By Jim Magdefrau
Vinton – Bridges, insurance, cell phones and laptops were the topics for the Benton County Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.
A land use hearing was set for 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, for Lloyd and Sherry Biggart I, for land in Section 5, Fremont Township.
The board approved a Class C Retail Alcohol License Renewal for Walnut Ridge Venue.
The board approved new bridge embargoes for various secondary road bridges. Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek explained that as bridges and structures get older, they can’t handle the load they were designed for. The county has 327 structures that are defined by the federal government as a bridge.
The board approved a reduction in bridge embargoes for various secondary road bridges. This affects 10 bridges which will get lower weight limits.
Supervisor Bruce Volz gave an update on Heartland Insurance. They plan a reevaluation of county properties and buildings. The county has 53 buildings. The value is $35.9 million. Contents are $4.8 million. There is a concern that the buildings are not insured at full value.
They also talked about workmen’s comp. Rates will be going up 31 percent. The loss ratio is -421 percent.
Volz observed, “So we’re bad. We’re really bad.” They want the county to have a reserve that is 33 percent of the premium.
There is also an emphasis on cyber security. Premiums are going to go up with the county picking up a larger share.
Volz said, “Insurance rates are going through the roof because the reinsurance companies are tired of playing.”
A sidebar at the Heartland meeting Volz attended dealt with use of personal cell phones and computers for county business. The concern is that there’s a lot of counties that have separate cell phones for the county and their own personal cell phone. It has been brought up in a lawsuit that they can confiscate your phone or laptop and everything that’s on it is available to them. He said Assistant County Attorney Derek Marsh would look at the ramifications this has on Benton County.’
