Cherokee County Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press Gary Lundquist, Justin Pritts, Dick Sievers, Cindy Harpenau, Laura Benson, Derek Scott, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Sam Boothby, Laura Jones, Joel Ehrig and Stu Hogg 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 10:30 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve an amended agenda moving the Mid Sioux presentation to the beginning of the meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, 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 December 12, 2023:
AgriVision Equipment Group
Serv 941.86
AgState
Fuel 451.62
Alliant Energy
Serv 929.80
Aurelia Historical Society
Approp 625.00
Aurelia Library
Approp 2,392.50
Aurelia Municipal Utility
Serv 98.72
Bank of America
Supp 58.61
Beck Engineering
Serv 3,300.00
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 228.60
Bomgaars
Supp 439.46
Boothby Funeral Home
Serv 1,500.00
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 20.61
CAASA
Approp 1,250.00
Cherokee Area Economic Develop Approp 49,375.00
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 9,400.60
Central Bank
Supp 938.41
Cherokee Co Emergency Services
Approp 25,000.00
Cherokee Community Foundation
Alloc 5,000.00
Cherokee Community Foundatio
Approp 3,000.00
Cherokee County Fair
Alloc 6,250.00
Cherokee County EMS Assoc
Alloc 2,500.00
Cherokee County Engineer
Fuel 2,863.53
Cherokee County Extension
Dues 135.00
Cherokee County Hazmat Fund
Approp 3,089.50
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Alloc 22,688.33
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 1,715.52
Cherokee Library
Approp 3,850.00
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 89,366.60
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Approp 48,468.75
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 117.45
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 453.55
Cintas
Supp 22.02
City of Aurelia
Serv 600.00
City of Marcus
Serv 619.80
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
City of Quimby
Serv 63.00
Cleghorn Library
Approp 2,392.50
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 2,495.58
Connections Area Agency
Approp 500.00
Denny’s Heating A/C & Plumbing
Serv 133.50
Diamond Mowers
Parts 2,671.65
Discover
Supp 278.89
Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home
Serv 913.50
Kelly Ebel
Reimb 212.93
Engineering Design Associates
Serv 1,461.25
Elan Financial Services
Supp 2,236.33
Evertek, Inc.
Serv 400.00
Family Crisis Centers
Appro 1,250.00
Fareway
Groceries 102.51
Brian Flikeid
Serv 132.00
Floor Care Specialists Inc
Serv 200.00
Gordon Flesch Company
Serv 1.54
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 115.10
Grand Meadow Heritage
Approp 625.00
Graves Construction Co., Inc
Construction 34,288.88
Hallett Materials
Gravel 1,949.64
Holzhauer Motors LTD
Part 673.00
IAAO
Fee 240.00
Interstate Battery System
Parts 260.90
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 625.00
IA Office of the St Med Exam
Serv 2,042.00
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 763.53
Julius Cleaners
Serv 13.00
Klass Law Firm, LLP
Serv 2,635.98
Lynne Lauck
Serv 72.00
Loffler Companies, INC
Supp 1,394.91
Kari L Lundy
Mileage 27.25
Marcus Ambulance Fund
Alloc 8,500.00
Marcus Fair
Approp 1,600.00
Marcus Historical Society
Approp 625.00
Marcus Library
Approp 2,392.50
Marcus Lumber
Supp 477.36
Marcus News
Publ 1,123.65
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
Supp 209.46
Mid American Energy
Serv 350.03
Mid-American Benefits, Inc.
Admin Fees 708.75
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 13.22
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 84.23
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 3,272.79
New Century FS
Fuel 7,316.06
Northside Tire
Serv 379.60
Nuvera
Serv 66.88
O’Halloran International
Parts 247.49
Garrett M Ogren
Safety 185.46
One Office Solution
Supp 55.57
PJ Greufe & Associates
Serv 1,500.00
Invictus Apps, Inc.
