The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert and Dave Skou present.  Cheryl Ellis was absent.  Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press.  Steve Zarr, Kelly Puhrmann, Kenny Schlenger and Laura Jones were also in attendance.  Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows:  Ayes – 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 Mummert to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert 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 July 25, 2023:
Accurate Serve of OCALA
Serv 169.00
AgState
Fuel 30,355.89
Alliant Energy
Serv 38.72
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 521.20
Aurelia Municipal Utility
Ser 59.53
Beck Engineering
Serv 2,873.75
Bomgaars
Supp 155.81
Boyer Ridge Manufacturing, Inc
Supp 789.36
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 310.73
C & B Operations, LLC
Equi 42.38
Campbell Supply Co
Parts 233.33
Carroll Construction Supply
Parts 663.66
Central Bank
Supp 217.97
Central Iowa Distributing
Supp 911.00
CenturyLink
Serv 145.00
Chase Card Services
Supp 2,229.25
Cherokee County Engineer
Fuel 161.13
Cherokee Fire Department
Serv 25.00
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 5,969.24
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 36,178.99
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 9,278.90
Christenson Brothers
Projects 87,789.65
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 799.63
Cintas
Supp 54.80
City of Cherokee
Serv 1,095.89
City of Marcus
Serv 22.95
City of Quimb
Serv 63.37
CJ Cooper & Associates
Serv 270.00
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 366.07
NextGen Communications, Inc.
Serv 5,945.00
Corporate Translation Services
Serv 10.60
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Insur 1,056.01
DENCO Highway Constr Corp
Serv 261,101.22
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
Joseph W Draper
Travel Reimb 71.00
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
DTN, LLC
Serv 1,251.00
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 75.74
Frontier
Serv 129.95
GCC Alliance Concrete Co, Inc.
Concrete 5,295.00
Gordon Flesch Company
Serv 81.78
Graves Construction Co., Inc
Construction 1,501.56
GreatAmerica Financial Svcs
Serv 127.73
Greenwood Schubert
Funeral Home
Serv 1,500.00
Alyssa A Herbold, P.L.C.
Serv 775.00
Sandra K Hoyt Nicols
Serv 254.25
Inspiron Logistics LLC
Serv 1,725.00
Iowa County Attorneys Assoc
Dues 370.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Ser 1,546.17
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 204.24
Iowa State Assoc of Counties
Dues 400.00
ISACA
Fee 30.00
Janitor’s Closet, Ltd
Supp 295.00
Jeffs Foods
Supp 683.69
Jim Hawk Truck Trailers Inc
Parts 1,578.99
JJSS, LLC Jim’s Sewer Service
Serv 360.00
Julius Cleaners
Serv 37.00
KCHE
Ads 76.00
Kenwood Records Management
Serv 1,962.95
Thomas J Kohn
Reimb 40.48
Kolbeck, Inc.
Supp 120.00
Marco
Serv 215.05
Marcus News
Publ 89.50
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 572.74
Marx Leasing
Serv 150.00
Metal Culverts
Pipes 29,440.80
Mid American Energy
Serv 79.75
Mid-American Benefits, Inc.
Fees 75.00
Midwest Card and ID Solutions
Serv 1,250.00
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 156.07
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 30.25
Nuvera
Serv 66.88
O’Halloran International
Parts 868.68
One Office Solutio
Supp 54.62
Pakor, Inc
Supp 291.33
Michelle K. Pedersen
Per Diem 50.00
Pipestone County Sheriff
Fee 75.00
Prestox
Ser 84.75
Kelly R Puhrmann
Reimb 34.00
Rees Mack Sales & Service
Parts 211.36
S & S Equipment, Inc.
Parts 1,373.76
SCE, LLC
Serv 6,824.96
Chuck Schany
Rent 80.00
Schmillen Construction Inc
Serv 1,074.14
SIMPCO
HazMat Pymt/Dues 18,440.50
Smith Co. Mfg. Inc.
