Good morning everybody. It is August
25th, 2026. I hereby call the uh meeting
of the story county board of supervisors
to order and invite you to join us in
the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Thank you everybody. Before we proceed
further with the agenda, I have
something that I would like to read and
it came from the uh city of Sheldon. And
I couldn't say this better than they
did. So I'm just going to read the
announcement that they put on Facebook.
It is with it is with profound sadness
and a heavy heart that the city of
Sheldall announces the passing of our
mayor Todd Anderson. Mayor Anderson
tragically passed away following a
motorcycle accident on the evening of
Saturday, August 22nd, 20126.
Mayor Anderson was a dedicated public
servant who led our community with
integrity, passion, and an unwavering
commitment to the residents of Sheldall.
His leadership and his presence in our
community will be deeply missed by all
who had the privilege of working
alongside him during this incredibly
different time difficult time. Our
thoughts and deepest condolences are
with the Anderson family. We ask that
the community respect their privacy as
they mourn this immense loss. Mayor Prom
Kyle Greenwood will be serving as acting
mayor until a successor is appointed.
So very sad news from Sheldall. Um, but
as I said, they they said it better than
I could, so I wanted to honor the person
who wrote that by reading their words.
>> Thank you.
>> Next, then I would entertain a motion
for adoption of today's agenda. And I
should mention that we on the additional
item one, it should read the third
edition, not second edition.
And that's the additional item
regarding the Prairie Valley
subdivision. So that should read third
and rather than second edition. So I
would entertain a motion to approve the
agenda with that change.
>> I would make the motion to approve the
agenda with the change just noted.
>> Okay. Moved and seconded. Hedins
>> I.
>> Basil.
>> I.
>> Mkin I. Agenda is adopted. Next we have
public comment number one. This comment
period is for the public to address
topics on today's agenda. And please
note that public comments during the
meeting will be limited to two minutes
per speaker. So if anybody has a comment
they would like to make who's in the
room, please go to the podium. If
there's anybody online who would like to
make a comment, please use the raise
hand function and I'll call on you.
Anybody in the room? Any public
comments?
Seeing none, anybody online with a Okay,
I don't see anybody. So, I will close
public comment number one. We'll go on
to consideration of proclamations. We
have two proclamations and we're going
to read those and then there's a couple
of people in the audience who'd like to
say something. So, the first
proclamation
is for overdo international overdose
awareness day. Supervisor Fasa, would
you lead us off on that?
>> Sure. Whereas International Overdose
Awareness Day is recognized globally on
August 31st to raise awareness about the
risks of drug overdose, promote
life-saving tools to reduce overdose
deaths, honor loved ones lost to
overdose, and acknowledge the grief felt
by families, friends, and communities
around the world. And whereas
International Overdose Awareness Day
aims to publicly challenge the stigma
associated with substance use disorder
and overdose deaths.
And whereas we resolve to play our part
in reducing the toll of overdose in our
community, which claimed the lives of
172 Iowa residents in 2024,
together with countless more affected
forever. And whereas we affirm that the
people affected by overdose are our sons
and daughters, our mothers and fathers,
our brothers and sisters, our friends
and community members, and all are
deserving of love, compassion, and
support. And whereas Story County is
calling on all communities, the state
and the country to support overdose
prevention policies and projects and to
work together to end the stigma and
silence surrounding substance use and
overdose. Now therefore, be it resolved
that we, the Story County Board of
Supervisors, do hereby proclaim August
31st, 2026 as International Overdose
Awareness Day in Story County. I move
the proclamation.
>> Second.
>> It's been moved and seconded. Hedins
>> I.
>> Fasil.
>> I.
>> Mini I. Proclamation is adopted. And
then we have one more proclamation for
National Recovery Month. Uh, Supervisor
Hedins, would you lead us off?
>> Certainly. Whereas behavioral health is
an essential part of overall health and
well-being. And whereas substance use
and mental health challenges affect
individuals, families, workplaces,
schools, and communities regardless of
region or background. And whereas
substance use and mental health
disorders are preventable and treatable
health conditions from which people can
and do recover. And whereas National
Recovery Month is observed each
September to celebrate the millions of
people living in recovery from substance
use and mental health disorders,
recognizing the families and communities
who support them and promote the message
that recovery is possible. And whereas
stigma remains one of the greatest
barriers preventing people from seeking
help, accessing treatment, and
sustaining recovery. And whereas public
leaders, employers, schools, and
residents all have a role to play in
building communities where people can
ask for help without shame. And whereas
this observance provides an opportunity
to celebrate people in recovery, honor
those we have lost, support families and
loved ones, and raise awareness of the
effective prevention, treatment, and
recovery services that are available in
our community. Now therefore, be it
resolved that we, the Story County Board
of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim
September 2026 as recovery month in
Story County and call upon our community
to celebrate recovery, reduce stigma,
support individuals and families
affected by substance use and mental
health challenges and to work together
to ensure that recovery is understood,
accessible, and supported. I move the
proclamation.
>> Second. It's been moved and seconded.
Fasil
>> I.
>> Hens. Merk and I proclamations
[clears throat]
are adopted. Thank you. Proclamations
adopted. And then two people here if you
would um Natasha Trannis and Maddie
Laidoff, would you come to the the desk
here and turn on your mics? And I know
you both want to make comments after
you've turned the mics on. Make sure
they're pretty close to you. It'll sound
loud, but that's for the recording and
for people at home to hear. So, welcome.
>> Thank you.
>> Ready?
>> Yes. I'm going to piggyback on what you
all said this morning. Every August
31st, International Overdose Awareness
Day brings a global community together
to take action on overdose. We hold an
event annually um making space for all
those families that walk and step inside
these shoes that have lost a special
someone to overdose. Um this year the
theme for International Overdose is 25
years on still needed. For 25 years,
International Overdose Awareness Day has
brought people together to remember
those we've lost and to take action to
save lives. The truth is, we shouldn't
still need this today.
Okay?
But we do.
Overdose continues to affect every
community, yet it can be prevented.
We know how to reduce risk and keep
people safe by speaking openly, learning
from one another, and teach treating
each other with care and respect. We
build a world where fewer lives are
lost.
Because while this day is still needed,
it doesn't have to be forever.
My family knows all too well
the devastation that has been caused by
opioids around our country. Um my
daughter um passed away in 2016 in Ames
of a synthetic opiate overd dose but
really
at the end of the day could have been
prevented. Um Narcan accessibility is
one of the most important things that we
as a community can do and yet there's
still such a barrier on getting that
into people's hands and readily
available without stigma. Um so as um I
placed two Narcan dispensers in our
communities, one in Story County and
Ames and one here at the sheriff's
office. And it has been so difficult to
keep those filled. And so that is my
goal right now is to figure out what we
have to do to eliminate that barrier. We
should not have to have that Narcan
placed in a temperature controlled uh
dispenser and watch a video that lasts
probably 2 to 3 minutes. that's not
going to save lives.
>> Um so that's going to be our mission.
Maddie and I are teaming up this year um
going to hold an annual event at
Bandshell um from 10 to noon on
Saturday. Please come out and see all
the resources that we um are going to
have available for our community. It's
most important. And then also making
space for those families um where shame
has a tendency to overshadow
um our loss. And um I think about
Tashara every day. Um we have had a
significant amount of loss of life in
the state of Iowa. And um to be able to
continue to carry my grief alongside me
and her and make some moves for my
community has been um imperative and has
literally helped to save my life. Um I
didn't think I'd make it through that
and I stand before you today as an
addictions counselor trying to do my
best. um to help support our community
members that are struggling. So, thank
you for taking time to be here today and
listen. Appreciate it.
>> Thank [clears throat] you so much.
