the courthouse grounds for a Chic Fil A food truck vendor. Supervisor Tracy Seeman said, technically, he was told the truck was going to be on the street and not on the grounds. Seeman said the county does not own the street, the City of Vinton owns the street. If the vendor was going to be on the street, the supervisors can’t say no. The board indicated they had no problem with this. Auditor Hayley Rippel urged the board to give the vendor a call. Seeman said he’d call after the meeting. This is part of a Veterans Day observance on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The board approved granting permission, though Seeman said he was still calling the vendor after the meeting.

The meeting closed with discussion on the condition of the road between Newhall and Highway 218. It is in the five-year plan.