CEDAR COUNTY COMMISSION

Met with Leah Morton, County Assessor

Requests to process court order #29025-29034 to add-on the assessed valuation of newly purchased personal property.

The burn ban was removed.

Contacted Scott Smith Excavating to see if he can do a repair on the northwest corner of the courthouse outside the Assessor office due to water coming in.  Smith evaluated the drainage today and will schedule the repair for winter.

Met with Sheriff McCrary

Inmate count is approximately 27.  We are housing all of Barton County’s female inmates now.  McCrary applied for a jail improvement grant last week and requested improvements for the heating and air in the jail.

Received a bid from Santa Paula Awning Co to replace the front doors of the courthouse.  The commission will call to get a few more bids.

Resident reported concerns of windrows needing maintenance on CR1170 east of CR2325.

Conference call with Victoria Barker, CCHD

Discussed status of the carport. There is a debate over pillars vs. piers, and the location placement on the lot. After multiple conversations over necessary slopes, state approval, and other issues, CCHD will ask to locate the carport in approximately the same location CCHD currently parks their county vehicle. Barker is working with Polk County Health Department to cover WIC when the back-up staff are unable to cover. Barker requests an additional $50 petty cash for the Stockton location to have to make change each week. The COVID test kits are now expired so they are working to get more.

Viewed the list of delegates for the MAC Annual Conference.  Cedar County is eligible for 4, the delegates selected are Ted Anderson, Associate Commissioner – Southern; Heather York, County Clerk; Peggy Kenney, Treasurer; and Sarah Turner, Circuit Clerk

Motion by Boultinghouse to approve the MAC list of delegates for 2023 Annual Conference, second by Anderson.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes.

Conference call with Matthew Nuir, Coalition Against Bigger Trucks

Nuir asks about safety concerns, and infrastructure concerns with big trucks on county roads; we do have issues with this. The weight limit would go from 80,000 to 91,000 lbs. as a pilot project for 10 years tracking fatalities, not infrastructure. The point of the coalition is to work with law enforcement, trucking companies, and local government to address safety concerns and infrastructure for roads and bridges. County bridges are rarely ever prepared for this kind of a change; our current infrastructure doesn’t support the 80,000 lbs. that most trucks are today. The estimated cost of the bridges in Cedar County that would need to be replaced would currently run about $28.5 million. The purpose of the call is for outreach to congress to let them know how detrimental this will be to infrastructure and safety concerns. The commission will consider a letter of recommendation to support this coalition in their endeavors to stop these legislative actions. Mark Alford is on the ag committee; the push will come through the farm bill which usually ensures approval when it gets tied in with agriculture.

Motion by Boultinghouse to apply for the 2nd tranche of the LATC funding OMB Approval #1505-0276 Assistance #21.032 in the amount of $107,434.10, second by Anderson.  Anderson – Yes; Boultinghouse – Yes; Thornton – Yes.

Met with DJ Ford, Road and Bridge Supervisor

Discussed grading; confirmed all 4 graders are out preforming maintenance. Discussed recent vacancy for the brush cutter position on Road and Bridge. Discussed Peter Built dump truck gaining oil; truck is parked until repair options are determined.

Met with Peggy Kenny, County Treasurer

Discussed bank agreement and possibility of reaching out to county attorney regarding meeting statute requirements. Discussed highlights from her training; Senate Bill 190; Emergency Preparedness