The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Andrea McIrvin, KICD Radio, represented the press. Tony Puffett, Erin Rydgren, Chuck Stubbe, Kelly Puhrmann, Derek Scott, Joel Ehrig, Sam Boothby, Kenny Schlenger, Stu Hogg, Justin Pritts and Laura Jones were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mullins, Ellis, Bellefy, Skou, Petersen; Nayes – one; 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 Skou to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy 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 March 24, 2026: 

AgState
Fuel 46,725.31
Alliant Energy
Serv 615.63
Alpha Wireless Comm Co. Serv 4,804.81
Ascendance Trucks Midwest LLC
Parts 79.07
B.A.T.S L.L.C.
Supp 369.99
Bear Creek Archeology Inc
FEMA Phase 1 3,495.00
Benson Construction
Serv 4,322.50
Bob Barker Company Inc. Supp 742.03
Bomgaars
Supp 3,308.10
Boothby Funeral Home
Serv 1,500.00
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 456.35
Carey’s Furniture
Supp/Cabin 4 419.97
Central Bank
Supp 870.06
CenturyLink E911
Serv 33.95
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 119.60
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 69.00
Cherokee Main Street Pharmacy
Meds 129.77
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Health Serv 3,980.00
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp
Flex/Self Fund 10,291.41
City of Cherokee
Serv 609.06
CML Telephone Coop Assn
Serv 33.04
Cole Papers Inc
Supp 416.73
Dave Gravenish Repair
Serv 120.45
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Life Ins 1,412.21
Deer Valley Mechanical, Inc
Serv 78,275.00
Brian Denery
Per Diem 50.00
Des Moines Stamp
Supp 34.00
Joseph W Draper
Travel Reimb 25.00
Don Drefke
Per Diem 50.00
Kelly Ebel
Reimb 99.96
Joel M Ehrig
Reimb 250.45
Dave Ellis
Per Diem 50.00
Family Table
Advertising 100.00
Fareway
Fees 3,889.21
Fareway Commissary
Supp 139.40
First National Bank of Omaha
Service 78.49
Frontier Communications
Serv 129.95
GovConnection,Inc
Supp 350.86
Grainger
Parts 85.69
Groves Emergency Lighting LLC
Equip 9,771.76
Iowa County Attorneys Assoc
Dues 424.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 1,933.00
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 60.90
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 125.00
Jack’s Uniforms & Equip
Clothing 293.79
JCL Solutions
Supp 218.34
Ryan R Kolpin
Reimb 275.00
Jett Korver
Training 164.50
Kossuth County Sheriff
Fees 30.00
Loffler Companies, Inc.
Supp 33.43
Kari L Lundy
Mileage 33.75
Marco Technologies
Serv 834.81
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 632.47
J & M Tools
Tools 74.50
Mid American Energy
Serv 310.89
Midwest Lubricants,LLC
Supp 412.50
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 323.04
Ashley Miller
Serv 600.00
Wane A Miller
Per Diem 50.00
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 289.65
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 319.41
Murguia Online Investigations
Online Training 350.00
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 2,196.28
Northside Tire
Serv 1,810.36
O’Reilly Auto Parts
Supp 41.27
One Office Solution
Supp 141.88
RJ Thomas Mfg. Company Inc.
Supp 512.00
Point C Self Fund Admin Fees
Admin Fees 641.25
Prestox
Serv 217.66
Reliance Telephone of GF Inc
Serv 140.00
SEAT Treasurer
Training 75.00
Shield Technology Corporation
Software 100.00
Debie A Stevenson
Reimb 538.59
Thompson Propane & Supplies
Supp 5,641.44
Thomson Reuters-West
Fees 1,006.70
Truck Center Companies East
Parts 119.99
US Postal Service
Postage 500.00
Vanguard Appraisals Inc
Serv 5,162.50
Verizon Wireless
Serv 331.56
Vermeer Sales & Service
Parts 710.62
Vestis
Uniforms 86.80
Visual Edge IT
Serv 245.59
Wellmark BCBS of Iowa
Insurance 110,969.76
WesTel Systems
Serv 490.54
Woodbury County Sheriff
Fees 40.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 681.38
Grand Total 318,493.96

There were no comments from the public.  

Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented a right of way permit for consideration and discussed activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Mediacom in Section 35 of Cherokee Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2026-10 Establishing an Indefinite Moratorium on Battery Storage Projects in Cherokee County, Iowa
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors is vested with the authority to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Cherokee County; and
WHEREAS, the County currently lacks a specific ordinance or comprehensive regular regulatory framework governing the siting, development, and operation of battery storage project; and
WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the need to develop an ordinance to address the unique characteristics and potential impacts of battery storage projects; and
WHEREAS, the preservation of Cherokee County’s agricultural lands, rural character, and natural resources is vital importance to the well-being and sustainability of the county; and
WHEREAS, the Board has identified concerns related to battery storage projects, including but not limited to fire hazards, safety risks, adequacy of emergency response preparedness, potential for environmental contamination, appropriate setbacks from properties and sensitive uses, and visual impacts of the landscape; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to balance the property rights of land owners with the County’s responsibility to protect public health, safety, and welfare, and to ensure that any future battery storage projects are thoroughly evaluated and appropriately regulated; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Zoning Commission is the appropriate body to develop a comprehensive ordinance addressing the siting and regulation of battery storage projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors as follows:
• The board hereby establishes an indefinite moratorium on the acceptance, review, or approval of any applications or permits for new battery storage projects within Cherokee County, effective immediately upon adoption of the resolution.

• This moratorium applies to all proposed battery storage facilities, regardless of size, technology, or location, that are not currently permitted or under construction as of the effective date of this Resolution.
• The moratorium shall remain in effect until:
• The Cherokee County Zoning Commission drafts and the Board of Supervisors enacts a battery storage ordinance providing for the appropriate regulation, siting, and operation of battery storage projects.
  • The Cherokee County Zoning Commission is hereby directed to work on the development of a comprehensive battery storage ordinance.
  Dated at Cherokee, Iowa, this 24th day of March, 2026.
  Board of Supervisors of Cherokee County, Iowa.
  Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-nay, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
  Motion by Mullins, seconded by Skou to authorize the Chairman to sign an application for departmental credit cards issued through Cherokee State Bank under Cherokee County’s tax identification number. Motion carried.
  A draft version of an updated Cherokee County Personnel Policy was reviewed and comments received from department managers were discussed.
  Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to increase maximum accumulated compensatory time from 80 hours to 120 hours with an annual benefit review by the Board of Supervisors. Motion carried.
  Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to update holiday pay wording as “All employees, including part-time employees, who are scheduled to work on a recognized holiday, are to be paid at the rate of time and one-half for each hour actually worked. Full-time employees will have the choice between compensatory time or cash for actual hours worked on a recognized holiday.” Motion carried.
  Motion by Skou, seconded by Mullins to add an option for Law Enforcement Center employees: “Regular full-time Law Enforcement Center employees may choose to receive eight (8) hours of straight time pay for recognized Holidays or have eight (8) hours added to their Holiday Bank to be used on a later date of the employee’s choosing. Law Enforcement Center employees may accumulate up to a maximum of 80 hours of Holiday Banked hours.” Motion carried.
  Consensus of the supervisors was to request guidance from the County’s Human Resource counsel regarding possible options for premium rates of pay for hours worked on weekends following a recognized Holiday.
  Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to add the following provision for sick leave conversion: “When a full-time employee has accumulated 896 hours of accrued sick leave, ninety-six (96) hours of the accrued sick leave will be converted into eight (8) hours of personal time off with a maximum accumulated balance of eight (8) hours.” Motion carried.
  Consensus was to update language regarding sick leave: “When you request sick leave, you are required to contact your supervisor or designee each day at least 60 minutes prior to the beginning of your scheduled shift.”
  Department requests to allow payment for meals without overnight travel was tabled for further research of the IRS Fringe Benefits Guide and recommendations from the County’s Human Resource counsel.
  The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
  Review of the proposed 2026/2027 budget continued.
  There being no further business, Chairman Petersen called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
  Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 11:36 a.m.
  All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
  Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
  Bryan Petersen, Chairman
  Published in the Marcus News on April 9, 2026