Reconvened at 9:45 a.m. on December 3, 1998 with Bolkcom and Duffy present.

Bolkcom: Number 9, is informal meeting... Bless you. A is discussion regarding scheduling a work session for Highway 965 extension and Local Option Sales Tax.

Jordahl: I put this on because of our ongoing need to clarify what our role in the extension of Highway 965 to the south is going to be, in as much as the Cities of Iowa City and Coralville want to cooperate with us on that project and they are putting it on their ballot language for Local Option Sales Tax. We have said that we don't want to use Local Option Sales Tax money for 965, but that we have other moneys that can, or should, or might be used for that. I believe that both Iowa City and Coralville want to have something from us declaring, in some way clarifying, our intentions in that regard so that their ballot language can make sense, can exist in a context where we have made some statement about, yes we will participate to some extent at some time. We need to pin that down for them, I think, in the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation. I'm not saying we have to give any specific amount of money or anything like that, but we should discuss it.

Bolkcom: I agree.

Jordahl: At the same time, and in the same breath, we need to have language for our Local Option Sales Tax ballot item ready for the first week of January. So we better discuss that too.

Bolkcom: All right. Should we look at our calendars, find a time?

Lacina: Just a point of clarification, as our representative from the Board, when I met with the Cities to discuss 965 I don't think I ever had any direction to state that we would be coming out of our road fund for that massive of a project. I was under the understanding that this would be a function of the Local Option Tax because our portion of that will be far in excess of the budget for the whole Road Department.

Bolkcom: I think there's a number of issues, one is the question... Right now the Board has concluded through our discussions, this could change, that if the Local Option Sales Tax passes we'd use the money that the County would receive for the Capital Projects that we've identified vis-à-vis, our Space Needs Committee.

Lacina: Space needs, right.

Bolkcom: Doesn't mean we can't change that decision and add roads to the ballot initiative. Right?

Jordahl: Right.

Bolkcom: The other issue that's come up is the question of... That I've heard some members of the Board talk about that I think a work session would be good to talk about this, is whether... What commitment the County is going to have to this road in any event. The thought being should the County spend money developing this road and then have it be taken over by Coralville or Iowa City. I've heard some members of the Board talk about that which would raise a question in my mind about whether... Or at least some members of the Board feel that we should not participate at a very great level at all in that project because why do we want to spend our County road dollars on a road that the Cities will take over from us.

Lacina: Or if that occurs that there be some form of amortization or payback.

Bolkcom: OK. So that would be an issue that I want to hear more discussion on...

Stutsman: Yes.

Bolkcom: ...because, as Jonathan points out, Iowa City and Coralville are very much interested in us making some conclusion about our participation in those projects whether it's a sales tax. I know... The other issue is there's a feeling out there that the only we can afford to do 965 is with the sales tax versus using our roads money. Then there's a question of timing, if we don't have a sales tax and this is a project that's going to happen maybe it just takes longer for it to happen. So there's a bunch of issues there. Then there's this deadline of coming up with some language for, what appears to be, a vote going to happen on the sales tax. The County's... We have to have some language together on what we want to do. Maybe we could pick a date and find some time to talk about all these issues and get back to people.

Duffy: Local Option Sales Tax is on the agenda and really...

Jordahl: Is on the agenda?

Duffy: It's discussion here.

Jordahl: Yes, right, it is on the agenda. I thought you said it isn't.

Duffy: I mean this agenda. But Jonathan, we've talked about 965 forever and I think it's an Iowa City/Coralville problem.

Jordahl: 965...

Duffy: I think this is the first time that... Or lately that evidently it looks like we could be a real winner in the Local Option Sales Tax. But even if it went to our area and we say that we're going to use some of this money for building needs, jail is one. The jail is everybody's and they're taxed 16%, part of their 16% taxes that we receive... Approximately, receive from the Cities like Coralville and Iowa City, part of that would go towards the jail, part of our tax. We discussed this yesterday up at the Farm Bureau, there's a County... brought that up. Or Human Services even and things like that. But to say we're going to get rich, it's going to help us there's no doubt about it, but some of it will go back to the Cities...