>> And I just want to thank you for the
recovery month proclamation. On average,
it takes someone five attempts at
recovery to maintain their recovery. So,
National Recovery Month is so important
and its purpose is truly to promote and
support that evidence-based treatment
and prevention practices as well as
celebrate and honor the members of our
community that are on their recovery
journey no matter what that looks like
for them. Um, and they are strong and
proud individuals and we want to
celebrate that too. Um and as well as
celebrating and honoring the dedication
of service providers and members of the
community who really encourage recovery
and support those in their journey.
>> Thank you. [clears throat]
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thanks.
>> Okay. Would you like to come up forward
and have a photo taken?
We have three proclamations. How about
you two hold one?
Yes.
Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for being
okay.
Thank you. Have a good day everybody.
Um,
next we have agency reports project Iowa
ARPA annual report. Julie, Julie, I
can't I'm not going to miss Is she
online? I'll let you pronounce your last
name. I'm sorry. And Gabby Cox.
Hi.
» Hi. Good morning.
>> Sorry, I um had to [clears throat] go in
and come back out. Figenchu is the last
name. I'm the executive director of
Project Iowa and reporting out on the
ARPA dollars that were given to Project
Iowa and just an update on the
reporting. Uh we're a workforce entity,
so we're continuing to seek to help uh
Story County individuals find meaningful
work. Um currently we we still um
advertise and mostly through Facebook
and and other avenues of churches and
other agencies that we work with in
Story County. Um we have um had two
individuals um come in um for the last
uh quarter January to June, one um in
January and one in June. Um they one
completed the training um we still we
work with participants until they find
work and so um we continue to stay in
contact with them. Um we have out of all
of the participants um like I said we
continue to work with them until they
find work. And so we're at about 50% of
the participants that have gone through
our program have found work. We're in a
unique situation right now in which uh
there there are not um a lot of jobs
that are paying livable wages. So we're
really working with individuals to um
seek those out and their the average
time to find a career. Um, and when
we're talking livable wage, we're
talking 20 to $24 an hour is 3 to 6
months. So, we continue to work with
people after completion of the program.
» Did you say how many people you have
served total with the ARPA funds?
>> Um, for from Story
um county, I'm just looking at this
report. Sorry about that. Uh, we've had 15
Julie, have you contacted like the
chamber alliance at all? Sha Shannon
Teley or
>> I think we have worked with them in the
past. Um, but you know, we're really
always looking for new avenues to reach
out to people. So, what we found to be
really helpful um sometimes is different
therapies. The chambers, we are working
with a lot of the chambers to look for
employer employers mostly is what we're
doing. Um, so yeah, I can reach out to
her again, not a problem.
>> The the other one I'm just wondering
about of um Eric Crest, he's
you've been in contact with him as well,
>> right?
>> Okay, good.
>> With the WEOA funds and the different
Yes. Yeah, we work with quite closely.
>> And the Bridge Home and Ames Romero
House are you worked with them?
>> Yes.
>> Okay, good. Yeah, we we count on
community partners because what we know
is workforce intersects almost all other
social services. So like I just
witnessed the recovery statement that
you were making. So we work with
recovery houses, we work with people
coming out of different systems, whether
that be incarceration. Um and so we try
to be the soft handoff for people to
come to. Uh because we do it all in
community in a cohort style.
Julie, is it is it difficult to get
enrolled into the program? Are there
pretty strict parameters for who?
>> No.
>> Be a participant?
>> No.
>> Um, we try to make it um very easy. Um,
so they can do it online or they can
come to we're headquartered in um, De
Moines, so 48th in Franklin, we're kind
of central, but they can they we do also
Zoom meetings so they can be a part of
the class if they live in Story County
and transportation is an issue. Uh, but
there are no bar there should be no
barriers to enroll and we do that
intentionally. So there's no income
guidelines, there's no qualifications.
You fill out an application online. um
we give you a call, we'd get you set up
with all the information that you need
in order to join our class. So, we
really try to make it as low barrier as
possible. We're looking at some new
methods and modalities of maybe taking
our our show, our our [clears throat]
classes, what we do to get people to
work to different places. So, that's um
so we have been to some recovery houses
and done some um programming there. Um
you know, we've done some at some food
pantries. So we we really are always
searching to find the least restrict
restrictive way of delivering our
services.
>> Okay. Cuz I I guess I'm surprised that
in the past six months there have only
been two new participants um in the
program and I I am certain the need is
greater than that. So
>> and I would and so we are always looking
at those challenges. I'm I agree with
you 100%. What we're finding is people
have been um so our unemployment rate
looks low but what we have found is
people are disengaged with the
employment sector right so they've been
looking for so long that sometimes it
becomes hopeless so really trying to
reach and get those people back in is
something that we've actively been
engaging in and so um we we've learned
that a lot of people are employed but
they're undermployed so how do we get
them into our programs meaning they work
but they don't make enough money to
live. Um and a lot of people are doing a
lot of gig work. Um and so it's trying
to reach those populations in different
ways. So I I agree with you there are a
lot more people out there. Um what we
have been noticing is a lot of them are
very disengaged and um are just
surviving in different ways.
[snorts]
>> So what does your enrollment look like
outside of Story County? Um, well, I
would say that we're we're averaging
about 10 to 12 a month. So, I don't
think it's I don't think, you know, it
is um and and those are from different
counties. I say most of them are from
Poke County. Um, and so a lot here is
word of mouth. So, that's the other
thing. as we get more participants from
Story County um through bridges, through
some of these different homes, I think
word of mouth will really help us um
continue to grow the the population from
Story County that we can serve. I I
guess I I'm I'm just going to express a
little bit of disappointment and
frustration. It it seems like um I I was
really excited when this proposal came
forward um when we had the ARPA funding
initially and expected a lot more work
and energy to have happened in Story
County and it seems like at each
uh report we have heard that you're
working on new modalities and that the
expectation is you'll be able to enroll
more people and we're at the end of that
um time period now. And
to hear that only two people have been
enrolled in the past 6 months, I I'm
really disappointed and frustrated
because those I feel like those dollars
could have been used differently.
>> Can I ask a follow-up question there? Um
you talk about um people can zoom and do
these kind of things or come to De
Moines. Have you had um actual Have you
had staff come to Story County?
>> Yes, we have. We've worked with Amos
>> often. Go ahead.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Not We've We've worked
with Amos um to to uh do handouts and
flyers through their churches, through
those organizations. Um in the past,
I've been worked with Salvation Army up
there as well. Um and we had held
classes not since not for a while at
DMAC um
campus.
>> So how often have you had actual staff
up here in Story County and for how
long?
>> Well, I it's mostly been sending
information and resources to them
and and meeting with them to talk about
the programming and what it does. So
it's not actual on the ground
recruitment. We h we haven't found that
to be uh something that really is
influential. Um you know because where
we find these people where these people
where we find people that need the
services are through the other agencies
typically.
>> I think a lot of people like to have
that face-toface contact and
conversation. Um, yeah, I too am a bit
disappointed as to where we're at right
now. I had higher expectations.
>> So, let's talk about the future. We
can't change what's happened in the
past. Let's talk about the future. Are
you planning to continue to offer
services in Story County?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Can you at least look at sometime
having actual physical presence in Story
County? Because I know you're saying I
know a lot of homeless folks who have
cell phones, they can do Zooms on them,
all of that, but there are people who
aren't who need help, who aren't
technologically,
you know, that technologically literate.
And and I think that motivation also
comes from personal relationships, not
from a Zoom call.
