The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Stephanie Henrich, Cindy Hanner, Tyler Hahn, Jackie Stephens, Cathy Smith, Annie Simonsen, Linda Sones, Derek Scott, Kelly Puhrmann, Kenny Schlenger, Justin Pritts, Dallas Carey, Shirley Perrett, Judy Brown, Barb Staver, Kim Dierenfeld, Josh Dunn, Stacy McGee, Carrie Hill, Mary Roth, Stu Hogg, Adam Rapp, Cindy Harpenau and Laura Benson were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Ellis, Skou, Mummert, Petersen, Mongan; Nayes – one; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Mongan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve the claims for payment as presented. Motion carried. A complete listing is available for review in the County Auditor’s office.

Claims Approved December 10, 2024:
AgState Cherokee Agronomy
Fuel 1,340.64
Alliant Energy
Serv 566.61
Arnold Motor Supply
Parts 39.00
Aurelia Historical Society
Approp 625.00
Aurelia Library
Appro 2,392.50
Axon Enterprise,Inc.
Equi 281.75
Barco Municipal Products Inc
Parts 65.41
Bierschbach Equipment
Parts 685.00
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 136.25
Bomgaars
Supp 1,748.74
CAASA
Approp 1,750.00
Cherokee Area Economic Dev
Approp 49,375.00
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 8,431.25
Carroll Construction Supply
Parts 59.67
Central Bank
Supp 1,868.67
Central Iowa Distributing
Sup 132.00
Cherokee Community Foundation
Approp 3,000.00
Cherokee County Fair
Alloc 6,250.00
Cherokee County EMS Assoc
Alloc 32,500.00
Cherokee County Extension
Dues 315.00
Cherokee County Hazmat Fund
Approp 3,089.50
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Alloc 22,688.33
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp
Flex/Self Fund 13,507.41
Cherokee Library
Approp 3,850.00
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 45,849.44
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Approp 54,718.75
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 161.15
Cintas
Supp 62.24
City of Quimby
Serv 63.00
Cleghorn Library
Approp 2,392.50
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 2,552.55
Connections Area Agency
Approp 500.00
Country Tire & Service, Inc.
Serv 53.65
Critical Hire, PLC
Serv 150.00
Discover
Supp 155.26
DoorPro
Serv 555.00
Ebert’s
Supp 2,867.39
Elan Financial Services
Supp 1,562.36
Evertek, Inc.
Serv 400.00
Family Crisis Centers
Approp 1,250.00
Fareway
Groceries 29.82
FORCE America Distributing,LLC Parts 93.32
Kristine L Glienke
Travel Reimb 177.00
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 217.82
Grand Meadow Heritage
Approp 625.00
H&S Electric
Serv 6,627.57
Hallett Materials
Gravel 4,303.12
HUB International
Serv 2,600.00
Hunzelman Putzier & Co PLC
Audit Fees 9,235.00
I-State Truck Center
Parts 1,627.70
IAAO
Fee 240.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 268.50
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 92.98
Iowa State Assoc of Counties
Dues 450.00
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 73.94
Janitor’s Closet, Ltd
Supp 221.58
Jett Korver
Training 156.28
Lawson Products Inc
Parts 154.47
Loughlin Law Firm
Fees 150.00
Mail Services, LLC
Postage 817.39
Marcus Ambulance Fund
Alloc 8,500.00
Marcus Fair
Approp 1,600.00
Marcus Historical Societ
Approp 625.00
Marcus Librar
Approp 2,392.50
Marcus Lumber
Supp 144.29
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 2,103.54
Metal Culverts
Pipes 139,593.20
Mid American Energy
Serv 236.42
Mid-American Benefits, Inc.
Admin Fees 635.00
Midwest Technology Services
Serv 250.00
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 1,264.59
Ashley Miller
Serv 600.00
Mills & Miller, Inc.
