By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – Getting into the weeds.
Benton County’s Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, and heard an update on weeds in the county. The meeting was at the Benton County Service Center in Vinton.
Weeds
The board approved the annual commissioner’s report. They also appointed Eric Schares as the 2027 Weed Commissioner.
Schares said that in Benton County, thistles are Number 1. They are starting to see a little bit of leafy spurge and a little bit of teasel. They are starting to see Japanese Knotweed was well. They are going to get after these and hit them hard.
He went to roadside conferences last week and relayed that a lot of counties are seeing the same. Thistles are growing crazy all the way up to Dickinson County.
They used the same amount of chemicals as last year. They are proactively working on brush. Benton County is also working to get rid of scouring rush, which some call snake grass. It’s hard to go after because it takes a totally different chemical, so they’ve been experimenting.
Licenses
Benton County Treasurer Melinda Schoettmer explained changes from the Iowa Department of Transportation in the system for licenses and motor vehicles. It is called MVD 360. They have been working on it the past year. The first phase goes into effect on Jan. 19, 2027, for driver’s licenses. This will be for 18 months. As the new system is implemented, the county will have access to its current ARTS (Archon Registration and Titling System) for two days (Jan. 14 and 15), as license information is rolled over into the new system. The office will remain open so they can do property taxes and clean the office.
Changes for motor vehicles will go into effect 18 months after driver’s licenses. So the county will have two systems for a while. They anticipate there will be issues for the first few weeks, so the state encourages the county to not schedule too much for the first week.
She said the new system is user friendly. She added the ARTS system has been used for 20 years and has outlived its life.
Amendment
A public hearing was held for an amendment to the current 2027 budget. Supervisor Ron Tippett said that without more information on where they are going with taxes, it’s hard for him to get off of the current budget. He has no problem moving funds from one service area to another. He has a problem digging into the reserves because the county has big things coming, and they have no idea what it is going to cost them. He stressed they have to take care of their current courthouse first.
They know what needs to be done on this, he said. In a phone call with a citizen, Tippett explained that courthouse concerns include water infiltration in the basement. It cropped up after the amount of rain it received. There are also concerns with draining and window wells. Tippett said it could be a big project.
Supervisor Bruce Volz said in making a motion for approval that the county is in a position that these things have to be completed. He added a caveat that until they know what they have to do with the courthouse, the county shouldn’t spend money on what it wants, but on what it needs. Tippett seconded this. It was approved.
Expenditures
Physical Health & Social Services $50,000
County Environment & Education $200,000
Administration $16,100
Revenues
Intergovernmental $112,500