>> So you're talking about a lot of people
who aren't very motivated. I think if
you had boots on the ground, so to speak
in Story County, had worked with the
agencies to to find the people who
needed help and maybe need could could
benefit from a personal contact, I think
that could get some better numbers out
of Story County. And we have made an
investment of ARPA funds. So, since
we've made that investment with you,
we're hoping you'll continue to serve
Story County and look at look at ways
you can up those numbers. I absolutely
will look at that and um I can I'm more
than open to talking to some of the
community partners and seeing if we can
hold a class. Um our classes are four
weeks. Um they tend to be in the
morning. Um they're 9:30 to 11:30
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We have
uh 24 hours of contact time with the
individuals that um come through the
programming. So I mean u one of the ways
is possibly to talk to the bridge home
more or Shannon and see about holding a
class. If we could get 8 to 10 people
that would be interested in that that
would be we that certainly is doable
>> and the bridge home could work could um
reach out to host to some other people
who work in house people.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.
>> Please please do that. We would love to
see you do and let us know. I will
because it will be in the next report
because I think I get to report out and
hopefully um you'll see a better return
on your investment and feel more um
solid around project Iowa and what we
can do for Story County.
>> That would be great. Thank you.
>> Thank you for answering our questions. I
know we had some difficult ones. I
appreciate you answering.
>> Absolutely. I understand that you want
your community served, so not a problem.
>> Exactly.
>> Thank you.
very much.
>> Uhhuh. Byebye.
Okay. Now we'll go on to consideration
of minutes August 18 minutes. I'd
entertain a motion for approval.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Moved by Heden, seconded by Fasil. Um
Hedens
>> I.
>> Fasil
>> I.
>> Merkin I. Minutes are approved. We'll go
to personnel actions now. We have one.
>> I move approval of personnel actions as
presented.
>> Second. Okay. Fasil.
>> I
merkin. I personnel actions are
approved. Now to claims.
>> I move approval of claims as presented.
>> Second
>> I.
>> Basil
>> I.
>> Mkin I. Then on to consent agenda. Are
there any things that anybody wants to
remove for discussion?
» Then I would entertain a motion for
approval of the items on consent.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Basil.
>> I.
>> Edens.
>> I.
>> Mkin. I. They are approved. additional
items. Um, we have Marcus Amond to talk
with us about to us.
>> N
departmental reports. We do have public
hearing items.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
>> That as well. [clears throat]
>> Stand down.
Public hearing amending the general
assistance manual. Erin, good morning.
We're somehow seeing that under consent
and of course it's not. So,
>> it's okay.
>> That's fine.
>> To skip me.
>> Everybody stop me. That's good.
[laughter] So, can you give us a brief
summary and then I'll open the public
hearing.
>> Absolutely. Um, so I'm looking to make
some changes to our manual. Uh,
loosening up some of our guidelines a
little bit. Uh, so our residency
requirement since the beginning of time,
I think, has been might have been a year
for a while. um then six months for a
long time and now we're looking to
decrease that to 30 days. Um also loss
of job was at um people were ineligible
if they had a loss of job um for 90
days. Uh we I'm going to decrease that
to 60 days. And then the other major
piece is um I pulled the amounts of
assistance. So our manual has always had
the amounts that we were going to help
out with assistance. And so I wanted to
pull those out of there so that they
were more easily um um changed when we
need to do that versus this resolution
process. We already have our income
guidelines pulled out of there. Um and
they're subject to board approval. Um so
that's what I did with that too. And
then I forgot to finish a sentence. So,
I don't know if you want to hear me
finish that sentence right now,
[laughter]
manual, or um so it's page six under
utilities, which is B, and then um
number two, um I [clears throat] needed
to remove the assistance amounts in
there. And so then, um I [clears throat]
didn't finish the sentence. So, it needs
to read uh the maximum amount authorized
will not exceed the amount approved for
a single household or a family receiving
rent with utility assistance.
>> So, that's the last bullet there
before the whereas
>> it's section two under B.
>> Okay.
» I have the stuff that I strike out but I
forgot to
>> finish it.
Okay. Anything else?
>> No.
>> Okay. Any questions?
>> Okay. I'd entertain them. Oh, wait. I
will open the public hearing first. Yes.
So, the public hearing is open. Does
anybody in the public have any comments
about the changes? If so, please come
forward or raise your hand.
Seeing and hearing none, I will close um
the public hearing and entertain a
motion for amending the general
assistance manual with the change which
Aaron has just um has just um given us.
>> I would move approval of resolution
27-17
>> uh with the changes Aaron has described.
>> Second.
>> Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any
further discussion? If not, Hedens
>> I
>> Basil
>> I
>> Mkin I approved. Thank you.
>> You I was I was glad to see some of
those uh guidelines eased
>> a bit.
>> And then I have another agenda, you
know, later on later. [laughter]
This is a good start. Yeah. So, thank
you.
>> Thank you. Okay. We will now go on to
additional items. Marcus, that is
discussion and consideration of
resolution 27.44, 44 Prairie Valley
subdivision third edition final plat.
Marcus, good morning.
» Good morning, board. Uh before you today
is the proposed third addition to the
Prairie Valley subdivision. Um Kurt
Friedrich was the applicant. Uh you've
seen this before. Um if you want to go
brace.
Uh so the preliminary was approved back
in 2020. It was supposed to be four
phases but the [snorts] last time that
they brought an addition forward they
combined phase two and three. So this
will be the the third one but it will
final out this.
There is the entire preliminary plat
that was approved. Um, so this last
request is for the southern more
southern portion of the subdivision. Um,
and this is going to create an
additional 15 lots and they will meet
the 70 lots that the preliminary plat
initially showed.
[clears throat]
So with that um, we reviewed the final
plat for this. has met all the
guidelines within the preliminary plat
and all of our guidelines for major
subdivisions.
This one specifically will
create those 15 lots for dwellings.
They're
a lot of them are6 acres. Um there's a
couple larger ones than that, but in it
averages out to be about 11 acres, 11
1/2 acres. There's the public light
rightway which is a total of 1.79 acres.
And then as you can see on there, uh
there's four outlots. There are
leechfield easements around those on a
couple of those for the septic systems
for a few of those lots which are
permitted from the preliminary plat.
I've been out there already um because
they were allowed to start their initial
grading work and all the septic areas
were um fenced off so that they cannot
be impacted by any construction traffic
already. So
there's just a closer view so you can
see those lots easier.
And so all of the um all the preliminary
plat items have already been addressed.
We've received all the restrictive
governance. Um we've already worked with
them before for all their subject
system. So they understand all the
requirements for soil evaluations.
And then so protective subdrains were
part of the plinary plat that was all
taken care of. Um, [clears throat]
we don't need anything regarding the
monitored security systems. It's just a
thing that we ask them to try to
encourage when they sell those lots.
Go again.
There we go. So the biggest thing here
is during the review of this phase for
third the third edition the developer
requested to reassess the need for a
turn lane to be installed. Um the
developer cited that there was a
potential flaw in the original traffic
study that was completed uh that
ultimately put a requirement for a turn
lane. So, there has been a new
development agreement that's been
drafted to allow the developer to
complete a new traffic study within 120
days of approval of the final plat. So,
the developer has to pay for that, have
that all conducted, and then bring that
back for our review, Darren's review,
ultimately you all's review. Um, and so
there is a letter of credit that has
already been established for all of the
work that they need to do as part of the
infrastructure that needs to go in. But
then there's also a letter of credit
that's already been assigned as a
holding spot for that turn line. So
that's already there. Um, this just
allows them to reconduct the traffic
study, see if it is warranted, and then
come back to you all about if we can if
that letter of credit can ultimately be
released.
So, the city of Gilbert waved their
review on August 4th of the final plat.
