Harrison County Supervisors Meeting April 17, 2025 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order with members Tony Smtih and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda was made by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Motion to approve amended minutes from March 27th by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Motion to approve minutes from April 10th with amendments to include levy rates in the budget portion of the minutes by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Michele Stirtz, Susan Bonham, Rashelle Wohlers, Brad Doyle, Shelia Phillips, Jack Jones, Brandon Burmeister, Daniel Fischer, Evan Summy, Karen Lantz, Wade Finken, Ken Stein, Erin Goddard Drainage The Board met as Trustees for the C & R Levee and South Nobles Lake Drainage District including Brian Rife, Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson. Michelle Kersten, Drainage Clerk, presented the Board with information and after discussion the following were approved: Pay invoice in the amount of $3,889.50 to Bolton & Menk, Inc for the C & R Levee was unanimously approved on motion by Smith and second by Wilkerson. Pay invoice in the amount of $2,035.00 to Bolton & Menk, Inc for the South Nobles Lake Drainage District was unanimously approved on motion by Wilkerson and second by Smith. Pay invoice in the amount of $7,500.00 to Fox Dirt for the South Nobles Lake Drainage District was unanimously approved on motion by Smith and second by Wilkerson. Two estimate invoices in the amount totaling $8,700.00 from Fox Dirt for the South Nobles Drainage District were unanimously approved on motion by Wilkerson and second by Smith. Tax and Motor Vehicle Bank Reconciliation Treasurer Phillips presented the Board with the bank reconciliations from February and March for their review. Abatement on abandoned property Treasurer Phillips presented the Board with a request for abatement on the abandoned property at 312 1st St in Pisgah. The City of Pisgah was awarded this property through a court order free of liens. Phillips requested the Board to abate the taxes and tax sales on this property to comply with this. The total amount to abate is $3330.32. Motion to approve by Smtih, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Handwritten warrant to US Bank The Board reviewed the presented handwritten warrant to US Bank in the amount of $8,382.32. The Board reviewed a claim from Public Health that contained food items, the Board requested additional information on this claim before paying. Motion to approve the warrant in the amount of $8,008.12 by Smith second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Utility permits for Harrison County REC The Board reviewed the permit from Harrison County REC on 270th St. Motion to approve by Smtih, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Discussion/Action on 5 Year Plan Interim Engineer Brandon Burmeister presented the Board with the updated 5-year plan removing the local bridge project at the Board’s request to balance the budget. Motion to approve by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Discussion/Action on the Engineer FY26 Budget The Board reviewed the presented budget from Burmeister that included the updates from the 5-year plan. Motion to approve by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motin carried. Consider action on Secondary Roads working with EMA for funding Chairman Rife requested that the Engineer’s department work with the EMA director to request funding to help offset costs of the March 19th blizzard. Rife requested the department provide time sheets for work done on the roads that were damaged and determine costs for rock that was replaced on these roads. Brad Doyle – Discussion on meeting times Brad Doyle spoke with the Board regarding the meetings not being held at a convenient time or location for the working public. He requested the meetings be moved to a more convenient time of 7:00 pm and consider moving to different locations throughout the County to allow citizens shorter travel. Public Comment Brad Doyle – Comments on job posting and application process. Zoning Public Hearing Chairman Brian Rife opened the public hearing as advertised. Zoning Administrator Matt Pitt reviewed the requests. The first reading of the Solar and Wind moratorium was held. ORDINANCE NO. 4-5-25 AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTING A MORATORIUM ON ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS OR ISSUING PERMITS FOR WIND GENERATORS AND RELATED WIND ENERGY CONVERSIONS SYSTEMS AND SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE NO. 2004-001, ZONING ORDINANCE OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA WHEREAS, Iowa Code, Chapter 335 grants counties the ability to adopt a Zoning Ordinance to regulate land use within its jurisdictional boundaries; and WHEREAS, on or about October 30, 2003, the Board of Supervisors of Harrison County, Iowa adopted a comprehensive plan applicable to future land use within the County; and WHEREAS, on April 19, 2004 Ordinance 2004-01 Zoning Ordinance for Harrison County, Iowa was adopted by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, and effective by publication on April 28, 2004; and WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance permits wind generators as a special use as provided for under Iowa code and outlines minimum requirements under the 2003 comprehensive plan for said uses under chapter 21 of the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, from time to time, it is necessary and prudent to review and study the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinances for necessary updates; and WHEREAS, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors is in the process of engaging a consultant to review and recommend updates to the 2003 Comprehensive Plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors, which will require time to study and conduct the appropriate revision process to complete multiple amendments to the Plan and the Zoning Ordinances; and WHEREAS, the Harrison County Planning & Zoning Commission has recommended adoption of an ordinance instituting a moratorium on the acceptance of new applications or issuing permits specifically for solar and wind development while the Comprehensive Plan is being updated. BE IT THEREFORE ORDAINED by the Board of Supervisors of Harrison County, Iowa: SECTION 1: INSTITUTION OF MORATORIUM Upon the effective date of this Ordinance, no application for Special Use Permit or Zoning Permit shall be accepted by Harrison County specifically for utility-scale wind energy conversion systems (C-WECS) or solar installations nor shall any permit be issued for the same. SECTION 2: PERIOD OF TIME EFFECTIVE This ordinance shall be effective for a period of twelve (12) months from the date it becomes effective. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors may alter, extend, or terminate the period of time this Ordinance is effective by ordinance, which states the purpose for said alteration of said period of time. SECTION 3: REPEALER All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: SEVERABILITY CLAUSE If any section, provision, or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 5: EFFECTIVE DATE This ordinance shall be in effect from and after its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law. Request from Kenneth Stein to rezone 2.3 acres from A-1 to R-1 in part of the SE SE and SW SE of 27-80-41 Request from Daniel Fischer to rezone 2 acres from A-1 to R-1 in part of the NE NE of the 7-81-42 Request from Paul Weber to rezone 8 acres from A-1 to R-1 and for a minor subdivision in part of the NW SW of 1-81-41 Request from Abe Sandquist to rezone 33 acres from A-1 to Ag Commercial Services in part of the SE of 35-80-42 Comments were heard from citizens Daniel Fisher, a court appointed official, and Wade Finken spoke regarding the rezoning of 2 acres in 7-81-42. Abe Sandquist spoke on his request to change to Ag Commercial Service to operate a compost site. A farm manager spoke on behalf of clients who farm around the site and have adjoining property. Karen Lantz, a neighbor to the property, spoke about proximity to her home. Motion to close the public hearing by Smith, second Wilkerson. Motion carried. Motion to approve the Wind and Solar Moratorium by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Motion to waive the 2nd and 3rd readings of the Wind and Solar Moratorium by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Request from Kenneth Stein to rezone 2.3 acres from A-1 to R-1 in part of the SE SE and SW SE of 27-80-41. Motion to approve by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Request from Daniel Fischer to rezone 2 acres from A-1 to R-1 in part of the NE NE of the 7-81-42. The Board took no action on this request. Request from Paul Weber to rezone 8 acres from A-1 to R-1 and for a minor subdivision in part of the NW SW of 1-81-41. Motion to approve by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Request from Abe Sandquist to rezone 33 acres from A-1 to Ag Commercial Services in part of the SE of 35-80-42. Motion to approve by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned motion to adjourn by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brain Rife, Chairman NOTE: These minutes are as recorded by the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors and are subject to Board approval at the next regular meeting. MVTN 4-23-25 TDR 4-24-25
