The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Steve Zarr, Kenny Schlenger, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann 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 Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve the claims for payment as presented. Motion carried. A complete listing is available for review in the County Auditor’s office and online.

Claims Approved March 28, 2023:
AgState
Fuel 3,176.30
Alliant Energy
Serv 747.83
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 16,665.23
Arnold Motor Supply
Parts 56.94
Auditor – State of Iowa
Fees 625.00
Beck Engineering
Serv 4,980.00
Robert Berger
Travel Reimb 216.00
Bomgaars
Supp 279.71
Samantha J Boothby
Travel Reimb 536.84
Brad’s Tire Service Center
Serv 107.20
L&L Builders Co.
Serv 476,182.75
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 79.46
Campbell Supply Co
Parts 54.13
Central Bank
Supp 291.04
Central Iowa Distributing
Supp 1,531.40
CenturyLink Qwest
Serv 151.78
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 240.00
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 6,997.20
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Serv 695.00
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 4,250.33
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 80.25
Cintas
Supp 80.40
City of Cherokee
Serv 487.28
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 32.35
Cole Papers Inc
Supp 742.30
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Life Ins 959.01
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
Kelly Ebel
Reimb 79.75
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
Fareway
Supp 4,502.92
First National Bank of Omaha
Supp 15.81
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 1,585.24
Frederick Welding
Supp 19.65
Frontier
Serv 129.95
Kris Glienke
Travel Reimb 180.50
Gordon Flesch Company
Serv 81.78
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 99.39
Graves Construction Co., Inc
Construction 7,149.87
GreatAmerica Financial Svcs
Serv 127.73
Hallett Materials
Gravel 7,355.42
Hy-Vee Inc.
Supp 218.15
IACCVSO
Dues 60.00
ICEA
Fee 30.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 969.00
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 100.24
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 150.00
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 2,617.40
Iowa State University
Fee 1,170.00
ISAA
Fee 665.00
Iowa State Assoc of Counties Dues 50.00
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 318.65
Julius Cleaners
Serv 37.00
KCHE
Ads 50.00
Thomas J Kohn
Supp 172.54
Mail Services, LLC
Postage 574.21
Mallison & Waldner LLC
Serv 2,160.00
Marcus Lumber
Supp 79.26
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 703.60
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
Supp 53.77
Mid American Energy
Serv 2,066.02
Mid-American Benefits, Inc.
Admin Fees 555.00
Midwest Lubricants, Inc
Supp 397.50
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 3,966.16
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Missouri Machine & Plow LLC
Parts 4,588.70
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 732.70
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 188.59
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 168.10
Northside Tire
Serv 1,446.84
O’Halloran International
Parts 4,328.93
One Office Solution
Supp 451.67
Michelle K. Pedersen
Per Diem 50.00
PJ Greufe & Associates
Serv 1,500.00
Power Systems AHS,LLC
Supp 445.05
Prestox
Serv 166.11
Quality Upholstery
Supp 6,048.12
Ricoh USA, Inc.
Serv 12.91
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 249.00
SCE, LLC
Serv 2,298.94
SEAT Treasurer
Dues 200.00
Sioux Valley Family Health
Serv 295.00
Solutions
Serv 9,132.00
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
T & L TOOLS
Supp 144.00
Truck Center Companies
Parts 413.54
Verizon Wireless
Serv 88.49
Visual Edge IT
Serv 49.52
Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
Insurance 99,325.89
Nissa M White
Travel Reimb 191.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 3,168.94
Grand Total $694,921.28

There were no comments from the public.
Steve Zarr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Westel Systems in Sections 22 and 27 of Silver Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to approve an overhead construction on county right of way application for MidAmerican Energy in Sections 24, 25, 26 and 36 of Liberty Township and Section 1 of Sheridan Township. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, presented wage authorizations for consideration.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to approve a $21.00 per hour wage authorization for Jim Leonard, Temporary Seasonal Labor, effective June 1, 2023. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve a $16.00 per hour wage authorization for Josh Landhuis, Temporary Seasonal Labor, effective June 1, 2023. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, reported that her office is fielding calls from county residents with concerns about dust control permit costs and RAGBRAI vendor fees. Tracy also reported that construction has begun on replacing three bridges with box culverts and the Cherokee 18 bridge east of Cherokee city limits will be closing soon for continued repair. Tracy addressed previous suggestions by the board to begin preliminary easement purchases and a bridge replacement on F Avenue. Petersen clarified that he wants the county to show a good faith effort in complying with a court order that requires Cherokee County to follow the contract with Little Sioux Corn Processors which stipulates grading and paving of F Avenue to be completed in 2023. Tracy stated that she and her staff have not delayed any part of the F Avenue project and are doing everything they can to deliver the entire project start to finish in 2025. Petersen added that he does not feel that grading and paving a road in the same year will produce the best quality roadway, but prefers to grade and replace a bridge in one construction season to let the dirt settle during the freeze/thaw of winter before completing the final pavement in the following year. Tracy stated that the F Avenue project will be let as a whole and the contractor will place the culvert, grade and pave the road in one season.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to open a public hearing for the proposed 2023/2024 fiscal year budget. Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mummert-aye, Petersen-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried. Chairman Mongan asked for comments from the public.
Hearing no comments from the public, a motion was made by Skou, seconded by Petersen to close the public hearing. Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mummert-aye, Petersen-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to adopt Resolution #2023-11 Adopting a Salary Schedule for 2023/2024 elected officials which reflects a forty percent (40%) reduction of the County Compensation Board recommendations with approved salaries as listed: Attorney $120,350 ($3,600 increase), Auditor $75,750 ($3,000 increase), Recorder $75,750 ($3,000 increase), Sheriff $96,350 ($3,600 increase), Treasurer $75,750 ($3,000 increase), and Supervisors $33,350 ($975 increase) with a $1,000 stipend for the Chairman. Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mummert-aye, Petersen-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to adopt Resolution #2023-12 to Approve the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget and Certification of Taxes as published. Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mummert-aye, Petersen-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to approve cost proposal #12 for the Cherokee County Courthouse HVAC Retrofit Project. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to approve cost proposal #16 for the Cherokee County Courthouse HVAC Retrofit Project. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to adjourn the meeting at 9:46 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 April 13, 2023