By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – Wells, cars and watershed management were on the agenda for the Benton County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.
Land use and environmental health
Andrea Morris of the land use office discussed the extension of part-time employment of the Environmental Health and Land Use Administrative Assistant. The board approved the extension, seeing this is within the current budget. The extension is no later than January.
The board approved Resolution #26-65, amending Resolution #26-57, variance to subdivision ordinance, for Darland’s.
The board approved Resolution #26-66, entering into a 28E agreement between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Benton County. This is regarding permits for wells in Benton County. In the past year they have permitted 18 wells.
Other business
Bids were opened for three sheriff’s department vehicles. Bids were accepted from Thys Automotive. Thys was the only bidder. The bid was $44,955 each.
The board appointed Mariam Gallagher, DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), as Deputy Benton County Medical Examiner.
The board approved Resolution #26-67, amending Resolution #16-19, approving the Articles of Agreement with the Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority.
The board approved Resolution #26-68 – Committing of Funds. Auditor Hayley Rippel explained in an email, “These are committed amounts from the fund balance reserves that are for specific use we have to list out. It is important we do this. In future years with the tax reform bills, if they say we can’t have more than 30 percent reserves, we have to know what is the specific reason for our reserves. We’ve already approved the projects or allocations as such.
The resolution reads:
RESOLUTION #26-68
RESOLUTION COMMITTING FUND BALANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH GASB 54
WHEREAS, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board has adopted statement #54 (GASB 54); and
WHEREAS, Benton County desires to commit a portion of fund balances in accordance with GASB 54,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that the following funds are committed as of June 30, 2026:
COMMITTED FUND BALANCES:
General Fund:
- $42,000 sanitarian vehicle replacement;
- $60,000 election equipment replacement;
- $50,000 emergency response;
- $500,000 infrastructure upgrades;
- $243,382 RACOM maintenance agreement
Rural Services Fund – $42,000 land use administrator vehicle replacement
Conservation Land Acquisition Fund-$289,926 conservation projects
EMS Revolving Loan Fund – $126,484 for emergency services loans
EMS Trust Fund- $1,271,985
LOSST Fund – $115,000 Pictometry aerial flight cost, technology upgrades and infrastructure
BE IT RESOLVED that committed fund balances established prior to June 30, 2026, are hereby uncommitted as of June 30, 2026, and the committed fund balances stated above are established in lieu thereof.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the designation of committed fund balances indicates that Benton County prefers to use available financial resources for the specific purposes set forth above, and although committed, the funds are to remain an integral part of the spendable or appropriable resources of Benton County
Signed this 28th of July, 2026.
Tracy Seeman, Chairman
Ronald J. Tippett
Bruce Volz
ATTEST: Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor
The board set Monday, Aug. 31, 1 p.m. for an all-county employee training.
The board approved a utility permit for East Central Iowa REC in Jackson Township.
Greg Walston gave an Old School Produce update and discussed a fence and new bat house. They wanted permission from the county to put a pole in the ground for the bat house, which will be about 15 feet in the air. The bats help provide insect control.
The meeting closed with reports, focusing on wellness participation, the landfill, septic tanks and projects for county parks.
Jim Magdefrau 