The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Steve Zarr, Don Fiser, Laura Jones, Sam Boothby, Kelly Puhrmann, Kenny Schlenger, Tom Kohn, Jodi Mongan, Joel Ehrig, Justin Pritts, Kolby DeWitt and Stu Hogg were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mullins, Ellis, Bellefy, Skou, Petersen; Nayes – none; Abstentions – one.
Chairman Petersen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to approve the claims for payment as presented. Motion carried with Ellis abstaining from a per diem payment to her husband. A complete listing is available for review in the County Auditor’s office.

Claims Approved January 14, 2025:

AgState Cherokee Agronomy
Fuel 21,651.80
Alliant Energy
Serv 1,567.06
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 240.00
APCO International
Serv 450.00
Aurelia Municipal Utility
Serv 178.86
Aurelia Star
Serv 35.00
Beck Engineering
Serv 79.00
Benson Construction
Serv 3,900.00
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 143.45
Bomgaars
Supp 5,218.78
Bush Farms, Inc
Well Closure 1,500.00
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 702.00
Central Bank
Supp 2,364.47
Certified Testing Services Inc
Serv 360.00
Champion Electric, Inc
Serv 81.88
Cherokee Collision Center
Serv 200.00
Cherokee County Engineer
Fuel 2,209.74
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 73.00
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Alloc 22,688.33
Cherokee Co Treasurer
Taxes 7,816.00
Cherokee County 4-H
Allocation 5,000.00
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp Flex/Self Fund 15,316.61
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR Contract 5,427.94
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 185.15
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 569.70
Cintas
Supp 73.05
City of Aurelia
Serv 600.00
City of Marcus
Serv 23.13
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
City of Quimby
Serv 63.00
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 2,558.26
Cole Papers
Serv 298.76
Country Tire & Service, Inc.
Serv 369.10
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
Denny’s Heating A/C
Serv 1,075.56
Des Moines Stamp
Supp 219.00
Diamond Mowers
Parts 2,612.40
District 3 Auditor Assoc
Dues 100.00
Dockendorf Equipment Co.
Equip 1,771.00
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
Elan Financial Services
Supp 726.13
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
Evertek, Inc.
Serv 400.00
Fareway Commissary
Supp 1,416.35
Brian Flikeid
Serv 244.50
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 426.61
Greyling Fredericksen
Twp Mtg 10.00
Hallett Materials
Gravel 12,492.40
Henry M Adkins & Son Inc
Serv 361.91
I-State Truck Center
Truck 3,006.80
I.C.C.S
Fee 97.00
Interstate Battery System
Parts 306.90
Iowa County Recorders Assoc
Dues 250.00
Iowa Dept of Transportation
Parts 50.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 212.00
Iowa Weed Commissioners Assoc
Dues 227.00
Iowa Workforce Development
Unemployment 134.94
ISAA
Fee 850.00
Iowa State Assoc of Counties
Dues 447.70
KCHE
Ads 160.00
Thomas J Kohn
Reimb 123.81
Ryan R Kolpi
Reimb 25.00
Lynne Lauck
Serv 144.00
Legislative Services Agency
Supp 275.00
Loffler Companies, INC
Supp 5,057.46
Mail Services, LLC
Postage 556.40
Marcus Lumber
Supp 600.35
Marcus News
Publ 405.41
Debra M McKeever CSR
Serv 56.00
Mid American Energy
Serv 2,739.73
Midwest Lubricants, Inc
Supp 550.00
Ashley Miller
Serv 1,275.00
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Mindful Key PLLC
Serv 450.00
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 100.00
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 559.01
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co Parts 742.65
North Central International
Parts 273.30
Nelson Thermal Solutions
Serv 309.80
Kale Nelson
Twp Mtg 10.00
Northside Tire
Serv 1,826.54
Nuvera
Serv 68.48
NW Iowa Yes Center
Shelter 2,100.00
One Office Solution
Supp 258.05
Perrin Directional Drilling
Tile Bore 4,000.00
Point C Self Fund Admin Fees
Admin Fees 625.25
Point C Health Ca
Admin Fees 82.50
Record Management Systems Inc
Serv 106.47
Roger Redig
Twp Mtg 20.00
Rees Mack Sales & Service
Parts 255.65
Timothy Rice
Stipend 5,000.00
Neal Rupp
Twp Mtg 10.00
Jen Ryen
Serv 108.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 473.80
SCE, LLC
Parts 86.18
Justin Schulenberg
Twp Mtg 20.00
Secretary of State Notary
Dues 60.00
Share Corp
Supp 479.10
The Sidwell Company
Serv 5,250.17
Sioux Valley Family Health
Serv 140.00
Jerry Slota
Twp Mtg 10.00
Cathy Smith
Twp Mtg 10.00
Solutions, Harris Local Gov’t
Serv 2,102.85
Sooland Bobcat
Supp 43.69
Spencer Trophy
Supp 42.00
Jacqueline M Stephens
Serv 324.00
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
The Storm Lake Times Pilot
Publ 341.31
T Mobile
Serv 79.60
Thomson Reuters-West
Fees 660.47
Titan Machinery
Supp 290.23
Matthew D Todd
Twp Mtg 10.00
Triple C Pest Control
Serv 80.00
Veenstra & Kimm Inc.
Serv 423.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 1,638.85
Vestis
Uniforms 122.37
Visual Edge IT Inc.
Serv 318.33
WesTel Systems
Serv 405.59
Ziegler Inc
Supp 1,897.15
360 Custom Designs
Serv 136.80
Grand Total 174,226.62

Chairman Petersen asked for comments from the public. Kolby DeWitt, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, introduced himself to the new board members and offered his assistance to Cherokee County leaders.
Sam Boothby, County Recorder, presented a revenue report for consideration.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve the County Recorder’s $94,797.17 December 31, 2024 Quarterly Revenue Report with $28,347.92 retained by the county. Motion carried.
Tom Kohn, Veteran Affairs Director, provided a detailed summary of his activities during the 2024 year.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to re-appoint Don Drefke as Veteran Affairs Commissioner for a three-year term ending June 30, 2027. Motion carried.
Kohn presented highlights of his proposed 2025/2026 budget.
Laura Jones, Conservation Director, presented highlights of her proposed 2025/2026 budget.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, reported that bid lettings for F Avenue and Diamond 105 Bridge will be in January and February. Puhrmann received resignations from two employees and will be posting for two general labor positions.
Puhrmann and Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, presented highlights of their proposed 2025/2026 budget.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, presented a wage authorization for consideration.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Skou to approve a $31.00 per hour wage authorization for Jake Dyslin, Deputy Sheriff, effective January 15, 2025 as previously approved by the Cherokee County Civil Service Commission. Motion carried.
Scott and Barb Staver presented highlights of their proposed 2025/2026 budget.
The supervisors provided committee reports and discussed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Petersen called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to adjourn the meeting at 10:29 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Bryan Petersen, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on January 30, 2024