Equip 73,000.00
The Storm Lake Times Pilot
Publ 449.35
TalkPoint Technologies, Inc
Supp 430.75
Thomson Reuters-Wes
Rent 613.19
Titan Machinery
Equipment 98,985.77
Sarah A Tracy
Travel Reimb 22.13
U.S. Postal Service CMRS-POC
Postage 1,800.00
UST Testing Services Inc
Serv 1,050.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 374.52
Visual Edge IT/Counsel
Serv 83.83
Wellmark
Insur 111,098.53
WesTel Systems
Serv 405.59
WHKS & Co
Serv 2,043.55
Woodbury County Sheriff
Fees 30.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 1,370.84
Grand Total $823,944.75

There were no comments from the public.

Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to open a public hearing for changing a portion of county roadway to Area Service “B” Status. Roll call vote: Skou-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-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: Skou-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2023-19 FOR REDUCED LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE TO AREA SERVICE “B” ROAD “WHEREAS, Cherokee County desires to classify certain roads on the area service system in the County to provide for a minimal level of maintenance; and
WHEREAS, Cherokee County, after consultation with the County Engineer, has the authority to specify certain roads within the County as Area Service “B” roads pursuant to Iowa Code Section 309.57; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Notice of Public Hearing duly published according to the Iowa Code, Public Hearing was held on the 25th day of July, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors room at the Cherokee County Courthouse, Cherokee, Iowa, to hear support and/or objections from the public on roads so designated
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CHEROKEE COUNTY that this County does hereby establish the road described as an Area Service “B” road, with restricted access and a minimal level of maintenance: 420th Street from A Avenue to B Avenue.” Roll call vote: Skou-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Steve Zarr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented utility permits for consideration and provided an overview of RAGBRAI.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Cherokee Rural Water in Sections 10 and 15 of Sheridan Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to approve updated terms for a previously approved underground permit in Grand Meadow Township to allow Westel to place fiber lines on the shoulder of the road in locations where the ditch back slope is inaccessible. Motion carried.
Zarr discussed issues with communications due to overloaded cell phone towers during RAGBRAI and vendors being unaware of permit requirements in the county.
Kelly Puhrmann, Assistant Engineer, provided an update of construction and maintenance projects including a new type of scrub seal on a section of C16 to fill in smaller cracks; crack filling was completed by a contractor on the Cherokee east hill, C65 and L25; bridge replacement on 630th Street west of Washta has begun; bridge work on L48 should begin soon with completion before harvest; and reshaping of ditches on Mill Creek Road has begun in preparation of chip sealing the roadway in August.
Laura Jones, Conservation Director, reported on progress and preliminary plans for county property at 5949 River Road. The shooting range will be temporarily closed to the public until safety issues can be corrected. The area will reopen to the public in September and the annual Fall Ridge Runners Rendezvous will continue to be held at the location. The County Conservation Board will determine plans for continual management and development of the property. An aerial map drafted by Steve Zarr was reviewed which determined a line to separate the property to allow for Secondary Roads activities on the north end and Conservation Department development on the south. A perimeter fence with notices will be installed to prevent the public from walking onto the shooting range. Jones stated that development of the property will be a multi-year project, however, priorities will be placed on correcting safety issues.
Cindy Nelson, Deputy Treasurer, presented a revenue report for consideration.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to accept the Treasurer’s June 30, 2023 Semi-Annual Cash Settlement Report as presented. Motion carried. The County’s June 30, 2023 total cash on hand was $19,968,671.03 which includes a $10,902,457.71 balance in the Secondary Roads Fund.
Maureen Hansen and Jamey Beltman, 3rd Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, provided a review of services provided in Cherokee County and answered questions about the recent redesign of the department. Hansen will take the board’s concerns to the State Director for consideration.
Angie Prange, Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority, provided an informative presentation of services provided by the housing authority. Getting information out to Cherokee County residents about available programs for rent assistance has been a challenge.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to appoint Jana Utesch as Cherokee County’s representative on the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve a temporary alcohol permit for RAGBRAI as requested by Iowa Beer Bus, Pleasantville, Iowa. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve a temporary alcohol permit for RAGBRAI as requested by Bob’s Sports Bar and Grille, Alta, Iowa. 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 Skou, seconded by Petersen to adjourn the meeting at 10:11 a.m.
All board agendas and minute