By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – Land use was the main item on the agenda for the Benton County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Benton County Service Center in Vinton.

Land use

A land use hearing was set for March 24 at 9:15 a.m. for Jeff Geiger for land in Section 28, Harrison Township.

A land use hearing was held for Cameron Erickson for land in Section 36, Benton Township. It is for a single-family dwelling with possible outbuildings. It is on high quality farm ground with a high corn suitability rating. The request is likely to interfere with farm operations in the area, according to Andrea Morris of the land use office. There is concern about a precedent if high quality land is taken out of production and is inconsistent with the land use policy. Erickson was at the meeting and stated there shouldn’t be any disruption to farming in the area. Disruption was a written concern of a neighboring farmer.  He just wanted a peaceful place in the country to call home. 

Supervisor Chairman Tracy Seeman talked about the need for a hard-surfaced road. 

Supervisor Bruce Volz said he’d like to visit the property. The matter was tabled for a week to March 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Other business

The board approved an amendment to the Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority MC-050 maintenance agreement.

Auditor Hayley Rippel gave an update on the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. She said it was educational and informative.  A scholarship from the Iowa Association of Counties helped her to attend this. They talked about FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funding, juvenile detention, the new farm bill and collateral for young farmers and Department of Transportation funding. 

David Eilander of the Blairstown First Responders was appointed to the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) advisory council. The board also approved EMS claims from the trust fund.

28E agreements were approved for law enforcement with cities and a 28E dispatch/liaison/school resources officer. There is no increase in the rates for the communities. The communities are Atkins, Blairstown, Garrison, Keystone, Luzerne, Mount Auburn, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Urbana, and Van Horne. Dispatch services include Belle Plaine, Vinton and Urbana.