Cherokee County Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 with Rick Mongan, Bryan Petersen, Duane Mummert, Cheryl Ellis and Dave Skou present. Madeline Combs, Storm Lake Times, represented the press. Kelly Puhrmann, Sarah Tracy, and Kenny Schlenger 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 Mummert to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Mummert to approve the minutes of the previous meetings. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
Copies of a proposed employment agreement was distributed to the supervisors for their review. The draft contract was written by Paul Greufe, HR Consultant, with review by Ryan Kolpin, County Attorney.
Ellis reported that the hiring committee interviewed Kelly Puhrmann for the County Engineer position and their intent was to offer him an employment contract.
Kelly Puhrmann, Assistant Engineer, requested a closed session to discuss the employment agreement.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mummert to go into closed session per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(1)(i)
“To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation”.
Roll call vote: Petersen-aye, Ellis-aye, Mummert-aye, Skou-aye, Mongan-aye. Motion carried and regular session closed at 9:05 a.m.
Regular session resumed at 9:24 a.m.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to authorize the chairman to sign a three (3) year contract with Kelly Puhrmann, Professional Engineer (PE), from September 16, 2024 through September 16, 2027 with an annual salary of $145,000.00 in fiscal year ending June 30 of 2025 with future salary increases to be determined by the Board of Supervisors. The Engineer shall accrue vacation at a rate of 20 days per year. Motion carried.
After a brief discussion regarding salaries traditionally coinciding with fiscal years for budget purposes, Ellis offered a motion to rescind the previous motion with Petersen seconding. Motion carried with previous action being
rescinded.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to authorize the chairman to sign an employment agreement with Kelly Puhrmann, Professional Engineer (PE), from September 16, 2024 through June 30, 2027 with an annual salary of $145,000.00 in fiscal year ending June 30 of 2025 with future salary increases to be determined by the Board of Supervisors. The Engineer shall accrue vacation at a rate of 20 days per year. Motion carried.
There being no further business, Chairman Mongan called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mummert to adjourn the meeting at 9:26 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Rick Mongan, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on September 19, 2024