The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy (joined by phone) present. The press was not represented. Kelly Puhrmann, Steve Zarr, Kenny Schlenger, Stu Hogg, Rick Angell, Kellen Ludvigson, Becky Bloom, Tyler Hahn, and Chuck Stubbe were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mullins, Ellis, Bellefy, Skou, Petersen; Nayes – none; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Petersen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Mullins to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis 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 February 11, 2025:

The Accurate Court Reporte
Subscription 156.00
AgState Cherokee Agronomy
Fuel 2,204.54
Alliant Energy
Serv 2,049.43
Alpha Wireless Communications
Serv 15,073.32
APCO International
Serv 600.00
Arnold Motor Supply
Parts 78.00
Patrick Bird
Twp Mtg 10.00
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 144.55
Bob Barker Company Inc.
Supp 193.43
Bomgaars
Supp 296.11
Builders Sharpening & Serv
Parts 129.89
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 4,616.25
CB Household Hazardous Waste Serv 130.00
Central Bank
Supp 1,790.35
Central Iowa Distributing
Supp 104.00
Cherokee County Engineer
Fuel 2,769.74
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Alloc 22,688.33
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp
Flex/Self Fund 11,983.01
Cherokee Regional Medical CTR Contract 43,258.69
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 171.80
City of Cleghorn
TJ Pymt 154.54
City of Larrabee
TJ Pymt 190.18
City of Marcus
Serv 21.36
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
City of Quimby
Serv 1,237.06
City of Washta
TJ Pymt 2,567.96
CML Telephone Coop
Serv 1,733.80
Continental Fire Sprinkler Co.
Serv 162.00
Country Tire & Service, Inc.
Serv 559.27
Denny’s Heating A/C & Plumbing Serv 80.00
Des Moines Stamp
Supp 34.00
Details Custom Print
Supp 175.40
Elan Financial Services
Supp 502.58
Evertek, Inc.
Serv 400.00
Feld Equipment Company
Supp 249.00
FORCE America Distributing,LLC
Parts 918.42
Nathan Foresman
Twp Mtg 10.00
GovConnection, Inc
Supp 1,000.21
Hallett Materials
Gravel 5,022.72
Hiway Truck Equipment Inc.
Parts 717.45
Hunzelman Putzier & Co PLC
Audit Fees 325.00
Iowa Dept of Transportation
Parts 100.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 76.00
Iowa Prison Industries
Parts 5,044.24
Gerard Kohn
Twp Mtg 10.00
Larrabee Fire Dept
Alloc 20,000.00
Lynne Lauck
Serv 288.00
Jeff Letsche
Twp Mtg 10.00
Mail Services,LLC
Postage 576.46
Marco
Serv 271.99
Marcus News
Publ 1,311.17
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 3,021.02
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
Supp 276.68
Matthew Cronin Farms
Parts 104.00
Microfilm Imaging Systems Inc
Serv 480.00
Mid American Energy
Serv 1,800.85
Midwest Wheel Companies
Parts 65.19
Ashley Miller
Serv 2,625.00
Modern Heating & Cooling, Inc
Serv 111.20
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 124.22
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co
Parts 400.00
New Century FS
Fuel 7,562.49
Northside Tire
Serv 541.04
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc
Supp 13.14
Betty Ohlson
Lease 700.00
One Office Solution
Supp 219.03
Plymouth County Sheriff
Fees 30.00
Point C Self Fund Admin Fees
Admin Fees 625.25
Point C Health COE
Caf Admin Fees 325.00
Prosecuting Attorneys Training
Supp 28.00
Quadient, Inc
Supp 83.60
Radar Road Tec
Serv 398.00
Richard Ravnsborg
Twp Mtg 10.00
Jen Ryen
Serv 672.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 374.50
Schmillen Construction Inc
Serv 4,410.00
Luke Seablom
Twp Mtg 10.00
Sioux Valley Family Health
Serv 140.00
Solutions Inc. Harris Local
Serv 669.09
Jacqueline M Stephens
Serv 111.00
Danny L. Steward
Lease 700.00
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
The Storm Lake Times Pilot
Publ 387.69
T Mobile
Serv 79.60
Thompson Propane & Supplies Supplies 1,600.65
TNT Sales & Service
Serv 472.50
Tri-State Emergency Management Dues 20.00
Truck Center Companies East
Parts 86.04
Veenstra & Kimm Inc.
Serv 203.50
Verizon Wireless
Serv 714.43
Vermeer Sales & Serv
Parts 300.46
Vestis
Uniforms 81.58
Visual Edge IT Inc./Counsel
Serv 310.57
Ziegler Inc
Supp 2,436.95
John Zimmer
Twp Mtg 10.00
Grand Total 185,855.52

There were no comments from the public.
Steve Zarr, Survey Engineering Technician, presented a underground utility permit for consideration.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for MidAmerican Energy in Sections 30, 31, 35, 36 of Grand Meadow Township and Sections 19, 30, 31 of Willow Township. This is a three-county project including the counties of Woodbury, Plymouth and Cherokee. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented a construction document and wage authorizations for consideration.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve a final pay voucher to Agile for contract #18-CO18-090 in the amount of 1,343,536.40 for twin box culverts. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve a $29.83 per hour wage authorization for Steve Holmes, Shop Foreman, effective February 10, 2025. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve a $27.67 per hour wage authorization for Kade Jurgensen, Mechanic, effective February 10, 2025. Motion carried.
Puhrmann provided an update on activities in the Secondary Roads Department. Bid letting for Diamond 105 is scheduled for the February 18, 2025. Discussion was had regarding bridge concerns within Cherokee County. Kelly stated that their department has a 5-year construction plan and ranking for the bridges within Cherokee County and he will be sharing this information later this spring with the Board of Supervisors. He will also provide last year’s 5-year plan and ranking to the new supervisors.
Rick Angell, Becky Bloom, and Kellen Ludvigson, Angell Insurance, presented Cherokee County’s annual health insurance renewal.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve the July 1, 2025 renewal of Wellmark Plan PM49/RM77 ($4,000/$8,000 deductible; $8,000/$16,000 out of pocket maximum; $30 office visit co-pay; $25/$50/$100 with $225 specialty/$275 np specialty RX) including a 3.45% premium increase. Motion carried.
In an effort to reduce annual premium increases and to maintain affordable health benefits for employees; Cherokee County purchases a higher deductible health insurance plan and partially self-funds a buy down of deductibles to $1,000/$2,000 and out of pocket maximums of $2,000/$4,000. RX prescriptions are bought down to $15/$45/$75. Premium costs for fiscal year 2025/2026 will be: $991.28 per month for Single Policy and $2,520.61 per month for Family Policy. Employee insurance contributions are yet to be determine, however, employees hired prior to 1991 are provided family coverage for the cost of a single policy.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Ellis to approve publication of the 2025/2026 Proposed Property Tax Levy Notice and set a hearing date on Tuesday, March 25 at 8:45 a.m. Motion carried.
Committee reports and meeting schedules were provided by each of the supervisors.
There being no further business, Chairman Petersen called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 9:27 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Attest: Karin Cedar, Auditor’s Assistant
Bryan Petersen, Chairman
Published in the Marcus News on February 27, 2025