Supervisor calls for town hall on trustee bills

WHAT IS POTENTIAL?

This would be specifically to look into what improved, fiscally responsible services may be provided into the future, knowing that resources will continue to be strained and our populations are shifting in Lee County.”

Garry Seyb, Lee County Supervisor

LEE COUNTY – Lee County Supervisor Garry Seyb is convening a meeting to discuss current legislation aimed at restructuring township and trustee status in the state.
According to an email from Lee County Auditor Sherri Yasenchok on behalf of Seyb, the meeting will take place at the Donnellson Community Center on March 24 beginning at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
Topics for discussion include legislation currently being considered that could affect Lee County services, specifically around fire and police operations.
Seyb said he is encouraging all township trustees and city mayors to attend.
The specific legislation is around Senate file 2431 (formerly Senate Study bill 3009), which addresses township authority, and Senate Study Bill 3113, which pertains to law enforcement in cities under 6,000 population.
Both bills advanced through the first funnel week and remain active as of March 5.
SSB 3113 allows for an agreement for communities within a county to enter an agreement for the administration of law enforcement services at a rate of no more than 105% of actual costs of the services. Under the terms of the agreement, those cost would be itemized. The bill allows for payments by means determined under the agreement including, but not limited to, per call or per hour.
The proposed legislation requires communities with 6,000 or less populations to submit cost comparisons to the Dept. of Management annually by Dec. 31. If the cost comparison shows it’s more cost effective to contract law enforcement services with another city in the county, or the county itself, the issue is required to be put in front of voters by July 1.
Senate File 2431 amends Section 12C of Iowa Code to redact the word “clerk” from in favor of “secretary”, and then from subsection 2 it redacts the word “township” and “township clerks” from the code.
It does provide for township trustees, indicating that counties would appoint trustees and remove the election process that is in place currently. It also limits the new “trustee boards” to three persons registered to vote in the township and requires the board to meet at least two times per year. One trustee shall be selected as the “clerk” of the trustee board.
The bill would require boards of trustees to prepare and  file  financial statements by Sept. 30 annually for property tax levy purposes, and file the statements with the county within seven days of being certified by the board.
The bill also provides for abolishment of boards of trustee where the township boundaries coincide with city boundaries within the county and the responsibilities of the former township within the county falls back on the city. The assets and funds of the township would also be transferred to the city.
The bill would also reset fence dispute resolutions with arbitrary “fence viewers” set by county boards of supervisors. It terminates all elected trustee terms on Jan. 1, 2027.
Seyb wrote in an email response to Pen City Current, the catalyst for the meeting is two-fold, including how the legislation being discussed at the state level could drastically changed how township services were provided. He also wrote budgets will be impacted immediately.
“The townships/cities and county have all just finished up with their FY27 budgets. I feel this would be a great time to gauge support for consideration of conducting a countywide study into possible shared services, specifically in the areas of police and fire protection,” he wrote.
“This would be specifically to look into what improved, fiscally responsible services may be provided into the future knowing that resources will continue to be strained and our populations are shifting in Lee County.”
Seyb said he has spoken with State Sen. Jeff Reichman (R-Montrose), and state Reps. Blaine Watkins (R-Donnellson) and Matt Rinker (R-Burlington) and personally invited them to be at the meeting. But he said the three are currently in session and attendance would be difficult.
“All three are very interested in the outcome of the meeting and specific comments especially as it pertains to the townships.
Seyb said any board that has the ability to levy taxes and provide services should be an elected board.
“If appointed, I’m concerned with finding enough people who would agree to serve as trustee. In the three-person appointed trustee version, one of the trustees is chosen to fulfill the role of Secretary. This may make it difficult as not all may want to risk being put in this position which does hold additional responsibilities,” he wrote.