Stutsman: What is on the agenda...

Duffy: ...unless it's our roads... Entirely for roads our in the rural area.

Stutsman: What is on the agenda is scheduling a work session.

Duffy: Yes, OK.

Stutsman: I think we should focus on when we're going to meet.

Lacina: I'm going to suggest 2 dates. On the 16th of December, Wednesday evening, we've got a work session out in Coralville on the fringe. Is that correct, at 7 o'clock?

Jordahl: Yes.

Stutsman: Uh-huh.

Lacina: What about if we see if the room out there is available to have a discussion at 6 o'clock because obviously they'll be impacted and if Coralville City Council people would like come and sit in, they could. The other option, on the 17th at 7 o'clock we're going to have the public hearing for the land plan. Again, 6 o'clock in the evening we could just schedule an hour to discuss it prior to that, both are relevant.

Stutsman: My choice I'd rather do it the 17th.

Jordahl: Yes, the 17th because the... We need to have this discussion among ourselves. We need to decide these about our road fund and about our Local Option Sales Tax language. I don't think it would be good to do that in the context of the Coralville City Hall as if...

Stutsman: Should we say the 17th then?

Bolkcom: That's fine.

Lacina: Move the 17th at 6 o'clock.

Bolkcom: Is that enough time?

Stutsman: That would be my only concern, that it's not enough time.

Jordahl: I don't think...

Bolkcom: (Inaudible) too.

Jordahl: ...it is enough time.

Bolkcom: You might want to have a short break between the meetings.

Jordahl: Uh-huh.

Stutsman: 5:30?

Lacina: 5:30.

Bolkcom: I don't think that's enough time.

Jordahl: No, how about Friday morning the 18th, is that a possible?

Stutsman: I have a Space Needs meeting at 10.

Bolkcom: I have a meeting at 9.

Jordahl: Monday the 14th?

Bolkcom: How about after the meeting on the 17th or the 15th?

Stutsman: I might be in Des Moines on the 17th.

Jordahl: 15th is MH/DD, so this room will be taken until like 6:15 anyway.

Bolkcom: How about the morning of the 15th as a part of our morning meeting?

Stutsman: That sounds good.

Lacina: That's good.

Stutsman: Yes, let's do that.

Jordahl: OK.

Stutsman: OK.

Bolkcom: Let's try and keep that agenda short.

Lacina: So we don't (inaudible) or just do it administratively.

Bolkcom: Yes.

Lacina: OK. Sounds good.

Pillard: So you're having a work session on...

Bolkcom: On the sales tax and 965 extension.

Stutsman: Mike needs to know about that, he needs to be here.

Bolkcom: Let's put that on, for say, 10:30.

Pillard: 10:30?

Bolkcom: And keep that agenda short that morning.

Jordahl: When is our next 5 Year Road Plan meeting?

Duffy: Is that the 18th or the 17th?

Bolkcom: I don't believe...

Pillard: 15th.

Bolkcom: ...there's one scheduled.

Duffy: 15th.

Pillard: December 15th, Tuesday.

Lacina: Tuesday morning.

Jordahl: Is that discussion...

Bolkcom: Let's stay focused on this item.

Jordahl: But it should take place in the context of the 5 Year Road Plan. I'm just wondering when the next meeting is and if there's not one scheduled there should be. We'll have to look at that.

Bolkcom: OK. We should get to Mike later this week. OK. So we're going to meet at 10:30 on the 15th to talk about the sales tax and whether we want to add 965 to that or not. All right.

Bolkcom: Item b, is discussion regarding issues the Board will be discussing with area legislators this evening. We have a meeting at...

Stutsman: 3:30.

Bolkcom: 4:30? 3:30.

Stutsman: 3:30.

Lacina: 3:30.

Bolkcom: 3:30 this afternoon with our State delegation to talk about the upcoming legislative session. Do we have... I know we asked people to have their issues in by, I believe Tuesday. Are there other issues that the Board has on their mind right now that you want to talk about tonight?