Salt 2,144.13
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 132.69
Maria E Murillo-Tellez
Mileage 177.00
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 3,040.15
NACO
Dues 450.00
Northside Tire
Serv 640.37
One Office Solution
Supp 1,387.47
Point C Health
Caf Admin Fees 88.00
Prestox
Serv 89.50
Quimby Library
Approp 2,392.50
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 862.30
Schneider Geospatial, LLC
Serv 5,388.00
Cherokee Co. Secondary Roads
Fuel 2,036.02
Siouxland Regional Transit Sys
Approp 7,670.25
Solutions, Harris Local Gov’t
Serv 8,626.00
Stanard & Associates Inc
Serv 106.50
State Medical Examiner
Fee 5,111.49
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
T Mobile
Ser 62.74
Thompson Propane & Supplies
Fuel 5,520.72
Tom Mummert & Son Construction
Serv 3,321.00
Uline
Furniture 2,036.07
Veenstra & Kimm Inc.
Serv 423.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 1,528.65
Vesti
Uniforms 81.58
Visual Edge IT Inc.
Serv 313.10
Washta Library
Approp 2,392.50
360 Custom Designs
Serv 69.20
Grand Total 510,487.98

There were no comments from the public.
Stephanie Henrich, CAASA Executive Director, gave an informative presentation on services provided in Cherokee County and asked for the same amount of county funding ($7,000) for the next budget year. The supervisors thanked CAASA staff for providing crucial services in Cherokee County and will take the budget request under consideration.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, discussed activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Kirk Letsche, Marcus Fair, provided an annual review of activities, financial report and summary of projects that were completed to keep the fairgrounds in good condition. The supervisors thanked the Marcus Fair board members for their dedication and success in providing a top-quality family event.
Tyler Hahn, Cherokee, and Dallas Carey, Marcus, gave an informative presentation about annual use of local libraries in Cherokee County and how technology continues to become a major portion of services provided to all ages. Library representatives thanked the supervisors for their continued support as county funding is a major portion of smaller library budgets. The supervisors thanked the librarians for providing a safe place for children as well as a social gathering place for people of all ages and will take library funding under consideration during the budget process.
Stacy McGee, Chief Dispatcher, and Kim Dierenfeld, Jail Administrator, explained why they feel like they need a significant raise for dispatchers and jailers. Job duties and training requirements were reviewed and wage rates were compared to other counties and state dispatch positions. The supervisors thanked the ladies for their thorough presentation. No action was taken as a result of the discussion.
Cindy Harpenau, Mid Sioux Opportunity, gave an informative review of services offered to area residents and reported that 1,544 individuals and 658 households received services in Cherokee County. Mid Sioux’s $10,500 budget request for 2025/2026 is the same as the current budget year. The request will be considered during the budget process.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to authorize a request from the Powder Players, Inc. Snowmobile Club to mark and maintain a trail system in Marcus Township along C Avenue from the junction of Highway 3 north to 480th Street and east on 480th Street to the west corporate limits of the City of Marcus. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve Resolution #2024-12 Designating Duties to Prepare and Adopt the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget and designate Kris Glienke as Cherokee County Budget Director. Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Ellis-aye, Mummert-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Mongan asked for recommendations of board members for employee cost of living wage increases for 2025/2026 so department managers can prepare their initial budget requests.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to direct departments to prepare their budgets with a $0.40 per hour wage increase effective July 1, 2025. Departments are asked to hold their total budget at the same level as the current budget for 2024/2025 or reduce the bottom line if possible. Health insurance premiums are projected to have a 10% increase. Motion carried. The supervisors noted that legislation in House File 718 has restricted the county’s revenue growth to 2.2% and continued belt tightening by county departments is necessary to avoid staff layoffs.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve a separation of employment and $6,902.46 final payout of vacation, comp and longevity hours for Jacqueline Stephens, Deputy Sheriff, effective September 7, 2024. Motion carried with Mummert voting nay.
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 Skou, seconded by Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 10:54 a.m.
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 December 26, 2024