The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present.  Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press.  Chris White, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Kenny Schlenger, Justin Pritts and Ryan Kolpin were also in attendance.  Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows:  Ayes – Petersen, Ellis, Mummert, Skou, 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 Skou, seconded by Mummert 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 26, 2023:
Alliant Energy
Serv 382.32
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 964.84
Aurelia Lumber
Supp 108.24
Aurelia Star
Serv 35.00
Beck Engineering
Serv 3,958.75
Bell Optical
Safety 205.86
Bomgaars
Supp 996.42
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 210.11
Carroll Construction Supply
Parts 279.30
Central Bank
Parts 66.00
CenturyLink Qwest
Serv 87.88
Champion Electric, Inc
Serv 775.02
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
Dues 200.00
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 1,845.52
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 7,872.48
Christensen Brothers
Projects 29,579.95
City of Aurelia % City Clerk
Serv 600.00
City of Cherokee
Serv 393.84
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 35.10
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Life Ins 1,057.61
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
Joseph W Draper
Travel Reimb 71.00
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
Joel M Ehrig
Travel Reimb 240.42
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
First National Bank of Omaha
Travel 297.60
Brian Flikeid
Serv 195.00
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 185.61
Foundation Analytical Lab
Serv 36.25
Frontier
Serv 129.95
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 22.80
Graves Construction Co., Inc
Construction 38,655.34
GreatAmerica Financial Svcs
Serv 73.00
Greenwood Schubert Funeral Home
Serv 1,500.00
Groves Emergency Lighting LLC
Equip 650.00
Dan Hansen
Travel Reimb 448.00
Henry M Adkins & Son Inc
Serv 9,560.00
High Country Auto
Serv 354.75
Hy-Vee Inc.
Supp 9.80
IMT Insuranc
Bond 1,710.00
IMWCA
Insur 424.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 229.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 1,411.27
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 71.99
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 59.95
Janitor’s Closet, Ltd
Supp 133.17
Kasperbauer Cleaners, Inc
Serv 49.62
KCHE
Ads 50.00
Thomas J Kohn
Reimb 56.50
Loughlin Law Firm
Fees 150.00
Mallison & Waldner LLC
Serv 160.50
Marco
Serv 316.69
Marcus Lumber
Supp 1,135.10
Marcus News
Publ 108.11
McDyer Tools LLC
Serv 1,585.00
Ronnie Messenbrink
Travel Reimb 71.00
Mid American Energy
Serv 2,227.47
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 105.00
Ashley Miller
Serv 600.00
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 14,314.00
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 252.15
NACO
Dues 450.00
One Office Solution
Supp 213.42
Michelle K. Pedersen
Per Diem 50.00
Dana Phipps
Well 500.00
Prestox
Serv 166.11
Kelly R Puhrmann
Reimb 24.61
Rees Mack Sales & Service
Parts 835.01
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 119.10
Schumacher Elevator Co
Serv 1,488.00
Nathanial Story
Reimb 357.35
Sarah A Tracy
Travel Reimb 53.50
Valley Veterinary Center
Fees 60.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 368.71
VFW Post 2253
Flag 75.00
Visual Edge IT/Counsel
Serv 310.08
Washer Systems of Iowa Inc
Serv 1,270.00
Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
Insurance 103,839.31
Nissa M White
Travel Reimb 58.20
WHKS & Co
Serv 3,390.60
Winther Stave & Co LLP
Serv 27,000.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 22,061.31
Grand Total $290,194.59

There were no comments from the public.

Justin Pritts, Emergency Management Coordinator, discussed the county’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan that must be updated every five years. Plymouth County will be the fiscal agent for the federal and state funds with SIMPCO writing the final plan. The total project awarded through FEMA is cost shared by federal ($103,252.50), state ($13,767.00) and local five county region ($20,650.50). Cherokee County’s obligation shall not exceed $4,130.10 payable in the 2024/2025 budget year.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to authorize the chairman to sign a letter guaranteeing payment to the Plymouth County EMA not to exceed $4,130.10 for the purpose of meeting minimum requirements for Cherokee County’s portion of the regional hazard mitigation plan rewrite in the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to go into closed session per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(1)(c) “To discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.” Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Ellis-aye, Mummert-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and regular session closed at 9:06 a.m.
Regular session resumed at 10:02 a.m. with no action taken as a result of the closed session.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, reported that she will submit a 2024/2025 budget that includes local funding of F Avenue to get the project started. When the bid letting gets closer, the supervisors can determine how they want to finance the project and determine what impact it would have on the county’s long term construction plans.
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 Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 10:09 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 January 11, 2024