The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. There were no representatives from the press. Tony Puffett, Maria Schueder, Chuck Stubbe and Kelly Puhrmann 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 Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to acknowledge a $2,850.61 final payout and separation of employment for Zachary Wingert, Deputy Sheriff, effective December 31, 2025. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
Dominique Sherrod, Globe Life Family Heritage, provided an informative presentation about voluntary insurance options available to county employees that are not pre-taxed through payroll deductions.
Consensus of the supervisors was to allow Sherrod to contact county employees through their department managers to offer additional voluntary insurance benefit options.
Levy reductions imposed by HF718 were reviewed to determine tax revenue limitations and estimated year end cash balances.
Supervisor Skou excused himself from the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
The 2026/2027 budget process continued with the supervisors tentatively setting line-item amounts in the following budgets that they directly oversee: 01-Board of Supervisors; 06-Court Facilities; 09-Flex Plan; 10-Insurances; 28-Medical Examiner; 33-Libraries; 34-Historical Societies; 38-Township Officials; 39-Emergency Services; 40-Apiary; 54-Landfill and 61-Juvenile Services.
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 11:43 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 22, 2026