The Cherokee County Board of spervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Steve Zarr, Nick Patterson, Kenny Schlenger, Justin Pritts, Sarah Tracy and Kelly Puhrmann were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Ellis, Skou, Mummert, Petersen, Mongan; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Mongan called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Petersen to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve the claims for payment as presented. Motion carried. A complete listing is available for review in the County Auditor’s office and online.
Claims Approved June 27, 2023:
AgState
Fuel 2,821.97
Alex Air Apparatus 2, Inc.
Suppl 2,837.40
Alliant Energy
Serv 541.20
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 192.00
Aurelia Star
Serv 35.00
Barco Municipal Products Inc
Supp 2,730.59
Beck Engineering
Serv 6,508.50
Bell Optical
Safety 243.86
Bomgaars
Supp 616.45
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 143.09
Campbell Supply Co
Parts 132.03
Carroll Construction Supply
Part 711.00
Central Bank
Supp 295.49
CenturyLink Qwest
Serv 166.20
Champion Electric, Inc
Serv 550.78
Chase Card Services
Supp 461.81
Cherokee Chamber of Commerc
Fee 30.00
Cherokee County Sheriff
Fees 164.58
Cherokee State Bank
Flex/Self Fund 5,721.97
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Health Serv 674.00
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR
Contract 14,894.06
Christenson Brothers
Projects 10,342.62
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Publ 1,034.00
Cintas
Supp 45.06
City of Cherokee
Serv 671.68
Coleman Moore Co
Erosion Control 7,815.00
Country Tire & Service, Inc.
Serv 492.73
Dearborn Life Insurance Co
Life Ins 1,057.21
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc.
Serv 321.45
Kimberly Dierenfeld
Reimb 6.42
Joel M Ehrig
Travel Reimb 175.28
Fareway
Supp 3,714.76
First National Bank of Omaha
Travel 291.81
Lee Foresman
Per Diem 25.00
Foundation Analytical Lab
Serv 72.50
Frontier
Serv 129.95
GCC Alliance Concrete Co, Inc.
Concrete 875.00
Dale Glienke
Per Diem 20.00
GovConnection, Inc.
Sup 3,025.24
Graves Construction Co., Inc
Construction 1,739.94
GreatAmerica Financial Svcs
Serv 73.00
Henry M Adkins & Son Inc
Serv&Supp 48,262.00
Iowa Comm.Assurances Pool
Insur 72.00
Ida County Sheriff
Fees 37.58
IICA
Registr 350.00
IMWCA
Insur 78,823.00
Iowa Lakes Electric Coop
Serv 1,795.00
IA Lakes Regional Wate
Serv 161.74
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Serv 125.00
Iowa Natural Heritage Found
Membership 100.00
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 5,375.00
ISCTA
Fee 250.00
Jacks Uniforms & Equipment
Clothing 374.32
Jebro Inc
Supp 4,708.00
John Deere Financial
Parts 91.66
Julius Cleaners
Serv 37.00
Lee County Sheriff
Fees 39.00
Mark Lockwood
Per Diem 20.00
Loughlin Law Firm
Fees 75.00
Magneta Trailers Inc
Supp 2,790.00
Mallison & Waldner LLC
Serv 1,270.00
Marcus Lumber
Supp 2,128.12
Marx Leasing
Serv 150.00
McDyer Tools LLC
Serv 5,238.00
Metal Culverts
Pipes 88,252.80
Mid American Energy
Serv 2,299.54
Midwest Lubricants, Inc
Supp 1,007.50
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 154.96
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 245.10
Jodi B Mongan
Mileage 149.00
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 399.15
Niobrara County Sheriff’s Off
Fees 50.00
Northside Tire
Serv 4,641.40
NW Iowa Yes Center
Shelte 608.50
O’Halloran International
Parts 41.52
OBrien County Sheriff’s Off
Fees 59.00
One Office Solutio
Supp 10,950.29
Pilot Rock Sign Shop
Supp 525.00
PJ Greufe & Associates
Serv 1,500.00
Plymouth County Sheriff
Fees 32.50
Prestox
Serv 166.11
Quality Upholstery
Serv 5,530.00
Retriever LLC
Parts 640.00
Sac County Sheriff
Fees 15.60
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 119.10
Schumacher Elevator Co
Serv 1,450.74
Lance Shafer
Per Diem 20.00
SHI International Corp
Supp 5,507.00
Solutions
Serv 1,000.00
Stanard & Associates Inc
Serv 110.00
Nathanial A Story
Reimb 491.00
T & L TOOLS
Supp 350.36
Titan Machinery
Supp 110.50
Titan Machinery
Parts 750.00
K&M Tree Service
Serv 6,550.00
Truck Center Companies
Parts 929.68
Valley Glass & Framing Co
Serv 150.00
Valley Veterinary Center
Fees 75.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 374.49
Visual Edge IT
Serv 133.83
Vogel Traffic Services, Inc.
Paint 140,076.04
Webster County Sheriff
Fees 39.00
Wellmark
Insurance 102,921.16
Western Iowa Tech
Fee 100.00
Nissa M White
Travel Reimb 153.70
Dustin Wieland
Per Diem 20.00
Ziegler Inc
Supp 4,347.21
360 Custom Design
Serv 67.50
Grand Total $607,787.33

There were no comments from the public.

