The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 with Gary Lundquist, Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, and Wane Miller present. There were no representatives from the press. Laney Feight, Steve Zarr, William Gauthier, Sarah Tracy, Justin Pritts, Kenny Schlenger, Kelly Puhrmann, Arvin Druvinga, Sam Johnson and Stu Hogg were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Lundquist, Petersen, Mummert, Miller, Mongan; Nayes – two; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Mongan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Wane Miller, Veteran Affairs Commissioner.
Motion by Lundquist, seconded by Mummert to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Petersen to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Sam Boothby, County Recorder, presented a wage authorization for consideration.
The supervisors confirmed their previous decision to deny mid-year wage increases and to only consider wage adjustments that have been included in the budget with a July 1st effective date.
Motion by Lundquist, seconded by Petersen to deny a salary adjustment from $18.45 per hour to $43,000 for Amanda White, Recorder’s Clerk, effective February 21, 2022. Motion carried with Mummert and Mongan voting nay.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, presented a block grant application for consideration.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Lundquist to approve Resolution #2022-07 “Commitment of Funds and Project Maintenance” WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors is submitting an application to the SRTPA RPA Surface Transportation Program for the following project in FY 2026: L-51 Grade & PCC Pave from C-38 to Highway 3 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors that the County Engineer be directed to submit application for the above captioned project, that the Board of Supervisors will dedicate the local match funding for the project, and that Cherokee County will maintain the completed project for its intended public use for a minimum of 20 years following project completion.” Roll call vote: Lundquist-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Miller-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Tracy discussed a previously adopted ordinance setting parameters for Service Level B Roadways and asked for an amendment to the document to remove language that requires notifications to landowners within a two-mile radius.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Miller to authorize the county engineer to strike the notification language from the Service Area Level B Ordinance and to start the process to amend the ordinance. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, Assistant to the Engineer, presented project close out documents for a construction project.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Petersen to authorize the chairman to sign a final pay voucher to return contractor retainage fees for the M21 HMA resurfacing project #FM-CO18(76)–55-18 completed from Highway 3 to Highway 7 in 2020. Motion carried.
Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, discussed prior decisions to purchase two Ford trucks and he has since found out that Ford has shut down production. Schlenger presented quotes for two Dodge RAM trucks from Holzhauer Motors.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to rescind previous action authorizing the Secondary Roads Superintendent to purchase two Ford pickups. Motion carried.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Lundquist to authorize the Secondary Roads Superintendent to purchase a 2022 Dodge RAM 2500 Tradesman Crew Cab 4×4 short box pickup for $49,296 and a 2022 Dodge RAM 2500 Tradesman Crew Cab 4×4 long box pickup for $49,477 from Holzhauer Motors in Cherokee, Iowa. Motion carried.
Steve Zarr, Survey Technician, discussed the current Secondary Roads Right-Of-Way Ordinance and highlighted issues within the county that do not comply with the ordinance. Enforcement of the ordinance will begin with educating the public about safety hazards in hopes of achieving cooperation to avoid the next step of imposing fines. Zarr will report back to the board with details of specific violations and proposed solutions to the problem.
Motion by Lundquist, seconded by Mummert to acknowledge a $22.00 per hour wage authorization for Kyle Van Der Stoep, Conservation Technician, effective February 7, 2022 as previously approved by the Cherokee County Conservation Board. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Miller to approve a “Cherokee County Provider and Program Participation Agreement” for fiscal year 2022 county funding of covered services provided by the City of Washta for a Well Project which will benefit Cherokee County citizens and individuals. Motion carried.
Motion by Miller, seconded by Mummert to approve a “Cherokee County Provider and Program Participation Agreement” for fiscal year 2022 county funding of covered services provided by Cherokee County Senior Citizens for the benefit of Cherokee County citizens and individuals. Motion carried.
The board discussed the proposed courthouse HVAC project and required steps to accept bids. A mechanical engineer will be contacted to begin the process.
Mongan reported on a recent statewide supervisor meeting with the topic centered around counties writing letters to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) expressing their opposition to the use of eminent domain for proposed carbon sequestration pipelines. No action was taken as a result of the discussion.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
Mongan called for comments from the public.
William Gauthier commented on letters to the IUB, the proposed wage authorization and the bid process for a HVAC system. Sarah Tracy gave an update on the proposed sale of the Larrabee County Shed and her decision to verify employee CDL’s annually. Justin Pritts reported that the Emergency Management warehouse is being decommissioned this week since PPE transfer from the state is done and he has accepted all remaining inventory which will be used within our district.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Petersen to adjourn the meeting at 10:36 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at www.cherokeecountyiowa.gov
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on March 3, 2022