Public notices went out August 12th. We
have not received any comments from
anyone in the public
with that here. The conditions um if the
septic locations change the subdrain
plan to protect the prairie remnants
from the runoff of the subject system
shall be re-evaluated
by the developers engineer and review by
county conservation, environmental
health, and planning development staff.
the subdivision cannot be recorded until
the development agreement is approved
and signed by the chair of the board of
supervisors and that all permitting
activity for phase three of Prairie
Valley subdivision will be put on hold
120 days have passed from the date of
approval of the final plat if the
traffic study and turn lane concerns
have not been resolved and then all
development must meet county erosion
control measures.
So with that, staff is recommending
um you all approve the final plat with
those four conditions. And I've spoken
with the um applicants attorney. The
development agreement has already been
reviewed to address that turn lane. Um
it has been said that yes, they're fine with that updated
development agreement. Um so that but
that needs to come to you all as a
separate item. So that'll come next week
as long as I can get all the signatures
on it by then and
after that then it can be recorded. So
we wouldn't take anything for recording
until that development agreement is also
signed. But with that there are your
options with
uh county staff recommending option two
with conditions and the applicant is
here if you have any questions for them.
Um I just I have one clarifying
question. When I'm reading your report,
it says the developer will have a
traffic study and updated or another
traffic study done, but it also says
upon acquiescence and recommendation by
the county engineer to the board of
supervisors. So it's not whatever that
study says is necessarily it. We need
our county engineer is going to look at
it and say I agree or I don't agree.
Correct. Darren will have to look at it
and then he will be part of that
discussion coming back to back to you
all on what that recommendation is.
>> Can you say can you give a a quick
explanation of what law was in the
original study supposedly?
>> So based on the information that I've
read um the
170th and 500th where they meet it's
controlled by a stop sign. So once that
is controlled by a stop sign, it changes
the classification of that road to what
would technically be a lower
classification
because it's a stop sign controlled and
not like a not a light controlled
intersection.
And because of I'm not an engineer.
because of that
the traffic count isn't as high as it would or it's lower than
it would require based on the
information I've been provided and
reading through what the explanation
was. So, because that's a stop sign and
not a traffic light,
it's not as high of a class of road as
what the initial
study
accounted for.
>> Okay. still at 70 new houses on that
right there on that intersection. So,
um yeah. Well, do we have any other
questions? And then the developer could
Okay, come on up and please introduce
yourself.
» Good morning. My name is John Gaty. I'm
the engineer of record with Strand
Associates on this project. Um I'm here
with Kirk Friedrich representing Prairie
Partners. Um yeah, regarding the your
question for the the traffic study, um
six years ago, you folks required a
study to be done at that intersection.
Developer hired a consultant um and it
was very close when they analyzed that
data if anything was needed at this
intersection and the report even said,
"Hey, you know, as traffic grows, let's
take a look at this." Um I believe you
folks said, "Hey, let's just go ahead
and um because it is so close, go ahead
and put the right turn lane in." Um
intuitively it just didn't quite make
much sense. Um people that are heading
westbound on our 170th right
predominantly are turning south. They're
doing a southbound turn movement to go
to Ames. Um and so yes, there are 70
units out here. Some of those folks are
coming out to that intersection, but
predominantly they're heading south.
Regardless, the engineer that put
together this study assumed that 170th
Street was a through street, that that
it was not at a stopped condition.
So when you plug in those values
>> on a through roadway and you have people
slowing down any right turnman turn lane
movements turn lane movements could
cause detriment backups um to that
through traffic. Well that's it was just
a mistake. It was a complete error on
the consultant's fault. When you plug in
that it's a stop condition that that
traffic actually stops. there's no need
um justification or warrants for a
rightbound northbound turn lane um at
that intersection. In fact, it's it's
widened of course there at that
intersection. There's a stop bar there,
a little widen. There's room for a car
to slip through um there without
affecting left turn movements heading
south.
>> There's a room for a car to slip
through. What I'm not understanding.
Yeah, a lot of times when you have this
intersection, um there's extra room
because it's widened because of the the
turn the turn radius there. It allows
two vehicles. One, um that's in the
through lane that is going to take a
left to go south and another one can
work around that vehicle to the right
and head [clears throat] northbound.
>> Have you seen that intersection?
>> I have.
>> Well, I wouldn't do that.
>> Yeah, I you're I think Darren even
mentioned that. Okay, we can wait
another
>> just quoting what your your county
engineer had said in his
>> Okay. Okay. Yeah. Tell you what, we'll
have the traffic study. We'll see that.
We'll see what the county engineer says.
>> Yeah. The I provided the amendment to
the to the to Darren Moon. Darren's
going to go out and investigate it and I
think he's going to um report his
findings back to you folks within this
100 day period.
>> Great. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.
>> Any other questions or concerns?
>> All right. Thank Thank you board.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. So, are there any other questions
that people have?
» Not at this time.
>> Okay. Then I would entertain a motion.
>> Uh I would move approval of resolution
2744
uh with conditions.
>> Second.
>> Okay.
>> Moved and seconded. If no further
discussion, Fasil
>> I. Edens
>> I.
>> Merin I. It's approved. Okay. Thank you
Marcus and thank you for coming.
>> So next we have uh Colin Gers with IT
discussion consideration of a grant
program local consent agreement
Colin. Good morning.
» Good morning.
» All right. So to give a little
background on this
um
too short this local consent agreement
is between uh Story County uh and Dom
which is the department of management
department of information technology. Um
they're kind of the custodians of this
SLCGP
um grant program that was a federal
grant. It's a state and local cyber
security grant program is what that uh
refers to. And it's its main focus was
to kind of uh dish out some federal
dollars for cyber security initiatives
for cities, for counties, for um school
districts um to try to really elevate,
you know, um all those entities here in
the US. Um, so it was dished out over a
four-year program, uh, 2022, 23, 24, and
25. Uh, we're still working through the
2022 dollars. Um, there's some projects
that Dom had pushed forth as initiatives
for that 2022
um, grant program dollars. Um, and
basically what this consent agreement is is the county agreeing to do those
projects. uh for those 2022 dollars. Um
and Dom telling us that if we don't
agree to do those projects, then we will
forfeit any future grant money for those
remaining years. So the 23, 24, and 25.
» Well, okay then.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
>> So a question I do have, so they're $22.
This is 2026,
>> correct?
What?
>> So Iowa connect do I have there?
>> What have they been doing?
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Iowa was from my understanding was one
of the last states to actually put forth
a plan and um uh agree
um to accept in those dollars which I
think is part of the reason why we're
still on the 2022 grant.
>> And how long do we have to expend the
2022?
>> I believe that's sometime at the end of
the year. I don't know if that's at the
very December 31st or if that's October
or November, but I know it's it ends
this year, which is part of the reason
why this consent agreement went out um
to a lot of the counties and and city
entities saying you need to agree to
these projects.
>> When were22
>> when were we notified of this
>> of the agreement?
>> Yeah.
>> Uh
couple weeks ago, week week back. So,
>> couple weeks ago, and it's the end of
the year that it's
>> correct. [clears throat]
And was this my understanding this is
money that was supposed to originally
come to the counties?
>> So it was money that came into the
state. Um it was handed off uh to the
state and then they were supposed to uh
you know set up grant dollars and then
you know push that that money out to the
counties and cities. Um and then the
monies or the money that was established
for Iowa was based off of you know
population. And I believe county sizes,
city sizes, and school districts. Um,
and like I said that it's also the way
from what I've looked up the 20 $22 is
kind of the the big bulk of the funding
and then 23 is a little smaller, 24 is a
little smaller, 20 25 is a little
smaller than that, but it overall was a
pretty sizable amount of uh money to go
to cyber security initiatives.