Lacina: Are we prepared to talk about Empowerment Zones or Juvenile Detention?

Stutsman: Yes, I think that would be appropriate. I would like to talk about juvenile shelter care and doing away with that cap on residential treatment.

Bolkcom: OK.

Stutsman: I understand we have another huge budget amendment coming forward from Juvenile Detention for cost and part of this is because there's just backup in the system. I think we need to visit with them about that.

Lacina: Should we ask the question, what is the intent of legislature in terms of the tobacco refund dollars if that's going to be allocated in some form to Counties for infrastructure or for education or for something? I just think we should get some attention, that we're not overlooked again.

Bolkcom: OK.

Stutsman: I was kind of going over some of the proposals from ISAC. Do we want to publicly state our opposition to reinstatement of the property tax limitation?

Lacina: Yes.

Stutsman: Is that an issue that...

Bolkcom: I think we should talk about that, but I haven't had time.

Jordahl: Uh-huh. Mental Health support.

Stutsman: More State funding for that?

Jordahl: Uh-huh.

Stutsman: And legal settlement.

Jordahl: Yes, legal settlement.

Stutsman: Encourage to them to begin at least, that process of seriously looking at doing away with legal settlement.

Bolkcom: OK.

Jordahl: And land use planning. I know they're doing it anyway, but we should at least tell our legislators where we stand on that.

Bolkcom: All right. Anything else?

Duffy: Yes. Agriculture classification. Evidently the Assessor's think they should be able to evaluate one acre in size out in our agricultural areas like a farmhouse. To say that... It's just going to be interesting, this thing here could really lead to a lot more taxes for the folks. They're having a hard enough time now staying on the farm. But to want to review the process and classify one acre of agricultural land as a residence and you do it as a residence instead of the part of the farm, looks to me like that would mean maybe tax the lot underneath your house. One acre could lead to $40 or $50,000, but I don't think we're (inaudible) for that.

Bolkcom: All right.

Duffy: That should be...

Bolkcom: Be another issue? OK.

Jordahl: A very closely related point is it would be nice to be able to tax rural non-ag residential at a different rate from agricultural residential.

Duffy: We do now.

Jordahl: I don't believe we do, no.

Duffy: When they... Yes, I think we do. They pay a chunk of the taxes too.

Jordahl: They're a different classification, but the levy is the same.

Duffy: They pay for the lot (inaudible).

Bolkcom: All right. Anything else for this afternoon's meeting? Bob?

Reverend Bob Welsh: I don't know whether you want to address this with the legislators, but one of the things which through the Heritage Area Agency on Aging there's been the concern about the Ombudsman Program in relation to the nursing homes. There's the been the proposal to have there be these (inaudible) projects because it's almost impossible for one State employee to monitor all of the nursing homes. Iowa, unfortunately, does not have very high record in comparison to other states in relation to the compliance with basic nursing home standards.

Bolkcom: OK. Thanks, Bob. We'll bring that one up.

Lacina: Will Graham be here this afternoon, do we know?

Stutsman: I think so.

Bolkcom: I would assume he would.

Lacina: The inspections of restaurants and that has caused Polk County to basically jettison all of their contracts. I think we serve either 5 or 7 Counties with contracts. That might be something we ask Graham to address. In fact, at some point we need to have him come in and update us...

Bolkcom: Just update us on what's going on.

Lacina: ...on that entire issue, and the surrounding Counties.

Stutsman: I spoke to Deb Conger about the impact of...

Lacina: Vital?

Stutsman: ...Vital Statistics on the County. So I think she's going to bring that forward.

Bolkcom: Good.

County Attorney Pat White: The Board of Health, last week, voted to discontinue inspections in Muscatine and Iowa County. They've submitted a contract proposal just for Johnson County.

Lacina: Muscatine and Washington, the Sups would like to meet with us to discuss, this might be an issue that we talk to them about. That's unfortunate that we...

Bolkcom: That is very unfortunate, that that's happened.

