The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Duane Mummert was absent. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, and Tom Cullen, Storm Lake Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Derek Scott, Jana Utesch, Tom Kohn, Nick Bowdish, Kenny Schlenger, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Hannah Piggott, Erin Sonksen, Mark Stockton, Chad Peters and Mike Bergendahl were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Ellis, Skou, 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 Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen 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 August 8, 2023: 

AgState
Fuel 23,927.36
Alex Air Apparatus 2, LLC
Suppl 431.14
Alliant Energy
Serv 461.23
Bargen Inc
Serv 186,303.25
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 216.00
Bomgaars
Supp 708.48
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 9,153.75
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 16,804.16
Central Bank
Supp 1,852.48
Cherokee County Engineer
Fuel 2,329.24
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 37.00
Cherokee County Soil & Water
Alloc 15,000.00
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Alloc 22,688.34
Cherokee Co Treasurer
Taxes 534.00
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 1,645.26
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Grant 861.23
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 411.03
Christenson Brothers
Projects 13,960.59
City of Aurelia
DI 600.00
City of Cherokee
Serv 286.47
City of Marcus
Alloc/DI 10,600.00
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 1,822.47
Continental Fire Sprinkler Co.
Serv 150.00
Country Tire & Service, Inc.
Serv 77.04
Country Trailers, LLC
Trailers 3,250.00
DENCO Highway Constr Corp
Serv 86,249.80
Department of the Treasury
PCORI Fee 27.90
Discover
Supp 1,443.76
Echo Group, Inc.
Serv 175.00
Elan Financial Service
Supp 1,302.65
Fareway
Supp 3,704.77
Brian Flikeid
Serv 94.50
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 241.45
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 766.82
GreatAmerica Financial Svcs
Serv 55.00
Hallett Materials
Gravel 5,599.80
Hardin County Sheriff’s Office
Fees 31.50
High Country Auto
Serv 1,750.00
Holzhauer Motors LTD
Vehicle 21,340.00
Hy-Vee Inc.
Supp 51.56
IMWCA
Insur 260.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 383.00
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 725.00
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 1,245.00
Iowa State Assoc of Countie
Dues 250.00
JJSS, LLC
Serv 210.00
Laura Jones
Boots 133.75
Julius Cleaners
Serv 37.00
David A Julius
Safety 49.43
Lynne Lauck
Serv 1,032.00
Marco
Serv 13.54
Marcus Lumbe
Supp 14,726.33
Marcus News
Publ 805.14
Martin Marietta Materials
Parts 3,703.35
Mid American Energy
Serv 4,633.07
Mid-American Benefits, Inc.
Admin Fees 1,437.75
Midwest Lubricants, Inc
Supp 600.00
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 1,669.84
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 1,965.36
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 566.35
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 5,304.96
Northside Tire
Serv 2,012.92
O’Halloran International
Parts 1,308.87
One Office Solution
Supp 284.89
Pilot Rock Sign Shop
Supp 405.00
Plains Area Mental Health
Serv 200.00
Pocahontas County Sheriff
Fees 50.50
Prestox
Serv 81.36
Record Management Systems Inc
Serv 106.47
Rees Mack Sales & Service
Parts 1,579.30
Reliance Systems
Serv 300.00
Jen Ryen
Serv 216.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 864.70
SHI International Corp
Serv 257.00
Shield Technology Corporation
Software 2,000.00
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
The Storm Lake Times Pilot
Publ 13.66
Sustainable Supply
Supp 932.41
Titan Machinery
Supp 758.44
Triple C Pest Control
Serv 80.00
Truck Center Companies
Parts 172.67
Verizon Wireles
Serv 1,672.27
Visual Edge
Serv 86.05
Western Iowa Tec
Fee 200.00
Wiese Oil & Supply
Fuel 2,527.20
Williams Chimney Services, LL
Serv 199.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 576.35
Grand Total $258,454.56

There were no comments from the public.
Nick Bowdish, Little Sioux Corn Processors CEO, introduced himself and provided a brief overview of future projects planned for the ethanol plant.  Bowdish asked the supervisors to be an active part in growing the Little Sioux Corn Processors business with the first step being to vacate 480th Street from E Avenue to F Avenue to allow for expansion of a railroad spur at the ethanol plant.  

There were no utility permits for consideration.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, asked for approval to update the Secondary Roads Safety Program to increase each eligible employee’s annual clothing allocation from $200 to $300 to ensure staff have what they need to perform their jobs safely. Tracy also requested that the board rescind prior action which limits reimbursement for work boots to 50% of the cost or $75 per employee. Secondary Roads employees will now be able to use the $300 allocation for boots, coats, gloves, shirts, sweatshirts and other items pre-approved by management at the engineer’s office.
Motion by Ellis, Seconded by Skou to rescind prior action regarding purchase of boots for Secondary Roads employees and to authorize the County Engineer to set an annual allocation for safety clothing for eligible employees. Motion carried.
Tracy provided an update on the F Avenue project with projected construction in 2025. All utility companies have been contacted and Vander Werff & Associates have been hired to appraise 27 parcels along the three mile roadway. Appraisals are expected be completed by the end of 2024 and county engineering staff can then begin the process to complete official paperwork to finalize right of way acquisitions with landowners. Supervisor Petersen encouraged Tracy to move things along as timely as possible.
Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, reported on the large number of miles each grader operator district is responsible for and asked for permission to add an additional full-time employee to assist with an additional road grader route around Cherokee. The supervisors tabled the discussion.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve a final pay voucher for Project BROS-SWAP-CO18(81)–SE-18. Motion carried.
Final pay vouchers for Project FM-CO18(80)–55-18 and Project L-87–73-18 were tabled until contractor signatures are received.
Mark Stockton, Stockton Towing, provided information about his company and what services are available in Cherokee County.
Tom Kohn, General Assistance Coordinator, reviewed activities provided to the public during his first year in the position including four rental payments, two burial expenses and one utility assistance payment.
Kohn presented an updated policy for the board’s consideration.
Motion Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve the Cherokee County General Assistance Program Policies and Procedures as presented. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Urban Renewal Report including County rebates paid through Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts. Motion carried.
The supervisors reviewed notices sent to local tax authorities impacted by two property tax rebates provided by Cherokee County during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The total amount diverted from Cherokee County during the 2023 fiscal year for development agreements with Sand Seed and the Little Sioux Corn Processors Ethanol Plant, was $27,583.01. In accordance with GASB Statement No. 77, Cherokee County is required to disclose tax abatement information related to urban renewal areas that impact tax collections in return for economic development and/or other benefits.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve the June 30, 2023 GASB 77 letters as prepared by the County Auditor. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve a temporary alcohol permit requested by Mud On Main for a special event at the Grainery Banquet Hall in rural Cherokee effective August 24 – 28, 2023. 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 10:07 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 August 31, 2023