Minutes
Benton County Conservation Board Meeting
Monday, January 12th, 2026 at 5:30pm
Benton County Nature Center, 5718 20th Ave Drive, Vinton, IA
Board Members Present: Becky Van Wey, Dan Hill, Sam Hunter, Randy Scheel, Derrick Parker
Board of Supervisors Present: Tracy Seeman
Staff Present: Shelby Williams, Cecilia Dirks, Eric Schares, Cam Grubic, Zach Parmater, Aaron Askelson
IRM Steering Committee: John Frazier, Jeff Raslston, Wayne Siela, Becky Van Wey, Zach Parmater, Tracy Seeman

1. Call to Order at 5:30pm by Van Wey
2. Discuss/Action Consent Agenda – Motion to approve by Scheel, seconded by Hunter. All aye, motion passed.
3. Appoint Chair – motion by Hill to accept Scheel as the 2026 chair, seconded by Hunter. All aye, motion passed.
4. Board Member Oath – Parker took the oath
5. Guests or public participation (kept to a maximum of 3 minutes, the Board will not take any action on public comments at this meeting but may do so in future meetings). – none
6. Discuss/Action Consent Agenda — Motion to consent agenda by Van Wey, seconded by Hill. All aye, motion passed.
   a. Approve minutes from last regular meeting
   b. Approve Conservation and IRM expenditures and revenues
   c. Receive and file activity report
   d. Tabled Items
   i. City of Atkins – Atkins Roundhouse: Lease
7. Business
   a. IRM Steering Committee – Roadside Manager Update provided by Schares
   b. Discuss/Action Adopt-a-Prairie Program – Van Wey made a motion to approve, seconded by Parker. All aye motion passed.
   c. Discuss Animal Shelter and Cherveny Properties – Williams gave update
   d. Discuss/Action Budget FY27
   i. IRM Budget
   ii. Conservation Budget
   Hill made a motion to approve IRM & Conservation budgets, seconded by Hunter. All
   aye, motion passed.
8. Board Member/Staff Reports
   a. IRM Update
   b. Education Update – Askleson gave update
   c. Law Enforcement Update – Grubic and Williams gave update
   d. Property Update – Williams and Grubic gave update
   e. Director Update – Williams gave update
9. Set next regular meeting on February 9, 2026 at 5:30pm, at the Nature Center 5718 20
   th Ave Drive, Vinton, IA.
10. Adjourn – Hill moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 pm, Parker seconded. All aye, motion passed.
    Minutes Submitted by: Cecilia Dirks

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