Jordahl: We need to get a date for that meeting. That's been mentioned repeatedly with Muscatine and Washington Counties.

Lacina: Update on the bridge and road agreements, those things.

Bolkcom: OK. All right. We've got a good list here.

Stutsman: Yes.

Bolkcom: Moving on to item c, reports and inquiries from the County Attorney.

White: I don't have any report other than the executive session that we have under item 9g. I probably need an hour, this is the Collective Bargaining discussion. So I assume you'll want to take a recess before we get into that.

Stutsman: Uh-huh.

Bolkcom: Thank you.

Bolkcom: We're down to item d and that's inquiries and reports from members of the public. Is there anybody that wishes to address the Board this morning on any topic? OK. Reports and inquiries from members of the Board. Does anybody have anything we need to know this morning?

Jordahl: I just had one piece of, I think, stimulating news from the East Central Council of Governments meeting last week. We're conducting a... They are conducting on our behalf a housing needs survey for the entire county. It came up amidst this raft of information here how much money they were able to draw down in Federal grants for housing rehabilitation in various areas. Anamosa got $424,600 of Federal money for a local match of $8,000. Lone Tree, $165,324; local match, $5,000. North Liberty, $341,188 with a local match of 8. Lisbon with $422,000; local match, again, of $8,000. The opportunities that will be there for us and for towns in the county to be able to help people stay in their homes and upgrade them, insulate them, and so forth is just really phenomenal. (Inaudible) we've done a good thing in initiating that study.

Bolkcom: Great. Good report. That is stimulating.

Lacina: From the standpoint of the audit each year that we receive we are to refer to agencies that we fund. I have the annual report of 6th Judicial District which I'll be passing around. So it's noted in the minutes that we have the report, shows that.

Bolkcom: Great, thanks.

Lacina: The other thing, earlier in the agenda we recognized the high schools for their athletic ability. The schools in the Iowa City area, Regina, City High, and West High are putting together a robotics team. They had a team last year that built a robot which competed nationally, but it is to go up against... They have a college division for engineers and if they're successful in constructing this they will go on to Orlando, Florida where it will be given a number of tasks to achieve to include defending itself from aggressor robots that'll try to destroy it and all of this.

Bolkcom: Of course.

Lacina: So not only are our kids to be congratulated for their athletic ability, but we have...

Stutsman: I agree.

Lacina: ...a tremendous amount of brainpower in this community. The excitement of the kids getting together going, oh we can build it like this or that, it's going to be quite an event. The Entrepreneur Center is helping them, they're doing fundraising project and they're looking for some corporate sponsors that would help them by December the 18th. So if anybody knows of anyone that would like to contribute a few dollars and have their name on t-shirts for the kids' team or anything like that. That would help defer some of the expense of sending them down to Orlando. But they're already looking at types of arms from the space shuttle to these lamps that have spring loaded arms to gripper systems. Some of the kids are working on a track motion types of sensors and stuff. It's really... It's going to be a neat project. While we look at the sports side we also want to look at the brainpower of these kids. It's amazing as well.

Stutsman: Uh-huh.

Bolkcom: All right.

Jordahl: Neat.

Stutsman: All 3 schools are going together...

Lacina: Yes.

Stutsman: ...put together one team?

Lacina: Yes, yes.

Stutsman: That's great.

Lacina: Through the Entrepreneur Center. They built one last year and they're hoping to improve upon the design this year. But they'll be given a box with this material in it plus a small dollar amount that they can go out an buy rubber bands or whatever. From the given materials that they have they are to design this robot which can pick up certain units of certain weight and certain shapes. Then have to go up to a maze and be able to manipulate this thing and place the cargo in certain areas for points. Of course the opposition can go and take your cargo out and throw it away. So it's going to be interesting. So there's not only construction of a vehicle, but there's also strategy and logic as how to defend yourself against the opposition. So it'll be an interesting project and one to follow and see how we do.

Bolkcom: All right.

Stutsman: You're son's a member of that team, right?

