The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 with Bryan Petersen, Gary Lundquist, Duane Mummert, and Wane Miller present. There were no representatives from the press. Justin Pritts, Laura Jones, Sarah Tracy, and Stu Hogg were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mongan, Petersen, Mummert, Miller, Lundquist; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Wane Miller, Veteran Affairs Commissioner.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Miller to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Mongan, seconded by Miller to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Cindy Wilberding and Sheree Hausmann, Cherokee Skate Park Planning Committee, provided an informative presentation about the need for recreational opportunities for youth in the area, summarizing that “A skate park in Cherokee will not only be a safe place for our local skaters to enjoy, it will be a destination for statewide skaters which would bring an increase in commerce to our town.”. Wilberding explained that a matching grant up to $100,000 may be available and asked for a pledge of funds from Cherokee County to meet that goal by March.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Mongan to contribute $15,000 to the Cherokee Skate Park Project with payments from the Rural Betterment Fund of $5,000 in fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Motion carried.
arah Tracy, County Engineer, presented a wage authorization for consideration.
Motion by Mongan, seconded by Mummert to approve a $24.61 per hour wage authorization for Kirk Stowater, Operator, effective December 20, 2021. Motion carried.
Kenny Schlenger, Assistant Roads Superintendent, discussed equipment needs and requested authority to purchase pickups and an excavator.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to authorize the Secondary Roads Department to purchase a Ford _ ton long box 4×4 pickup. Motion carried.
Motion by Mongan, seconded by Miller to authorize the Secondary Roads Department to purchase a Ford _ ton short box 4×4 pickup. Motion carried.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Mummert to authorize the Secondary Roads Department to purchase a Caterpillar midsize excavator with trade in of a Caterpillar backhoe. Motion carried.
Ryan Kolpin, County Attorney, requested additional time to revise documents related to Opioid Litigation. Action was tabled for one week.
Motion by Mongan, seconded by Petersen to approve Resolution #2021-16 Inter-Fund Operating Transfer of $1,089,393.50 from Rural Basic Fund to Secondary Road Fund effective December 7, 2021. Roll call vote: Mongan-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Miller-aye, Lundquist-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Mummert to approve a separation of employment and $120.00 final payout of hours worked for Douglas Kennebeck, Conservation Seasonal Laborer, effective November 1, 2021. Motion carried.
Lundquist asked for a recommendations of board members to set preliminary figures for 2022/2023 employee wage and health insurance increases so department managers can prepare their initial budget requests. After a lengthy discussion, consensus was to adjust employee health premium rates and wages to competitive levels in an effort to retain current county employees and attract qualified applicants for job postings.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Miller to direct departments to prepare their budgets with a 4% wage increase effective July 1, 2022 with the understanding that additional mid-year wage increases will not be considered other than new hire probationary wage reviews related to job performance. Employee monthly health insurance premiums will be $100 for single and $350 for family coverage with employer health contributions budgeted with a 12% increase. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Miller to approve publication of a summary of the proposed Cherokee County Voting Precincts Ordinance and to set the first reading for 9:00 a.m. on December 21, 2021. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Miller to approve a “Cherokee County Provider and Program Participation Agreement” for fiscal year 2022 county funding of covered services provided by the Quimby Public Library for the benefit of Cherokee County citizens and individuals. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
Lundquist called for comments from the public. Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, reported that her office is working with the E911 Director to assess a radio system and vehicle location software currently used in the Secondary Roads Department to determine if the systems have reached their useful life.
There being no further business, Chairman Lundquist adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at www.cherokeecountyiowa.com .
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Gary Lundquist, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News December 23, 2021.