» Yes. Yeah, it's a little frustrating.
>> It's a little frustrating. Um
>> quite frustrating.
>> And I you know, even with the
frustration that I have um with uh Dom
uh regarding this consent agreement and
uh some of the projects that they're
putting forward, um I still feel
strongly that the board, you know,
should approve this and that we should
sign it um so that we don't miss out on
any future potential funding for cyber
security dollars.
>> What work is this requiring you to do?
So, uh, as part of the three projects
for this 2022 funding, uh, there's an
asset inventory, which is like a like a
road map of all of our digital
infrastructure and technology here in
the county. Uh, an assessment program.
Um, and then a tabletop exercise, which
is that instant management exercise. And
that'll be with uh department heads
myself going through kind of like a
um a practice on what a cyber instant
would look like here
>> which Iowa State would provide. Correct.
>> Correct. They're they're the ones that
are kind of um helping
uh manage those projects.
>> So we need to we need to do that
tabletop by the end of this calendar.
>> No. From my understanding, no. But we
just have to agree and sign the consent
agreement to give to Dom that we that we
plan to to utilize those dollars and
utilize those projects.
>> And is the asset inventory pretty much
done or is that going to be like you're
going to have to hurry up and do
>> I don't know what all that project looks
like yet. So,
>> oh, we're signing it and you don't know
quite what you're going to have to do to
>> I have ideas on what that's going to
look like, but I don't I don't know what
that project looks like.
>> I would assume that they just want
network diagrams and things of that
nature and uh applications we use. Um,
but I don't know what all what I don't
know what all it looks like. So we're
requesting pass through services for an
asset inventory that we have to do with
current staff.
>> Correct.
>> And the cyber security assessment
program is this more work on you that
they're somehow taking credit for. So
that is
>> it sounding like to me
>> the I don't know um what all that
program is going to entail as well but
my understanding is the assessment is
just assessing the technology we have
with the county and where maybe security
gaps are um and um trying to elevate the county cyber security
structure. We'll say
>> it's frustrating to get something just
or that you got something just two weeks
ago that's not very detailed. But I do
have concerns.
>> Yeah,
>> I have concerns with it itself, but I
also have concerns that we could
potentially be out of grant funding to
continue with our cyber security for the
county.
Well, to continue getting any federal
funding for any of the remaining federal
funding.
>> Yeah.
>> And I don't want to put us in a jeopardy
situation to not be able to receive
those funds.
>> So, we're all I know you're frustrated.
We're all frustrated about this, but
sometimes
there's not much you can do. It's
>> Yeah.
biting off your nose despite your
face is always
>> we had a we had an online meeting uh
with Dom um I think that was about a
week and a half ago or so
[clears throat] um and the counties and
some of the city entities you know
expressed our frustration um about the
agreement and asked some additional
questions. Um,
it was a a fun meeting, but [laughter]
>> were you able to get any of your
questions about where the information
will live?
>> No, not so far.
>> Who's going to be managing the
information once it's all collated and
>> everything that I uh understand is just
going to be managed by ISU and it'll be
through ISU. But exactly who and how
it's going to be retained and how long
it's going to be retained. I don't have
any of those questions answered.
>> Mhm.
» So, do we have any more questions that
Colin can't answer right now because he
hasn't been given the information?
>> I I would assume, Colin, that if we have
issues down the road that we can um pull
out of the agreement if necessary. Well,
for these 20 uh for this 22 funding, uh
my understanding is no. We will be
required to do these three projects. I
mean, moving forward uh for 23, 24, 25,
whatever. Um Don Dick comes up with uh
for that additional federal money. Um,
yes, we could pull out, but and uh one
of the main questions we had as part of
that meeting was, well, what's the
future cyber security funding going to
be used for? Any idea for projects? And
they don't they don't know yet. So,
>> okay.
>> Wow.
» Any more questions?
» Okay. No, the the agreement does say that um Iowa State will will
not
disclose any identifiable data to a
third party.
>> Correct.
» I think one of the kind of main
questions uh for like my IC ICIT
organization was, you know, would this
be potentially foable or, you know, open
records request? um cuz it's a lot of
sensitive information on all the
counties and cities and schools digital
infrastructure. So
>> I think that's why that was in there.
>> Mhm.
>> Well, I think um I think
even even signing it and agreeing to to
participate in the projects, I think
they're still responsible for providing
us additional information about the
protections that will be there for the
data that's gathered. And if we don't
get satisfactory answers to those
questions, then we don't participate.
I mean,
that just means we're not going to
participate. And it means that we're not
going to participate in the
$1.2 million cyber security tabletop
exercise that they're planning. and it
means the remaining 3 years of funding
maybe the county doesn't get. But if
they can't adequately answer the
questions we have about who's going to
be protecting that data then and I think
we can continue to ask those questions
>> and I'm going to work to try to get
answers to some of those questions
moving forward. So, but that's a you
know I 100% agree and that's one of my
main concerns. So,
>> and I mean we're talking sorry to
interrupt but we're talking cyber
security. We're talking about all kinds
of security. So,
they should be able to answer those
questions to our satisfaction and it
these should not come off as um
inappropriate or ridiculous questions.
>> That's exactly what I was going to say.
This is about cyber security. They
should be cognizant of that. They should
be able to give us the assurances about
our data, our information because it's
in it's very secure information, you
know. So, okay. Well, uh, anything else?
Any other questions, comments,
frustrations to be shared? [laughter]
» No, I'm kidding.
>> Uh, if there are not, I would entertain
a motion for approval of the consent
agreement.
>> I would move approval.
>> Okay. Cyber security grant.
>> Second.
>> Okay. It's been moved and seconded.
Hedins.
>> I.
>> Fasil. I
>> American I it is approved. Thank you.
Keep us surprised to what goes on with
it because yeah the tabletop exercise we
do want to get a good one and I think
that can help us move forward. So
>> I do think that'd be pretty beneficial
for the county to to go through
something like that and
>> to get expectations for that. So
>> okay.
>> Poor poor Joel Rooney got an earful from
me at the conference a couple of times.
[laughter]
>> Okay. And you have the next item. Yes.
>> Which is discussion and consideration of
phone hardware and deployment quote
between Story County and High Point
Networks for an unbudgeted amount of
105,000. So please run us rock us
through this.
>> So um the last couple months or so uh my
office has been looking at different
phone proposals. Um, we did a uh a phone
swap um oh when I pretty much right when
I started here last October for those
for a couple months there. Um we
definitely noticed after we did that
swap uh there was some features u and
some kind of needs for some of the
offices that weren't really part of that
phone system. Um, we've also ran into a
number of uh kind of backend issues uh
with the provider that we're using uh
with dead calls, drops, um you know,
just kind of audio issues in general and
it hasn't went over very well. Um so
after having a meeting with uh some of
the departments um decided to, you know,
start looking around, see what other
options were out there. Um had several
meetings. I think overall my office
looked at about six different solutions.
Um, we had four of those that my office
had uh meetings with and uh kind of
preliminary demos uh on features and and
information. And then we narrowed that
down and did two um live demos with
department heads and uh uh folks from
those departments on questions that they
had. Um had really good feedback out of
those two meetings. We um I I think both
of those that we looked at uh would have
been viable solutions, but ultimately uh
most of the departments felt that this
was the the better fit and gave the
offices better flexibility uh uh for
phones uh in their offices moving
forward. So
this was uh you know really looked at um
really broke down on on what on what
kind of benefits uh this system would be
compared to what we currently have.
