The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Madeline Combs, Storm Lake Times, and Andrea McIrvin, KICD Radio, represented the press. Steve Zarr, Brian Flikeid, Jacqueline Stephens, Paula Voss, Stephanie Zarr, Ray Mullins, Ray Mullins II, George Wittgraf, Kelly Puhrmann, Sam Boothby, Kenny Schlenger, Adam Glienke, Dale Glienke, Joel Ehrig and Nissa White 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 10:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Steve Zarr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented a right-of-way permit for consideration.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mummert to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Westel Systems in Sections 7 and 18 of Amherst Township. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, discussed activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Sam Boothby, County Recorder, presented a wage authorization for consideration.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve a $21.00 per hour wage authorization for Jessica Baker, Full-Time Recorder’s Clerk, effective December 2, 2024. Motion carried.
Joel Ehrig, County Assessor, presented property tax credit applications for the board’s consideration.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve Family Farm applications for the 2024 assessment year with taxes payable in 2025/2026 as recommended by the Cherokee County Assessor’s Office. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to disallow Family Farm applications that no longer qualify for the 2024 assessment year as recommended by the Cherokee County Assessor’s Office. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to deny approval of a separation of employment and final payout to Jacqueline Stephens, Deputy Sheriff, until an exit interview is completed by the County’s HR Consultant. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve a separation of employment and $2,100.13 final payout of hours worked, vacation and comp hours for Darby Baillie, Jailer, effective November 1, 2024. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to accept Jacqueline Stephens resignation from the Cherokee County Medical Examiner’s Office Administrator position effective November 16, 2024. Motion carried. The supervisors thanked Stephens for all her work in developing the MEI program and managing it for the Board of Supervisors in a professional manner.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to designate office space located next to the Board of Supervisors room for a resident District Judge and to relocate the Rolling Hills Community Services office to the county owned building on Lake Street. 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 Ellis, seconded by Skou to adjourn the meeting at 10:17 a.m.
The supervisors attended an informational meeting with the Cherokee County Zoning Commission as arranged and led by Kelly Puhrmann, Zoning Administrator.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on November 21, 2024