The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 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. Greg Gengler, Kayla Mayer, Kelly Ebel, Gary Jordan, Kellen Ludvigson, Kenny Schlenger, Becky Bloom, Rick Angell, Kyle Basten, Michael Richards, Dana Evans, Kelly Puhrmann, Sarah Tracy, Stu Hoff, Derek Scott, Barb Staver, Justin Pritts and Stu Hogg were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Petersen, Ellis, 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 Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen seconded by Ellis to approve minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to open a public hearing for the Cherokee County Courthouse East Entry Project Letting. Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried. Chairman Mongan asked for comments from the public.
Hearing no comments from the public and having received no written comments, a motion was made by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to close the public hearing. Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried.
Kyle Basten, Beck Engineeringannounced that three bids had been received including Haselhoff Construction ($205,352.92); JMACS Concrete and Construction ($221,654.50); and De Loss Construction ($263,216.00).
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to accept the lowest bid of $205,352.92 from Haselhoff Construction for the Cherokee County Courthouse East Entry Project and authorize the chairman to sign the contract. Motion carried.
Cherokee Regional Medical Center Public Health representatives Kayla Mayer and Gary Jordan provided an informative review of services and requested an additional $100,000 in funding for local public health services for the 2024/2025 budget year. The supervisors currently provide $113,000 for public health services and will take the request under advisement.
Greg Gengler, Cherokee Regional Medical Center EMS Manager, provided a review of ambulance services and reported 1,714 calls in 2023. Gengler stated CRMC has two ambulance crews staffed 24/7 with the 1st team dedicated to 911 calls and the 2nd team being available to take transfers, respond to other emergencies within the hospital or take additional 911 calls. Gengler recommended that Cherokee County develop a steering committee to plan how emergency medical services will be funded in the future and to explore the option of implementing a countywide property tax to pay for essential EMS services. Gengler requested $25,000 of additional funds per year designated for ambulance replacements. The supervisors currently provide $50,000 per year for an ambulance replacement fund managed by Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Gengler also reported on a three-year state grant program which has been implemented to educate and attract high school students to enter EMS positions. Currently eight high school students from Cherokee, Galva Holstein, and Marcus are participating in the program and Gengler requested $5,000 dollars per year to create a fund to continue the program after the grant is finished. The request will be taken under consideration.
Rick Angell, Becky Bloom, and Kellen Ludvigson, Angell Insurance, presented Cherokee County’s annual health insurance renewal.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve the July 1, 2024 renewal of Wellmark Plan PM49/RM77 ($4,000/$8,000 deductible; $8,000/$16,000 out of pocket maximum; $30 office visit co-pay; $25/$50/$100 with $225 specialty/$275 np specialty RX) including a 0% premium increase. Motion carried.
In an effort to reduce annual premium increases and to maintain affordable health benefits for employees; Cherokee County purchases a higher deductible health insurance plan and partially self-funds a buy down of deductibles to $1,000/$2,000 and out of pocket maximums of $2,000/$4,000. RX prescriptions are bought down to $15/$45/$75. Premium costs for fiscal year 2024/2025 will be: $1,016.67 per month for Single Policy ($100.00 employee/$916.67 employer) and $2,516.67 per month for Family Policy ($350.00 employee/$2,166.67 employer).
Employees hired prior to 1991 are provided family coverage for the cost of a single policy.
Jodi Mongan, County Treasurer, presented a wage authorization for consideration.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve a $56,812.50 (75% of Treasurer’s salary) wage authorization for Debie Stevenson, Deputy Treasurer, effective February 1, 2024. Motion carried.
Mongan requested board approval of a second signatory on county bank accounts.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to authorize Debie Stevenson, Deputy Treasurer, as a secondary signatory on bank accounts held by Cherokee County. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, presented a chart of Bonding Options Impact on Secondary Roads Department which had four options:
1. Bond $6 million for entire F Avenue Project which would have no impact on contracted bridge maintenance, contracted pavement maintenance, contracted pavement markings, new equipment or Five Year Construction Program.

2. Bond $3 million for F Avenue Project which would cause reduced contracted bridge maintenance, reduced contracted pavement maintenance, and no impact on contracted pavement markings, new equipment or Five Year Construction Program.
3. Bond $3 million for F Avenue Project which would delay replacement of twelve bridges but would have no impact on contracted bridge maintenance, contracted pavement maintenance, contracted pavement markings or new equipment.
4. No Bonding for F Avenue Project would result in no contracted bridge maintenance, no contracted pavement maintenance, less contracted pavement markings, reduced new equipment budget and delayed replacement of twelve bridges.
   Mongan asked if some crack filling, concrete patching and smaller bridges could be replaced with pipes or culverts with the work done by secondary roads employees. Petersen commented that the first two bonding options have no impact on the Five Year Plan but the county would be paying interest on the bond and that interest amount could be used for a few bridge projects every year. Petersen also stated that he would rather complete the F Avenue Project without a bond since the county can use every dollar generated from taxpayers instead of it being paid out for interest payments over the life of the bond. Skou added that the anticipated annual interest payments would be about $600,000 and that could replace three bridges per year. Ellis commented that knowing the project is going to be in another fiscal year, “I’m asking to bide our time and see how we can tighten our belts and make it happen.” Petersen concluded that there isn’t anything about this project that is going to be fun, but the county needs to just get the project done. Tracy stated that her department will cooperate with whatever the supervisors decide and they understand that the board has a lot of decisions to make that don’t have anything to do with roads, but engineering staff are trying to lay out what secondary roads operations will look like if the project is not bonded so they can manage expectations from the Board of Supervisors and the public.
   Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, discussed staffing needs and requested approval to hire up to two employees for the summer season. The supervisors tabled the request.
   Sarah Tracy discussed a call she received from IDOT about placing memorial signs on state bridges. After a lengthy discussion, the supervisors confirmed their previous consensus to place one memorial sign on the bridge east of Cherokee City limits. The board delegated authority to the Cherokee County Veteran Affairs Commission to manage the memorial bridge signage process with input from Dana Evans and the Secondary Roads Department.
   Tracy provided updates on the F Avenue Project and reported that appraisals are being reviewed by engineering staff and meetings will be scheduled with landowners after informational letters have been mailed. Petersen asked for an update on moving utilities for the project. Tracy reassured the board that there are no identified problems with utilities as of now.
   Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve a separation of employment and $3,806.42 final payout of hours worked and vacation hours for Jodi Mongan, Auditor’s Assistant, effective February 1, 2024. Motion carried.
   Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve a separation of employment and $8,624.70 final payout of hours worked, vacation and longevity for Cindy Nelson, Deputy Treasurer, effective February 1, 2024.
   Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve a separation of employment and $3,689.19 final payout of hours worked, vacation and comp hours for Kyle Van Der Stoep, Conservation Technician, effective February 2, 2024.
   The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
   Department budgets were presented by Tom Kohn, Veteran Affairs; Stu Hogg, IT; Derek Scott and Barb Staver, Sheriff.
   There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
   Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 10:57 a.m. Motion carried.
   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 22, 2024.