Cherokee County Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Steve Zarr, Kelly Puhrmann, Adam Glienke, Cody Simonsen, Lloyd Mattoon, Ramona Nitz, Chuck Stubbe, Derek Scott, Kent Ohlson, Laura Jones, Sam Boothby, Ryan Kolpin, Lonnie Benson, Joel Ehrig, Nat Story 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 – none.
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.
There were no comments from the public.
Kent Ohlson, Zoning Commission Chairman, provided an overview of the steps taken by the commission to date and provided an estimated timeline for completing a draft solar ordinance. Ryan Kolpin, County Attorney, reviewed the ordinance process for the commission and supervisors. Chairman Petersen thanked the commissioners for their willingness to serve on the Cherokee County Zoning Commission and asked that they do their best to complete the draft document in a timely manner.
Steve Za rr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented a utility permit for consideration.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for WesTel Systems in Sections 4 and 5 of Spring Township, Section 10 of Amherst Township Sections 14 and 23 of Willow Township, and Section 35 of Marcus Township. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, provided an update on activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, presented a listing of current fleet vehicles and discussed a replacement schedule.
Lonnie Benson, Benson’s Sanitation, requested the opportunity to bid for county garbage pickup. The supervisors advised Benson to contact individual department managers about their needs and present them with quotes.
Vice Chair Ellis left the meeting.
Nathanial Story, Deputy Assessor, presented the 2025 Slough Bill applications for consideration and discussed other agricultural exemptions.
Ramona Nitz, Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District Chair, requested clarification of the Slough Bill process. After a lengthy discussion about what exemptions the county is required to approve and which entity is responsible for accepting applications or verifying compliance; the consensus was to review this program at a future date with the intent of identifying a long-term solution.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Mullins to approve the 2025 Slough Bill applications as presented including tax exempt status for 3,537.64 acres of private properties classified as: Open Prairie & Forest Cover, Wildlife, Wetland, Native Prairie and Federal Forest Reserve. Motion carried.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, presented a revenue report for consideration.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to approve the County Sheriff’s $34,493.51 March 31, 2025 Quarterly Revenue Report with $17,700.56 retained by the county. Motion carried.
Bellefy presented a plan to supplement the Sheriff’s budget by transferring OPIOID Funds for use in educational programs in local schools. It was clarified that the County Attorney acts as administrator of the OPIOID funds and allowable expenditures are very restricted. A committee will be formed to develop an action plan to utilize OPIOID funds for the benefit of Cherokee County citizens.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, reported that it will be a hardship for him to give additional raises to his employees next year since his proposed budget was frozen at the current year’s total. All county department budgets were tightened due to tax revenue limitations and predictions of continued budget constraints in upcoming years.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Skou to authorize the chairman to sign a certification of the 2023/2024 Cost Allocation Plan which provides reimbursement for expenses incurred by Cherokee County for DHS office space. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to appoint Dr. Sean Nelson as Cherokee County Deputy Medical Examiner effective April 14, 2025. Motion carried.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Skou to appoint Kyle Lowe as Medical Examiner Investigator effective April 15, 2025. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Petersen called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion Skou, seconded by Bellefy to adjourn the meeting at 11:16 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Bryan Petersen, Chairman
Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Published in the Marcus News on May 3, 2025