The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. There were no representatives from the press. Tony Puffett, Kelly Puhrmann, Chuck Stubbe, Derek Scott, Sam Boothby 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.
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 November 25, 2025:
AgState
Fuel 3,227.08
Alliant Energy
Serv 180.38
American Lung Association
Supp 370.39
Arnold Motor Supply
Parts 344.47
Aurelia Municipal Utility
Serv 99.08
Aimee S Barritt
Cistern Closure 400.00
Robert J. Berger
Travel Reimb 66.00
Bob Barker Company Inc.
Supp 953.55
Bomgaars
Supp 1,430.28
Jillian J Cates
Reimburs 32.00
Central Bank
Supp 109.66
Central Iowa Distributing
Supp 1,266.00
CenturyLink E911
Serv 33.95
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 61.59
Cherokee County Secondary Road
Fuel 252.74
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 113.50
Cherokee Main Street Pharmacy
Medication 99.36
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Health Serv 379.00
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Contract 56,882.30
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp
Flex/Self Fund 897.35
Christensen Brothers
Projects 121,514.00
City of Cherokee
Serv 781.34
CML Telephone Coop Assn
Serv 33.94
Cole Papers Inc
Supp 300.74
Continental Fire Sprinkler Co
Serv 162.00
Peter Cosgrove
Per Diem 20.00
Croell Inc
Pymt#12 F Ave 1,542,412.00
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Life Ins 1,461.71
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
District 3 Recorder Assoc
Dues 100.00
Joseph W Draper
Travel Reimb 111.50
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
DTN, LLC
Serv 1,379.24
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
Emergency Services Marketing
Annual Subscription 3,138.00
First National Bank of Omaha
Travel Reimb 1,204.23
Lee Foresman
Per Diem 25.00
Frontier Communications
Serv 129.95
Dale Glienke
Per Diem 20.00
Gordon Flesch Company
Serv 175.56
GovConnection, Inc
Supp 278.46
Henry M Adkins & Son Inc
Serv 3,240.00
Hy-Vee Inc.
Supp 36.83
Iowa Comm Assurances Pool
Ins 3,078.00
Iowa Attorney General
Supp 28.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 1,687.83
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 80.40
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 597.00
Iowa Secretary of State
Fee 1,445.85
JCL Solutions
Supp 120.01
KCHE AM & FM
Ads 275.00
Wendy S Koch
Travel Reimb 21.00
Thomas J Kohn
Supp 35.00
Loffler Companies, Inc.
Supp 41.52
Marco Technologies
Serv 646.39
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 3,811.07
Daniel J Martin
Safety Reimb 121.95
Mid American Energy
Serv 1,890.23
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 887.28
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Modern Heating & Cooling
Serv 192.40
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 8.00
Maria E Murillo-Tellez
Reimburs 49.10
NACVSO
Fee 50.00
Northside Tire
Serv 257.87
NW Iowa Yes Center
Shelter 525.00
McKenna G Paeper
Reimb 9.07
Michelle K. Pedersen
Per Diem 50.00
RJ Thomas Mfg/Pilot Rock Signs Supp 255.00
Plymouth County Sheriff
Fees 47.00
Prestox
Serv 202.73
Quadient Leasing
Serv 2,116.95
Reliance Telephone
Serv 280.00
S & S Equipment Inc
Parts 1,803.49
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 82.60
SCE, LLC
Serv 3,705.83
Secretary of State
Notary Dues 30.00
Sioux County Attorney
Serv 355.03
Sioux Valley Family Health
Serv 346.00
Stiles & Bryon
Well Closure 700.00
Nathanial A Story
Reimburs 168.50
Stryker Sales LLC
AED Batteries 1,350.00
Thomson Reuters-West
Fees 994.35
Titan Machinery
Parts 387.60
Truck Center Companies East
Parts 572.05
Valley Veterinary Center
Fees 75.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 322.51
Vestis
Uniforms 86.80
Visual Edge IT Inc
Serv 360.82
Elizabeth R Warnke
Reimburs 21.00
Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
Insurance 118,786.68
WesTel Systems
Serv 490.54
Dustin Wieland
Per Diem 20.00
Steven J Zarr
Safety Reimb 300.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 698.00
360 Custom Designs
Clothing-LEC 52.20
Grand Total 1,894,441.83

There were no comments from the public.  

Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented construction documents and a utility permit for consideration.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Mullins to approve Resolution #2025-22 “WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, hereafter referred to as ‘the Board’, believes the BRS-CO18(96)–60-18, hereafter referred to as ‘the project’ is in the best interest of Cherokee County, Iowa, and the residents thereof. The project is defined as Bridge Replacement – CCS on M25, over Little Maple River; and
WHEREAS, the Board has sought appropriate professional guidance for the concept and planning for the project and followed the steps as required by the Code of Iowa for notifications, hearings, and bidding/letting; and WHEREAS, the Board finds this resolution appropriate and necessary to protect, preserve, and improve the rights, privileges, property, peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of Cherokee County and its citizens, all as provided for in and permitted by section 331.301 of the Code of Iowa; and
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED by the Board to accept the bid from Graves Construction Co., in the amount of $1,010,146.25 and awards the associated contract(s) to the same;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Cherokee County, Iowa, that after receiving the necessary contract documents, including but not limited to, the contractor’s bond and certificate of insurance, Kelly Puhrmann the County Engineer for Cherokee County, Iowa be and is hereby designated, authorized, and empowered on behalf of the Board of Supervisors of said County to execute the contracts in connection with the afore awarded construction project let through the DOT for this county,”
Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for MidAmerican Energy in Section 10 of Marcus Township. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann provided an update on activities in the Secondary Roads Department and requested confirmation of which supervisors would be serving on a review committee referenced in the Cherokee County Solar Ordinance. Consensus was to recommend Mullins and Petersen to serve in this capacity, with official appointment to be considered at the next board meeting.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, presented a step wage authorization for consideration.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mullins to approve a $22.70 per hour step wage authorization for McKenna Paeper, Jailer effective December 2, 2025. Motion carried.
The supervisors discussed options for employee wages and benefits in the upcoming 2026/2027 fiscal year. Consensus was to recommend a two (2%) percent wage increase for initial department budget proposals.
There being no further business, Chairman Petersen made a motion, seconded by Mullins to adjourn the meeting at 11:07 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 December 11, 2025