Lacina: Marty is part of that team. He's getting a real kick out of it.

Stutsman: I bet. Sounds like Dad is too.

Lacina: It's amazing to watch these kids. You think... Your kids grow so fast and all of the sudden you see a 16 year old and these kids are going, wow here's a motivation thing that we can use to beat the opposition or here's a motor device. Last year they used variable speed drills as drive units. It was really interesting. It's a really challenging project.

Bolkcom: I bet. Sounds cool.

Lacina: So any sponsors, if you want to get a hold of the principals at West, City, or Regina they certainly would welcome any contributions.

Duffy: You say, for t-shirts...

Lacina: They'll do ads in the paper and the Entrepreneur Center at Iowa will give recognition to sponsors. They're sponsoring part of it, but working on the fundraising, promotion stuff they're trying to decide if they're going to sell stock in the company and all of those types of things for the robot.

Bolkcom: All right. Anything else?

Stutsman: I was just going to say we started our budget hearings yesterday morning, did Department of Human Services, MH/MR/DD Department, Veterans Affairs, and Planning and Zoning. For those Board members that weren't at the meeting I encourage you to listen to the tapes. All departments were very well prepared, presented good presentations and their requests. We'll just have to consider them.

Bolkcom: Good. All right. Anything else.

Duffy: In the first place, I would like to thank the folks that helped with the home delivered meals and the regular meals of Senior Dining. There's really too many of them to... I'm afraid individually I'd leave somebody out. Special thanks to the Coralville Morning Optimists that have been doing for years and years. We're going to do it on Christmas and yes, we're going to have home delivered meals. This time we're going to have prime rib, baked potato, pecan pie, salad, and the works. We have the people that will run the routes, including myself. I've got a selfish reason because I like to do it. But I thought that was just great. There were some other things, but I thought I'd give a fast report on this. Rural Development Council, the big thing now is home based businesses. We're going to have a meeting Saturday, March 6th at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Des Moines. It's $50 for the first person and 40 for the rest. So that would be a cheap... There's a long list of partners, we call them, involved in this, the US Department of Commerce, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers, Iowa's Area Community College, Service Corps of the Retired, Executive SCOPE, US Rural Development, Positive Iowa, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Arts Council, Institute of Social Economic Development, Veterans Mean Business, Professional Developments of Iowa, Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives, and I could go on and on. I think this is really going to be a big thing for us. I would suggest that we get...

Stutsman: What are they going to talk about? How to set up a home business or what?

Duffy: We've got all kinds of things. Yes, here's home based business startups, for example. Cottage industries; full and part-time business owners will be there; interpreters; increasing efficiency; new profit ideas, I like that one; accounting, finance, and tax advice; legal concerns; marketing strategies; advancements in technology and business management. I think that... We did estimate we might have about 600 there, but I don't know. Last time we did this, keeping people in the homes, I think we went up to that. We thought we'd have 300, and 550 showed up. I would suggest going to this because that's what they're really... Visiting with a lot of people from different counties yesterday, they're going after this in a hurry. Economic Development is a big thing now. It would help to stop the erosion of the family farms if you had a small home based business.

Bolkcom: Thank you, Charlie. Can we have a motion to go into executive session?

Motion by Stutsman, second by Lacina, to enter Executive Session at 10:11 a.m. to discuss collective bargaining strategy for the Administrative Unit and Sheriff's Department under section 20.17(3), Code of Iowa: "negotiating sessions, strategy meetings of public employees... shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 21 (Official Meetings Open to the Public)." Roll call: aye: Bolkcom, Jordahl, Stutsman, Lacina, Duffy.

Recessed at 10:11 a.m.; reconvened at 10:20 a.m.

Motion by Stutsman, second by Duffy, to leave Executive Session at 11:34 a.m. Roll call: aye: Bolkcom, Jordahl, Stutsman, Lacina, Duffy.

Adjourned at 11:34 a.m.

Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor

By Casie Parkins, Recording Secretary

Sent to the Board of Supervisors on December 8, 1998 at 6:30 p.m.