Um there's obviously costs associated
with this uh for the uh support and
deployment of this system. Uh the
biggest cost here being the phone
hardware and then the monthly recurring
cost for the subscription. Um I will say
the monthly recurring cost for the
subscription is substantially uh lower
than what we're currently paying. Um
when uh I originally sent an email out
to the department heads that had a
breakdown. Um but the the breakdown that
I gave was actually a little lower than
what the act what we're actually paying
per month. Uh right now I think we're
paying somewhere in the ballpark of uh
about 5,000 a month for all the offices
and all the the phones across all the
county, you know, county departments.
Um, so I think this uh when I broke it
down is somewhere closer to uh 25. Um,
so substantial difference uh between the
two. Was it 25 or three? I can't
remember the numbers off the top of my
head, but it was it was substantial. So,
uh, so moving over, uh, to this is going
to, uh, you know, cost the county a good
chunk, but I do believe moving forward
is going to, you know, save us money and
long end and also provide more features
for all the offices. So, I reached out
to High Point um on the phone hardware
on this uh mid last week uh to get uh
better numbers cuz the phone hardware on here um needed to be changed. We have
they have more phones on here that than
what is we currently required with our
departments. Um so, right now the
subtotal on that is about $81,000 in
hardware for phones. Um, I don't know
what those new costs are going to be,
but they it should be cheaper than
what's currently on here. My best guess
is going to be somewhere between 65 to
70 uh for phones. Um, so around
100 of the uh uh the kind of uh higher
feature phones, 120 of just kind of the
normal phones. uh five uh speaker phones
for uh county conference rooms and then
uh 10 additional side side cars, which
the side cars are the ones that allow
you to see the multiple uh you know
lines and everything uh and makes it
easier to swap uh phone calls coming in.
So, I know I went through a lot of
information there, but I don't think I'm
really missing anything. Was there
anything that the board had questions
on?
>> I have a question. So I know in
particular I think the sheriff's
department and the auditor's office
really struggled with the teams that we
have right now.
>> So does this better meet the needs for
those in particularly those two
departments? Yes, I got, you know,
feedback. Um, and like I said, both
solutions that we kind of demoed for the
department heads and, uh, and those that
the department heads, uh, allocated to
kind of help with this, uh, system, we
had kind of a little phone committee and
I, that was really helpful. Um, so all
the questions they had with were
features that they really needed for
those their offices and how those calls
uh are kind of routed in those in their
offices. Um but yes it they they seem
much happier with this type of system
than what we're currently using. So
>> that'd be great. I I just want to add um
we were at ISAC last week and one of our
kind of roundt discussions were on it
and the topic with the other folks or I
brought it up was teams for county
government and there were many people
that said that they've had challenges
with teams to
>> meet all the needs particularly with the
auditor and like their sheriff's
department. So, um, well, I think Teams
is a great tool. It's just not always
the best for government purposes
>> and and [clears throat] modern phone,
uh, systems and platforms are vastly
different, too. Um, they really are. Um,
you know, everyone just thinks, oh, it's
a phone, but, you know, the features and
capabilities are are considerably
different and the costs are considerably
different as well. So,
>> so I also spoke with somebody from the
treasurer's office last week and a
person said that she was very thought
this would be much better for the
treasur's office as well and that's an
area that's also had a lot of problems
with the team's phones. So,
Supervisor Fasil, did you have
questions?
Mine's only mine my my only question is
about that. It's an unbudgeted,
>> right?
>> And
I don't think there's money in
department budgets to pay for new
phones. That's already kind of been done
once. What is your proposal or what are
you thinking about this?
>> Oh, what does Lisa Markley have to say?
[laughter]
>> I asked her to come in.
So yeah, the departments uh I believe
had money um in their budgets last year
uh to replace some of those phones for
teams, but one of the main issues that
we have right now is the phone system
that we have, those phones are designed
specifically for the teams platform. Um
all of the
um different vendors that we talked with
uh for different phone solutions, I
asked them, you know, can we reutilize
our phones? And it was all across the
board. was like, "No, those are designed
spec specifically for teams." And this
company in particular uh took a couple
of our spare phones and just tried to
see what the functionality
um difference would be, you know, using
our current uh phones with uh this
system and they just straight up told me
it's not going to work.
>> Not going to solve the problem.
>> No, we we'd have to switch our our our
phones out, unfortunately.
Lisa, do you have any comments on
>> I'm curious as to how we're going to pay
for it at this point in time because I'm
the budget amendment comes before you
next week, the first budget amendment of
the year. I prefer only doing two a
year, but if I have to do another one, I
can. Um, but I'm not clear as to where
it's getting paid for from. Nobody's
talked about this. Um, I also wanted to
know how much the power supplies are
going to cost because that is not
included in any of this.
the the what power supplies.
>> Oh, power supplies.
>> It says power supplies are not included
on any of the um phones.
>> So, these phones will be uh they'll be
PoE, they'll plug into the county's
network similar to our team's uh phones.
But uh what that's stating is is if we
don't have um you know PoE power
switches, which nowadays most uh
organizations do, but if they didn't,
you'd have to get a secondary power
source. But that's not going to be an
issue with this. So um it's our our
current phones are all POE powered so
not an issue.
» Yeah. So um the one thing I feel
strongly about is the fact that we all
the departments were asked to just pay
for phones and now they're useless. Um
and that was totally not planned on. um
I don't think it um behooves us to do it
again
from the departments if we can possibly
avoid it. But I also know that Colin
might not have this amount of money
sitting around in his budget. Um
which as I said if if I need to amend it
again I can for from from unassigned
funds.
Yes, there is some savings from some
other, you know, we're not going to be
paying the annual maintenance and things
like that, I would assume, until next
year.
>> Um,
we don't have the team's annual
maintenance right now.
>> So, there'll be some savings in
subsequent budgets, but not enough in
this budget, obviously.
>> In the current in the current budget
that that it has, there's there's going
to be some savings, I would assume.
>> Okay. Um, but what I'm saying is I don't
know if if if we can come up with this
much money at this point in time
>> without amending again.
» How much are each of the phones 105?
>> So, it depends on the phone. Um, there
were there was two main um different
types of hardware phones that they
recommended. The one is um uh I don't
want to say basic but more traditional
phone with a little less features and
that was 105 and then the the higherend
one was 389.
>> Oh, okay. I see it here.
>> It's on that
>> the other Yeah.
>> other page.
>> Yeah.
>> And you said this estimate was for more
phones than we need.
>> Correct.
>> So,
>> it could be lower.
>> I was hoping to get that
>> about $10,000 less.
>> That's my guess. Um, I was hoping to get
that revised quote by now. Um, but I
haven't got it yet. So,
>> so all the we've we've you've determined
which departments need which phones and
that's a you have a good number on those
as to how much how many of them are
going to be the 389 and how many of them
are going to be
>> correct.
>> Okay.
And there was um
some additional
hardware like I said with the the
speaker phones uh for the conference
rooms which I think would work better
which should save some money as well. Um
yeah unfortunately with any system that
we we move to off of our current one
we're going to have to purchase new
phones. Is there any is can we sell
those on the um blue or purple wave or
somewhere
>> deals or purple wave? Yes. Um we're not
going to get you know probably what the
board and what you want out of them but
we will get some money back in return
from them. So
>> are you thinking like half or less than
half?
>> My best guess is if we got half we'd be
doing really well. Okay.
>> Um
>> I' I'd say realistically probably like
30% of what we we spent on them.
>> It's better than letting them sit on a
shelf and collect dust.
>> Correct. Very true.
>> Oh, absolutely.
>> Some of them uh we still have kind of
boxed up uh as well. We should get a
little bit more out of those. Uh but the
majority of them will will be used. So
there's just not a big market for used phones. So, [clears throat]
what I'm hearing is you think you can negotiate on this in terms of
numbers of things and and and styles of phones to get it down about 10.
