Minutes
Benton County Conservation Board Meeting
Monday, February 9, 2026 at 5:30pm
Benton County Nature Center, 5718 20
th Ave Drive, Vinton, IA
Board Members Present: Randy Scheel, Becky Van Wey, Dan Hill, Derrick Parker, Sam Hunter – Virtually Board of Supervisors: Bruce Volz, Tracy Seeman, Ron Tippett
Staff Present: Shelby Williams, Eric Schares, Faith Hunt, Cara Harrill, Ethan Hennings, Cecilia Dirks, Austin Wille,
Zach Parmater
Public: Bob Stolen, Bruce Vissor

1. Call to Order at 5:30pm by Scheel
2. Approve Agenda – Motion to approve by Van Wey, seconded by Parker. All aye, motion passed.
3. 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
4. Discuss/Action Consent Agenda: Motion to approve consent agenda by Hill, seconded by Van Wey. 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
5. Business
   a. IRM Update and Discussion – Schares presented
   b. Discuss/Action Budget FY27 – Scheel gave update
   i. IRM Budget
   ii. Conservation Budget
   c. Discuss Atkins Property – Stolen gave update. Atkins is not interested in a lease for the entire property at this time.
   d. Discuss/Action Atkins Tree Bids CDBG Grant – Williams gave update. Hill made a motion to obtain sealed bids for the second round of tree planting, Van Wey seconded. All aye, motion passed.
   e. Discuss Animal Shelter and Cherveny Properties – Williams gave update
6. Board Member/Staff Reports
   a. IRM Update
   b. Education Update – Hunt gave update
   c. Law Enforcement Update – Williams and Wille gave update
   d. Properties Update – Harrill gave update on OCNT, Hennings gave update on South Unit, Parmater gave update on North Unit
   e. ICCS Fall Conference Update – Williams gave an update. Date of conference is 9.15.26 – 9.17.26
   f. Director Update – Williams gave update
7. Other discussion
8. Set next regular meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 5:30pm, Nature Center 5718 20th Ave Drive, Vinton, IA.
9. Adjourn – Hunter moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:18pm, Hill seconded. All aye, motion passed.
   Minutes Submitted by: Cecilia Dirks