The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, and Madeline Combs, Storm Lake Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Kelly Puhrmann, Chuck Stubbe, Steve Zarr, Stu Hogg, Peter Cosgrove and Justin Pritts were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mullins, Ellis, Bellefy, Skou, Petersen; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Petersen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou 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 January 28, 2025:

AgState Cherokee Agronomy
Fuel 24,732.23
Alliant Energy
Serv 684.26
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 354.52
Arnold Motor Supply
Parts 30.00
Associates for Psychiatric
Serv 400.00
Beck Engineering
Serv 1,087.00
Boji Portable Toilets Inc
Serv 210.00
Bomgaars
Supp 268.92
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 54.09
Central Bank
Supp 244.67
Central Iowa Distributing
Supp 296.00
CenturyLink E911
Serv 116.49
Cherokee Collision Center
Serv 338.32
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp Flex/Self Fund 942.42
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR Contract 68,475.11
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 49.63
Cintas
Supp 27.07
City of Cherokee
Serv 372.74
CJ Cooper & Associates
Serv 275.00
Dearborn Life Insurance C
Life Ins 1,206.71
Joel M Ehrig
Parts 48.38
Equipment Blades Inc
Parts 5,040.00
Fareway Commissary
Supp 2,197.03
First National Bank of Omaha
Cell Phone 91.60
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 1,643.71
Gordon Flesch Company
Serv 84.78
GovConnection, Inc.
Supp 271.05
H&S Electric
Serv 190.00
Zachary J Hill
Safety 64.19
Hy-Vee Inc.
Supp 347.85
I-State Truck Center
Truck 1,156.15
Interstate Battery System
Parts 42.50
Iowa Dept of Transportation
Parts 150.00
Iowa Dept of Ag & Land Steward
Inspection 136.50
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 2,435.00
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 65.74
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 35.00
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 82.08
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 704.44
Laura Jones
Reimb 123.05
Lawson Products Inc
Parts 178.00
Loffler Companies, INC
Supp 56.95
Loughlin Law Firm
Fees 75.00
Kari L Lundy
Mileage 38.25
Marco
Serv 331.59
Marcus Lumber
Supp 27.00
Daniel J Martin
Safety 192.59
Mid American Energy
Serv 1,128.58
Midwest Lubricants, Inc
Supp 275.00
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 363.48
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 100.00
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 391.71
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co Parts 3,245.53
One Office
Supp 103.92
Pilot Rock Sign Shop
Supp 1,067.50
PJ Greufe & Associates
Serv 1,500.00
Prestox
Serv 193.69
Rees Mack Sales & Service
Parts 4,079.32
Robertson Implement Co Inc
Supp 2,375.59
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 119.10
Secretary of State Notary
Fees 30.00
Thompson Propane & Supplies
Supp 10,515.86
TNT Sales & Service
Serv 260.00
Triple C Pest Control
Serv 80.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 872.85
Vermeer Sales & Serv
Parts 3,605.47
Vestis
Uniforms 81.58
Visual Edge IT
Serv 116.17
Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
Insurance 109,479.58
Winther Stave & Co LLP
Serv 10,000.00
Timothy R Wych
Reimb 29.08
Steven J Zarr
Reimb 68.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 6,258.04
360 Custom Designs
Serv 37.00
Grand Total 272,350.66

There were no comments from the public.  
Kellen Ludvigson, Cherokee Aviation Authority, provided an informative presentation of current and future

projects at the airport including improvements to the runway and lighting. The current 28E Agreement between the Cherokee Aviation Authority, Cherokee County and City of Cherokee was reviewed.
Ryan Kolpin, County Attorney, presented highlights of his proposed 2025/2026 budget.
Appointments to the Board of Adjustments and Zoning Commission were tabled.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve a separation of employment and $2,971.31 final payout of hours worked, vacation, and comp time for Zachary Hill, Secondary Roads Operator, effective January 22, 2025. Motion carried.
After a lengthy discussion, consensus of the board was to uphold their previous action to designate two official publications for 2025 with those being the Chronicle Times and Marcus News.
The supervisors provided committee reports and discussed meeting schedules.
Review of the 2025/2026 budget continued. The supervisors reviewed individual department budget totals and will notify Departments with a total bottom line amount for the 2025/2026 budget.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Ellis to set the July 1, 2025 cost of living wage increase at 70 cents per hour and to advise department managers to include that amount in their 2025/2026 budget. Motion carried.
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 1:08 p.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 February 13, 2025