Steve Zarr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative along C25 from Section 4 of Afton Township to Section 33 of Spring Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Westel to bury fiber in multiple sections of Grand Meadow and Willow Townships. Motion carried.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, discussed the process to designate reduced level of maintenance on rural roads in the county.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve publication of a legal notice and set a public hearing on July 25, 2023 for changing 420th Street between A Avenue and B Avenue to Area Service “B” status. Motion carried.
Tracy provided an update of current activities including:

1. Beck Engineering and Northern Natural Gas representatives met with county engineering staff where it was determined that minor design updates would reduce the estimated cost to relocate the gas line to an approximate final cost of $250,000.
2. Tracy is trying to move forward with finding appraisers for right of way purchase on F Avenue.
3. Contractors will be hired in August or early September to repair a small section of M21 south of C16 where a culvert settled.
4. Contractors are scheduled in August to begin chip sealing on Mill Creek Road and a section of roadway on 480th Street east of Highway 143.
5. The RAGBRAI Director sent a map and spreadsheet of areas on county roadways that need minor repairs to prepare them for bicycle traffic.
6. There are no vendor permits on file to date for the upcoming RAGBRAI event.
7. A portion of C38 will be closed one week for pipe replacement.
8. Tracy asked for clarification of how the county will parcel out the former property used by the Little Sioux Wildlife Association. The roads department suggests building a new access road off 590th Street on the east side of the property which will provide an entrance to the conservation area. The current county roadway going to the gun range could be mined for gravel in the future if it is designated for secondary roads use.
   Consensus of the board was to have the Roads Superintendent work with the Conservation Director to draw boundary lines so that both entities know what properties they are working with.
   Rhonda Thompson and Audrey Pitts, Hopkins Insurance, presented the county’s July 1st renewal from Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP) for auto, property and liability insurance coverage. Thompson reported that valuations of county property and vehicles increased 1.87 million which was one of the factors that resulted in an 11% premium increase.
   Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mummert to renew the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP) insurance policy for 2023/2024 with a $228,417.00 premium. Motion carried.
   Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve Resolution #2023-18 Supporting Memorial Highway Signage in Honor of Specialist Brian Botello
   “WHEREAS, a letter was received from Army Survivor Outreach Services Western Iowa Support Coordinator Cory Van Sloten requesting support for memorial highway signage in honor of Specialist Brian Botello; and
   WHEREAS, SPC Botello is the only casualty from Aurelia, Alta, or Storm Lake who was killed in action in the Global War on Terror; and
   WHEREAS, the 19-mile stretch of IA 7 from IA 3 to US 71, proposed to be named SPC Brian Botello Memorial Highway, makes for a fitting memorial highway in honor of SPC Botello, who was 19 at the time of his death; and
   WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors recognizes this request as a lasting tribute to SPC Botello’s selfless service to and sacrifice for the nation, the sacrifice of his surviving family, and the solemn pride of his home community and county;
   NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors that Cherokee County hereby supports the memorial highway signage for the SPC Brian Botello Memorial Highway on IA 7 from IA 3 to US 71.”
   Roll call vote: Ellis-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye, Mummert-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
   There were no temporary alcohol permits to consider.
   Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to appropriate the 2023/2024 fiscal year budget at 100% for all departments. Motion carried.
   Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve a “Cherokee County Provider and Program Participation Agreement” for fiscal year 2024 county funding of covered services provided by Grand Meadow Heritage Center for the benefit of Cherokee County citizens and individuals. Motion carried.
   The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
   Gary Lundquist, Cherokee County Sanitary Landfill Board Member, reported on progress of a new building at the site and emphasized the importance of educating the public about the extreme fire danger caused by batteries put in with regular garbage containers or bags instead of being disposed of properly. Recent fires at the landfill site have been directly linked to improperly discarded batteries that caused sparks when compacting equipment came in contact with those items. Residents are reminded to bring batteries to the landfill office for proper disposal or utilize local businesses who offer to take used batteries as a service to their customers.
   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 10:13 a.m.
   All board agendas and minutes are available online at www.cherokeecounty.iowa.gov
   Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
   Rick Mongan, Chairman
   Published in the Marcus News on July 6, 2023