The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert and Dave Skou present. Cheryl Ellis was absent. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Dustin Wieland, Jim Bezoni, Derek Scott, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Sam Boothby, Justin Pritts and Stu Hogg 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 Petersen to approve an amended agenda to discuss a safety issue. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Aurelia Fire Department representatives Dustin Wieland and Jim Bezoni provided details of the department’s new fire station project and reported on fundraising efforts. The supervisors thanked the Aurelia Fire Department for their commitment to providing vital services to residents and applauded them for their mutual aid to other departments.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve a $50,000 contribution the Aurelia Fire Department building project to be paid over four fiscal years from the Rural Betterment Fund including $12,500 in FY24, FY25, FY26 and FY27. Motion carried.
Mongan presented a letter received from the Cherokee County Safety Committee reporting on a recent incident of a burnt power outlet which was removed from a wall in an office in the courthouse. There were two space heaters plugged into outlets in the same circuit which caused the overload. Employees have acknowledged receipt of a recent policy update which forbids space heaters for the safety of all employees and citizens that enter county owned facilities. The Safety Committee deferred reprimand actions to the Board of Supervisors. Space heaters will be removed from the building and employees will be reminded of policy requirements.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, presented a construction bid document for consideration and discussed activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to approve Resolution #2023-04 accepting a $1,619,853.29 bid from Blacktop Service Co. & Subsidiary on Project #FM-CO18(85)–55-18 for HMA resurfacing with milling on L56 from C44 to Cherokee City Limits. Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Tracy asked for approval to post job openings for two temporary seasonal positions to assist with Secondary Roads maintenance duties. After a lengthy discussion, consensus of the board was to table the request due to budget constraints and revisit the topic at a future date.
Tracy reported that the forefront of activities in the Engineer’s Office is F Avenue since appraisals have been received. Tracy and her staff have been reviewing the documents and are making sure they know the proper steps to acquire easements. Twenty-seven properties were appraised and engineering staff will be printing letters and sending them out to landowners.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve the 2022/2023 Fiscal Year Audit Draft as prepared by Winther, Stave & Co. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to approve a management representation letter to Winther, Stave & Co. for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 including a summary of reportable audit difference findings greater than $25,000 which were identified in the annual financial audit as a $73,199 deposit that was received in June 2023 but was recorded by the County Treasurer in July 2023 causing the revenues to be reported in the incorrect fiscal year. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve an amended FSA Plan Document. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2024-02 “Cherokee County Right-To-Use Subscription Asset Policy” for compliance with GASB Statement No. 96 which requires a government end user to recognize a subscription liability and an intangible right-to-use subscription asset. Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
County Compensation Board recommendations for elected officials’ salaries for the 2024/2025 year were reviewed: $3,500 increase for County Attorney to $123,850; $6,150 increase for Sheriff to $102,500; $2,500 increase for Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer to $78,250; $1,000 increase for Supervisors to $34,350 with an additional $1,000 stipend for the Chairman. After consideration of wages for employees previously set at 65 cents per hour, anticipated health insurance increases, and limitations of property tax revenues; the board expressed a desire to hold wage increases to a minimum versus laying off employees.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to advise elected officials to reduce the County Compensation Board salary recommendations by 30% and to set the supervisors salaries with no wage increases and no additional stipend for the chairman. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports, reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to adjourn the meeting at 10:04 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 February 8, 2024.