Cherokee County Supervisor Meeting
The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Ray Mullins II (via telephone) and Shane Bellefy (via telephone) present. Dave Skou was absent. Madeline Combs, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Gary Lundquist, Chuck Stubbe, Elizabeth Johnson, Tony Puffett, Maria Murillo, Jillian Cates, Ned Lundsgaard, Sam Boothby, Lacey Daum, Judy Grienke-Miller, Kelly Puhrmann, Nat Story, Joel Ehrig, Debie Stevenson, Ned Lundsgaard, Karin Cedar, Stu Hogg, Tom Kohn, Derek Scott, Dale Glienke, Justin Pritts, Erin Rydgren, Stu Hogg and Kenny Schlenger were also in attendance. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were offered as follows: Ayes – Mullins, Ellis, Bellefy, Petersen; Nayes – one; Abstentions – none.
Chairman Petersen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to approve the agenda. Motion carried.Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy 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 July 8, 2025:
AgState
Fuel 7,563.68
Alliant Energy
Serv 13.16
Alpha Wireless Comm Co.
Serv 8,895.00
Aurelia Lumber Co Inc.
Supp 345.60
Benson Construction
Serv 250.00
Blacktop Service Company Inc Serv 9,350.00
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 53.70
Bomgaars
Supp 190.46
Boothby Funeral Home
Serv 1,500.00
Buena Vista County Sheriff
Fees 30.50
Calhoun Burns Associates Inc
Serv 3,611.50
Campbell Supply Co
Parts 121.65
Central Bank
Supp 290.05
Certified Testing Services Inc
Serv 612.50
Champion Electric
Serv 346.56
Cherokee County Engineer Fuel 1,544.32
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Approp 22,688.34
Cherokee Monument Company
Supp 572.00
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr Contract 23,930.94
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 15.90
Cherokee State Bank Flex Flex/Self Fund 8,686.85
City of Cherokee
Serv 1,128.45
City of Cleghorn
TJ Pymt 172.41
City of Larrabee
TJ Pymt 212.20
City of Marcus
Serv 2,500.00
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
City of Quimby
Serv 1,372.44
City of Washta
TJ Pymt 2,864.86
CML Telephone Coop Assn Serv 1,375.51
Country Tire & Service, Inc
Serv 462.40
Croell Inc
Payment #5 F Ave 64,018.06
Diamond Vogel Paints
Supp 1,101.60
Fareway
Groceries 26.87
Feld Equipment Company Supp 144.00
Hallett Materials
Gravel 340.63
Hirschman Fabrication
Parts 40.00
Hiway Truck Equipment Inc. Parts 14,016.99
Ida County Sheriff
Fees 49.20
Iowa County Attorneys Assoc Dues 370.00
Iowa Department of Revenue
Sales Tax 351.75
Iowa Conservation Education
Books 80.00
Iowa Workforce Development
Unemployment 1,037.24
Iowa State Assoc of Counties
Dues 6,300.00
Jack’s Uniforms & Equip
Clothing 561.40
Thomas J Kohn
Sup 70.86
Lynne Lauck
Serv 216.00
Kari L Lundy
Mileage 35.50
Mail Services, LLC
Postage 687.60
Marcus Lumber
Supp 17.16
Marcus News Inc
Publ 302.04
Daniel J Martin
Supp 107.41
McDyer Tools LLC
Serv 27.25
Mid American Energy
Serv 1,890.42
Mid Sioux Opportunity
Approp 10,500.00
Midwest Service & Sales Co Supp 1,198.70
Midwest Wheel Companies Parts 1,048.04
Moeller Carpet Flooring
Carpet 4,362.40
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 213.91
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co Parts 1,361.13
Northside Tire
Serv 817.36
NW Iowa Yes Center
Shelter 1,400.00
Point C Health COE
Caf Admin Fees 75.00
Retriever LLC
Parts 1,040.00
Jennifer Ann Ryen
Serv 18.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 116.70
Smith & West Lawn Enforcement Serv 194.53
Jacqueline M Stephens
Serv 216.00
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
T Mobile
Serv 132.88
Van Holland Lawn Service, Ltd
Serv 282.50
Vanguard Appraisals Inc
Serv 2,500.00
Verizon Wireless
Serv 1,528.65
Vestis
Uniforms 42.55
Visual Edge IT Inc./Counsel
Serv 321.44
Eveline A Will
ROW 1,814.25
Youth Shelter Care
Shelter 1,443.67
360 Custom Designs
Serv 75.00
Grand Total 223,520.67

There were no comments from the public.  

Elizabeth Johnson, Commander, L.A. Westcott VFW Post 2253, reported on funds currently held by the VFW for future care of the Freedom Rock and requested the county act as custodian of the funds.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to authorize the auditor and treasurer to build a designated fund for Freedom Rock Perpetual Care Funds with expense authority to be granted with approval by the VFW. Motion carried.
Sam Boothby, County Recorder, presented a revenue report for consideration.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve the County Recorder’s $112,781.33 June 30, 2025 Quarterly Revenue Report with $33,143.56 retained by the county. Motion carried.
Derek Scott, County Sheriff, presented a revenue report for consideration and requested that a wage authorization be tabled until a later date.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to approve the County Sheriff’s $108,815.21 June 30, 2025 Quarterly Revenue Report with $31,082.53 retained by the county. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Cherokee Rural Water in Sections 13 and 14 of Tilden Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for CML in Section 21 of Spring Township. Motion carried.
Puhrmann reported on construction projects and discussed activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Derek Scott, Kelly Puhrmann and Kenny Schlenger presented their concerns related to Human Resources and the final 2024/2025 payroll being paid out for fiscal year end on June 30, 2025. Scott requested a change to the Cherokee County Personnel Policy that would allow Law Enforcement Center employees to choose whether they wanted to receive eight (8) hours of holiday pay or bank those hours to be used as paid time off at a later date. No action was taken as a result of the request.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to approve a one-time exception to the Cherokee County Personnel Policy and allow the Secondary Roads maintenance department to recognize Thursday, July 3, 2025 as the paid Fourth of July holiday. Motion carried with Petersen voting nay.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Petersen to approve Homestead and Military Credit applications and to disallow applications that no longer qualify for the 2024 assessment year with taxes payable 2025/2026 as recommended by the Cherokee County Assessor’s Office. Motion carried.
Motion by Petersen, seconded by Ellis to approve Homestead Exemption applications and to disallow applications that do not qualify for the 2024 assessment year with taxes payable 2025/2026 as recommended by the Cherokee County Assessor’s Office. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve nine additional Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credit applications for the 2024 assessment year with taxes payable 2025/2026 as recommended by the Cherokee County Assessor’s Office. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to authorize the chairman to sign a Certification of Contract Between Cherokee Regional Medical Center and Cherokee County Board of Supervisors to Provide Health Care Services to Low Income Individuals under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve a separation of employment and $10,505.95 final payout of hours worked, vacation and longevity hours for Lisa Bringle, Rolling Hills Community Services Director, effective June 30, 2025. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve a separation of employment and $6,081.59 final payout of hours worked, vacation, comp, longevity and floating holiday hours for Brian Smith, Secondary Roads Operator, effective July 3, 2025. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve a “Cherokee County Provider and Program Participation Agreement” for fiscal year 2026 county funding of covered services provided by Cherokee County 4-H for the benefit of Cherokee County citizens and individuals. Motion carried.
The supervisors provided committee reports and reviewed meeting schedules.
There being no further business, Chairman Petersen called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to adjourn the meeting at 9:56 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Attest: Bryan Petersen, Chairman
Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Published in the Marcus News on July 31, 2025