>> Yeah, my best guess.
>> And then you might be able to get some
money out of the other phones.
So, I don't know how many if you got an
estimate on that.
>> It was around 220.
Um, yeah, around 220. I don't recall off
hand how many uh departments really
purchased or needed the side cars. I
think my best guess on that was around
10.
>> But so have you done
>> 10 phones?
>> Oh, I don't think so. It was way more
than
>> what's a sidec car.
>> So that so that's
>> shows all the
basically it's just a it's like a a
screen that shows all your individual
lines in your department.
>> Gotcha. Gotcha.
>> So you can see Yeah. You can see at a
quick glance who's on the phone.
>> You couldn't pick it to get that phone,
but you could see it.
>> Sure. Sure.
>> Okay. Colin, have have you actually done
the the um
the side by side like, oh, this this
office needs this many of this kind of
phone, this many of that kind of phone,
or are you
>> I went off
>> trying to remember.
>> I went off numbers that uh the office is
currently purchased. Okay.
>> For Okay. Um for this for the last team
system.
>> Okay.
And you didn't have an estimate if we
got say 30% out of the phones, how much
we'd get. You said it was 220 phones.
>> Average cost do you think that we had
per phone?
>> I think ours were over $400 a piece,
weren't they?
>> No, they're around $250. The the the
phone costs like week by week range
differently. I mean, technology costs
right now are just really Looneyville,
but um I think the high-end ones that uh
the offices got were somewhere around
250, maybe 260. And then the more
traditional basic phones were around
120.
>> So maybe another 10 to 15,000 from
selling the phones eventually, but it'll
be a while. And 10,000
>> I'd say that'd be pretty accurate. and
about 10,000. You're saying that you
think you can get this quote down just
by having fewer ones? That's that's
25,000. That's some of it, but it'll
come back slowly, maybe.
I I agree, Lisa. I I don't think it's um
appropriate to ask the departments
[clears throat]
to come up with that out of their
budgets
for this year
>> for this that none of none of the
offices or departments asked for this to
happen. [laughter]
>> Correct.
>> For us,
>> this was this was a direction that uh
>> and none of the offices or departments
saw the phones to begin with way back
when when we bought bought the other
ones to know that they weren't going to
work. So, it's it's it's a really tough
spot and I I know that Colin came into
it
>> and didn't have any
>> say in it. Um,
>> but it annoys me.
>> Yeah, for sure.
>> Greatly.
>> Yeah.
>> That we spent all that money
>> Yeah.
>> on those phones.
>> It is work.
>> Yeah, it is. It is annoying. But the
reality is we're here now and offices
like yours are having a terrible time
with them. I know that
you we've been talking, you know, get
this done, get this done, get this done
before the election.
I hope that we know that that is
P we're past that time right now because
we have three elections coming up in
September and then another one in
November.
>> So to try to do a phone conversion in
the middle of that is not something
we're excited about.
I understand that he's been trying
really hard to get us so that we can
have it by November,
>> but that's a lot.
>> That's a lot [clears throat] to ask.
>> Yeah.
>> Right. And people will have to be would
have to be learning a new system at the
same time that they're getting ready for
an election, which
>> I don't like the option we have right
now because we can't pick a phone and we
can't help out in the outer office and
we can't do anything with the phones.
But
I'm not sure how how we feel about going
forward right now to get it done.
>> Um, that's one of my concerns. My other
concern is um are you going to can you
carry for a few months and and have
enough money in your budget to take care
of this so that we can wait and amend
the budget in December or January?
>> I I can double check, but I believe so.
Yeah. I mean, you know, I'm looking at
it and seeing you have a lot you have
over 500,000 in maintenance and and in
maintenance costs maintenance that
usually gets paid toward the end of the
year. So, if that's the case, we can
just carry we can use those dollars
until we can amend your budget for it.
>> Okay.
>> And if you were able to to sell some of
those phones and that brought in
additional income, that could be put
towards this this as well. and you could
figure out where that needed where that
needed to go. But if we if we've got
25,000
>> Well, that we eventually might recoup.
>> The problem with that is
>> we got to we got to budget the expense
no matter what, right? The revenue
>> exactly
>> it's called, you know,
>> No, I understand.
>> And and I mean, we're going to need to have the current phones in place um
you know, until until we can swap them
out with the new system.
But [clears throat] yeah, as soon as
that's taken place, we'll try to sell
them. Yes.
>> Um I I just also want to acknowledge all
of the work that everybody did like your
office and all the other offices and
departments participating in the demos
and providing the feedback that
everybody provided. I wasn't able to be
at one of the demos, but I was able to
be at the second one. And um I was just
so impressed with how well everybody was
communicating the needs that they had
and the the issues that they have with
the current system and what they wanted
out of the new system. I think that
really informs
the decisions moving forward. Um I wish
that would have happened
>> correct
>> earlier. Correct. Um,
>> and the offices did really well, you
know, um, talking to the vendors on
their needs specifically and, uh, kind
of how they would envision or or hope
the phones would work moving forward.
Um, when I first set those demos up, um,
we set them up for like half an hour,
maybe 45 minutes time slots. Uh, the
first one lasted three hours and the
second one lasted about 2 hours. So, the
departments got uh, had all, we'll say,
very thoroughly asked questions uh, from
both vendors. And I appreciate both
vendors taking that time to, you know,
try to make sure that we completely
understood how those homes are going to
work. So,
>> well, and I think as Lisa, as you said,
you kind of walked into
something [clears throat] that was
already in progress of what was kind of
sold to us as this would work. Um, and
same with like I said with other
counties did kind of the same thing and
find that teams just doesn't work for
government. It may work for other office
more private offices, but it just
doesn't work for
>> what what we're needing.
>> Yeah, it's Yeah, I'm glad you talked to
some other supervisors from other
counties about that. So, we know that,
you know, we're not alone in this in
having this um having this happen. And I
think phone systems have just gotten so
incredibly complicated.
>> They have. And when you when you put
them with your you know your your um all
your computer system
I mean I don't want to say maybe you
don't know how they're going to work or
not until you actually have them because
you try to do the due diligence and get
as much information as you possibly can.
But they're very complex animals. So I'm
not faulting anybody. It's too bad it
happened. But here's where we are right
now and we have got to move forward so
employees can do their jobs and know so
we can serve the public. That's the
thing that bothers me most is when we
hear calls, you know, you can't get a
call from here to there calls, you know,
all the all the things that are
happening that just are dysfunctional.
>> Well, the thing about county government
as well is um it's it's really hard to
find one solution that works for all the
county offices because each one of the
county offices,
>> you know, all kind of do things a little
or need to do things a little
differently when it comes to their phone
system. So making sure that the system
is flexible enough so that you know each
office can take those calls in the way
they need to u and prioritize them is it
can be a challenge.
>> Yeah.
>> I want to thank you for all the
additional work that you've put in on
this. I know like I said it wasn't you
know it was in proc progress when you started and you've done a good job
of you know listening to folks getting
people in finding something that should
work and kind of kicking the tires on
it. So, thank you
>> for I think I think um I think I
definitely personally want to apologize
to all of the offices and departments
for the stress that the new phones
brought. Um and you know, in hindsight,
I wish I had known more about the phones
and not made the assumptions that a new
phone would have the features that
existing phones have. um [clears throat]
some lessons are a lot more expensive
unfortunately both with the stress and
everything else. Um, but I I just really
feel like we um owe that to all the
offices and departments, just an
acknowledgement of the stress that that
created and I'm really sorry that that
happened.
>> And the offices, uh, you know, we worked
with them. We really tried to find
avenues there to make this, uh, system
that we're on, you know, be as viable as
possible. Um, quit laughing, Lisa.
