The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. There were no representatives from the press. Russ Hansen, Matt Dreckman, Mike Scholten, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Kenny Schlenger and Justin Pritts were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Ellis, Skou, Mummert, Petersen, Mongan; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Mongan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, discussed dust control permits required by other counties. Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, stated it would be helpful for the maintenance of gravel roads if the county was informed when a private landowner applied a dust control product to the roadway. After a brief discussion, consensus of the supervisors was to authorize Schlenger to research possible dust control permits and report back to the board for consideration. Tracy reported there were no right of way applications to consider and nothing to be updated regarding activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Marcus Fire and Rescue Department representatives Russ Hansen, Mike Scholten and Matt Dreckman provided details of the department’s annual fire and ambulance calls with 205 responses and 3,747 total on-duty hours in the 2022 year. Hansen thanked the county for supporting the department’s building project and purchase of a grain vacuum system which will provide mutual assistance to all area fire departments. The supervisors thanked the Marcus Fire Department for their continued commitment to providing vital services to residents and applauded them for their professional administration of the volunteer department.
The supervisors provided committee reports, reviewed meeting schedules.
The supervisors reviewed 2023/2024 budget information and discussed pending legislation that will impact county finances by capping property tax levy rates and limiting property valuation increases. Taking a cautionary approach with the 2023/2024 budget, the supervisors lowered recommended salary increases for elected officials by 40% and reduced county department budget requests by 2% across the board. As a result of being fiscally responsible with public monies and historically implementing conservative property tax rates; the county is financially prepared to manage future tax revenue limitations imposed by state legislation.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to adjourn the meeting at 9:26 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at www.cherokeecountyiowa.com .
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on March 9, 2023