Serv 5,000.00
Quimby Library
Approp 2,392.50
Jen Ryen
Serv 144.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 265.50
SCE, LLC
Parts 70.18
Schneider Geospatial, LLC
Serv 4,998.00
Secretary of State
Dues 30.00
SHI International Corp
Supp 3,640.00
Sioux Falls Crane & Hoist, Inc
Inspect 1,447.21
Sioux Valley Family Health
Serv 130.00
Siouxland Regional Transit Syst
Approp 7,670.25
Solutions
Serv 8,778.75
South Central District ISAA
Registr 250.00
Jacqueline M Stephens
Serv 226.80
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
The Storm Lake Times Pilot
Publ 1,029.20
Sustainable Supply
Supp 41.14
Treasurer State of Iowa Mines
Mining 490.00
Triple C Pest Control
Serv 80.00
Truck Center Companies
Parts 118.00
US Police Canine Assoc
Fee 50.00
Vanguard Appraisals Inc
Serv 2,480.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 1,497.01
Visual Edge IT
Serv 117.31
Washta Library
Approp 2,392.50
WesTel Systems
Serv 405.59
Wiese Oil & Supply
Fuel 5,725.87
Grand Total $427,765.07

There were no comments from the public.

Dick Sievers, Mid Sioux Opportunity, gave an informative review of services offered to area residents and reported that 1,612 individuals and 726 households received services in Cherokee County. Mid Sioux’s $10,500 budget request for 2024/2025 is $1,500 higher than last year and is the first increase requested in ten years. The request will be considered during the budget process.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, provided an update on Secondary Roads activities and construction projects.
Justin Pritts, Emergency Management Coordinator, presented designs and requested funding for renovating space at the Lake Street building owned by the county. Pritts plans to remodel the space for his office and develop a training center in the space previously used by the County Auditor’s Office and Board of Supervisors for their weekly meetings while the courthouse renovation project was under construction. Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve up to $25,000 of spending authority from the Rural Betterment Fund for remodeling the Lake Street building for an Emergency Management Agency Coordinator office and training center with the stipulation that the EMA Coordinator will apply for all available grants and repay the funds back to the county. Motion carried.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, explained the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system which provides support to certified dispatchers when responding to 911 calls. Currently dispatchers are only allowed to say “Stay calm, help is on the way” because they are not certified to provide basic lifesaving instructions. Total cost of the program is $26,463 with a $2,000 annual maintenance fee and $500 per year for continued training for certified staff. Scott will request donations from businesses and may come back to the supervisors with a funding request.
Sheriff Scott stated that he would like to see an extra bump in wages for Law Enforcement Center employees and requested a 12% wage increase for the 2024/2025 budget. No action was taken.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve a native wines alcohol permit for Nancy M. Nelson doing business as Green Pastures Country Boutique, rural Quimby. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to authorize the chairman to sign a management representation letter to Winther, Stave & Co. for Compliance Examination of ARPA Funds expensed by Cherokee County in fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Motion carried.
Mongan asked for recommendations of board members for employee cost of living wage increases for 2024/2025 so department managers can prepare their initial budget requests. The supervisors had a lengthy discussion and reviewed property tax limitations imposed by recent legislation in HF718 which will reduce the maximum levy rates the county can implement.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to direct departments to prepare their budgets with a 65 cents per hour wage increase effective July 1, 2024. Employee monthly health insurance premiums will remain at $100 for single and $350 for family coverage with the employer absorbing a projected 10% increase in premiums. Motion carried.
Petersen left the meeting at 12:21 p.m. to attend an out-of-town committee meeting.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mummert to approve updates to the Cherokee County Personnel Handbook as drafted by the county’s HR Consultant with an effective date of December 12, 2023. Motion carried.
Chairman Mongan opened correspondence received from Roswitha “Hedgie” Brandt, County Treasurer, notifying the Board of Supervisors of her decision to retire from her position with Cherokee County with January 31, 2024 being her final date of employment.
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 12:27 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on December 28, 2023