Benton County supervisors approve permit renewals, deny land‑use change and authorize sealed‑bid notice for wildlife area

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met March 17, 2026, at the Benton County Service Center and approved a series of routine and discretionary actions, including permit renewals, a variance under the county subdivision ordinance, salary recommendations with no pay increases for FY2027, and a public‑notice posting for sale of the Cherveny Wildlife Area.

The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of the March 10 meeting, then approved multiple fireworks permit applications from the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association for dates in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November 2026. The supervisors also approved a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License renewal for Bloomsbury Farm Inc., effective April 30, 2026, through April 30, 2027. The motions to approve these items were moved and seconded and recorded as unanimous votes of Supervisors Ronald J. Tippett, Tracy Seeman and Bruce Volz.

Andrea Morris read a letter clarifying the board’s recent denial of a land‑use application for Cameron Erickson, saying, “The property subject to the request had a CSR greater than 70. It would remover 2.2 acres of high quality farm ground out of row crop production. Approval of such request may set precedent that could encourage other removal of high‑quality ag land from production elsewhere in the county. This non‑agricultural use would likely interfere with existing ag operations in the surrounding area.” Following that reading, the board voted to authorize mailing a letter to Erickson explaining why his land‑use request was denied.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution #26‑17 — Variance to Benton County Subdivision Ordinance #72 (applicants Rich Kundel and Ben Grant): Adopted unanimously. The resolution permits one new residential parcel in the NE corner of the SE 1/4, NE 1/4, Section 4, T84N, R9W.

- Resolution #26‑18 — Elected officials’ salaries for FY2027: Adopted unanimously; the Compensation Board recommended and the supervisors approved zero increases for all listed elected officials. The recorded recommended salaries (no change) include Auditor $101,441.46; Treasurer $95,897.07; Recorder $95,897.07; Attorney $146,534.51; Sheriff $140,290.32; Supervisor $51,664.61.

- Resolution #26‑19 — Approval to post public notice and sealed‑bid packet for sale of the Cherveny Wildlife Area: Adopted unanimously. The parcel is described in the resolution (approx. 7.15 acres). Sealed bids will not be accepted after 3:00 p.m. April 2, 2026; bids are scheduled to be opened in the public meeting on April 7, 2026. The board reserved the right to reject any and all bids.

The board’s adoption of Resolution #26‑17 granted a variance to the county subdivision ordinance related to a previous 2012 split for cemetery purposes; the resolution text and signatures were entered into the record. For the salary resolution, the supervisors explicitly cited the Benton County Compensation Board recommendation from its Nov. 13, 2025 meeting and referenced Iowa Code Sections 331.905 and 331.907 as the legal framework for elected‑official salary recommendations.

The meeting concluded after the board’s vote to post public notice for the Cherveny Wildlife Area sale. Supervisor Tippett moved to adjourn and Tracy Seeman seconded; the meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.

Meeting documents including full resolutions and the sealed‑bid packet for the Cherveny Wildlife Area are available at the Benton County Auditor’s office and online at www.bentoncountyia.gov.