>> No, you did. But turns out we're good.
>> But it just it really it you know it
really caused some frustration for the
offices and we uh and we acknowledge
that. But we really tried to make this
uh system work. We really did. Um but we
just we need to move to something else
that's going to work better for the
offices. So
>> So you'll I think what we're all in
agreement with in this room is that that
the individuals department should not
have to buy phones again. Mhm.
>> Then be and and it sounds like what
we're saying, Colin, you're saying,
"Yeah, I could carry we could get this
done. I could carry it for a while and
then until a budget amendment from and
to move some money from unassigned
funds." And you may at that point, you
may need less, you know, if some of
these things work out, you may need a
little less than the the 105,
[clears throat]
but you can uh you can work with the
auditor's office on that. Make sure to
let them know.
>> Keep that. You could let us know too if
you got blessed. I'd like to
>> Yes.
>> know that as well.
>> Sure.
» So,
>> ready for a motion?
>> I'm ready for a motion. Okay.
>> I think we are.
>> Uh I would move approval of the phone
hardware and deployment um quote from
High Point Networks.
>> Second.
>> Been moved and seconded. Any further
discussion? If not, Fasil
>> I.
>> Hens.
>> Mkin I. It's approved. We'll move
forward.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks for all your work on that, Colin.
>> Yeah.
>> Next, department reports, we have none.
Other reports, we have none. Upcoming
agenda items. Do either of you have some
upcoming agenda items?
>> No,
>> I do not. Next, we have public comment
number two, comments from the public on
items not on this agenda. The may board
may take any action on the comments. may
not take I'm sorry action on the
comments due to requirements of the open
meetings law but may do so in the future
and please again if you have any
comments limited them to two minutes
I'll open public comment number two if
there's anybody in the room that has a
comment please come forward to the
podium or the table and online please
use the raise hand function
okay seeing nobody I'll close public
comment mark number two and we'll go to
the supervisors to talk about liazison
on assignments, committee meeting
updates, and any announcements they
have. Supervisor Fasil, do you want to
start us out?
>> Sure. Just a quick update on the
manufactured housing repair program. Um,
nine projects have been completed so far
and um 4,700
47,855
dollars have been spent so far out of
that
>> 47855
>> 47,855
» Mhm. [clears throat]
>> out of the 75
that we set aside. Um, and then there's
one more in the works right now. But I
know Lucas is continuing to receive more
applications. So, it's just a matter of
how many how many um contractors are
able to do the work. Um, so just really
excited to see that many projects and
still
>> how many projects again?
>> Nine so far. One more in the in the
works.
>> Great.
Um and then just wanted to um call out a
little um additional information from
the housing trust. There are three
communities that have applied for the um
owner occupied repair funding. That's
Maxwell, Slater, and Collins. Um between
[clears throat] them, it's about
$150,000
that they have to do um owner occupied
repairs in their communities. So, um
hoping they'll be able to get all of
that spent down and make some big
differences. And then um we've got
uh Salvation Army has already used up
their rental assistance funds from the
housing trust for this year. Uh and
we're not even at winter yet. So
just kind of looking
>> motel
>> that is their rental assistance. Yeah,
they've spent their hotel money. The
hotel money is gone from the housing
trust. I know they have other other
resources
>> um also for hotels but yeah
>> that's gone.
So
» just that wanted to share that
information. And then as far as calendar
for the week, looks like we have a work
session this afternoon. Um I'm out of
the office in the morning tomorrow, but
I'll be here um in the afternoon
tomorrow and Thursday, Friday. I'll be
at part of the alliance
um TIFF information meeting. I'll have
to leave a little early because I've got
uh CIJDC
uh that I have to
make it to. Um oh, and Thursday night I
have a CFR board meeting also.
And then um Sunday CCJ is having their
um fundraiser in the evening. It's a
puzzle competition. Um and then I will
be in the office on Monday.
Uh I also have the opioid settlement
meeting this afternoon. Uh tomorrow I'll
be in I do have a meeting in the
afternoon. Thursday I have the hera
board meeting. Uh then uh Matt and I
with environmental health are meeting
with public health in the afternoon and
then there's a behavioral health town
hall. Um, after that at 4 Friday, I've
got a workforce uh CEO meeting. Um, do
want to remind folks that Mark Lambert,
the city attorney, is retiring and he's
having his retirement party or
recognition Friday afternoon.
>> Uh, Saturday, this is separate. I'm
again volunteering at Miracle League in
Ames. If folks want to come out and
cheer the athletes, they've got um four
teams, so they play at 9:00 and at 10
o'clock.
Um the teams play through rest this
Saturday then through the month of
September
excluding September 5th because that's
Labor Day weekend and uh into the first
uh week of October. So come on out and
cheer on the athletes.
>> Okay.
So Okay. um
would want to just announce that we had
a we're having some meetings with the
warming place team to get ready for
November. We're realizing it's almost
September and last year we were open for
a couple months. This year we're going
to be open for November through March
whenever we need to be. That's going to
make a real need for more volunteers.
So, if anybody is interested in
volunteering to help run help um with
shifts at the warming place, go to
aswarming.place. There's a whole bunch
of information for volunteers. We will
definitely need more volunteers this
year because it's going to be and I I
keep hearing these things about heavy
snows.
That concerns me because when you have
heavy snows and you have need to shelter
people because it's cold, maybe
volunteers can't get there. So, we're
trying to really get lots more people so
we can have a plan when when volunteers
might otherwise come, but no, I'm snowed
in. I can't do it. So, yeah. Um, we had
a great fundraiser that's going to help
us and we're going to be ready by
November 1st and hopefully it will be a
better winter than what they're saying.
So, anyway, my my um my calendar uh
opioid settlement fund at 1:00 I have a
countywide recycling meeting at 3. And
the good news there is we did get the
DNR grant. It's the swamp. I can't
remember what it stands for, but it's to
get um big bins that we can utilize
around the county for countywide
recycling. We're continuing to work on
that and how we can work with the
cities. I think we got most the
information now on what individual
cities will do and with that we can move
forward.
Um,
tomorrow I'm in Story City for the Iowa
WM statewide Iowa WMA gathering
and uh they're probably for um
about 10 to 2 I think that's going to be
I'm looking forward to that. You always
learn a lot from the people who working
with the other WAS.
In the afternoon, I have a discussion on
pre-trial services and release on
recognizance with the new statute that
the legislature
um that the legislature enacted that I
am behind on. But we're going to try to
get some information out on what's going
on with that and what second judicial
district is planning to do to I hope um
revive and strengthen some pre-trial
services. I'll I'll have more
information on that. Um, Thursday I'm
out. I have a um Iowa Learning Farms
Field Day.
Um, Friday, uh, Alliance Board meeting
in the morning, followed by a TIFF
meeting. I need to figure out what
that's about. And Mark Lambert's
retirement, uh, 2:00.
Um, he's been there for a very long
time. We'll miss him. Um, Sunday I'm
going to an Amos meeting in De Moine,
uh, where they, um, wanted to talk with
elected officials about some of their
priorities.
And then next Monday and Tuesday, it
looks like I've got a meeting with Aaron
or they've got a conference going on,
the Iowa State folks who are doing um,
some fixed wireless things for rural
areas. I want to see what they're where
they are right now. That'll be
interesting. I'm gonna miss part of it
because of our board meeting, but I'll
get as much information on that as I
can. So, that's what I got.
>> Sounds good.
>> So, what else do we have? Is there
anything else? I don't think so.
Entertain a motion for adjournment.
>> So, moved. Second.
>> Hence, I fasil I mer. We're adjourned.
Thank you everybody.