The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Erin Rydgren, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Kenny Schlenger, Justin Pritts, Ryan Kolpin, Tom Kohn, Sarah Tracy, Kelly Puhrmann, Sam Boothby, Laura Jones, Barb Staver and Stu Hogg 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 Ellis, seconded by Mummert to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Kenny Schlenger, Roads Superintendent, discussed summer staffing and equipment purchases.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Skou to authorize the Roads Superintendent to post a job opening for one temporary seasonal labor position. Motion carried.
Motion by Mummert, seconded by Ellis to authorize the Roads Superintendent to purchase a new durapatcher unit with directional arrow board for $102,778. Motion carried.
Schlenger asked if it would be acceptable for him to drive to Mississippi to pick up the new durapatcher since there would be a $3,000 freight expense to have it delivered. The supervisors advised Schlenger to research options for the most cost-effective way to get the new equipment onsite.
Secondary Roads crews are cleaning up trucks after the latest snow event, stock piling gravel, removing beaver dams and cutting down ash trees at the main office.
Sarah Tracy, County Engineer, reported that all landowners should have received letters regarding right of way appraisals for the F Avenue project. Tracy reminded the supervisors that she is the single point of contact for all questions related to right of way appraisals for the F Avenue project.
Acknowledgement of an Assessor’s step wage authorization was tabled until after the Assessor’s Conference Board has met.
The board met with county department representatives to discuss financial limitations for the 2024/2025 budget resulting from legislation passed in House File 718 which reduces property tax levy rates and limits property valuation increases. The supervisors will be taking a cautionary approach with all wage increases and department budget totals due to the county’s limited taxing authority combined with additional expenses associated with the F Avenue road project.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Skou to set a $0.65 cents per hour wage increase for county employees effective on July 1, 2024; reduce Compensation Board salary recommendations for elected officials by 30%; budget for actual current employee status for monthly health/life insurance rates with no increase in premiums from the current year; and freeze county department budgets with no increases over the current FY24 total budget amounts in the General, General Supplemental and Rural Funds with consideration of one time project expenses on a case by case basis. Motion carried. Letters were provided to every department manager with a total bottom line budget figure for each department to refigure their line items and submit to the board.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mummert to adjourn the meeting at 9:53 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Published in The Marcus News March 7, 2024