The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Madeline Combs, Chronicle Times, represented the press. Tony Puffett, Tyler Hahn, Chuck Stubbe, Elias Toshiro, Justin Wills, Les Beck, Gary Von Ahsen, Ben Metcalf, George Wittgraf, Ramona Nitz, Karin Cedar, Neils Lundsgaard, Ned Lundsgaard, John Nitz, Stephanie Zarr, Steve Zarr, Kelly Puhrmann, Thomas Bean, Laura Jones and Stu Hogg 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 Bellefy to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Mullins to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Skou 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 August 12, 2025: 

AgState
Fuel 19,090.52
Ahlers & Cooney PC
Serv 1,200.00
Alliant Energy
Serv 107.27
Allied Time USA Inc.
Supp 24.00
Alpha Wireless Comm Co.
Serv 3,396.95
Ascendance Trucks
Midwest LLC
Parts 996.45
Aurelia Municipal Utility
Serv 79.18
Blaine’s Culligan
Supp 91.90
Boji Portable Toilets Inc
Serv 200.00
Bomgaars
Supp 179.00
Calhoun Burns Associates, Inc
Serv 7,278.50
Campbell Supply Co
Parts 123.60
Carroll Construction Supply
Parts 90.00
Central Bank
Supp 2,370.33
Cherokee Chronicle Times
Pub 387.04
Cherokee County Conservation
Trailer 4,000.00
Cherokee Co. Secondary Roads Fuel 2,243.47
Cherokee County Solid Waste
Serv 46.35
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Health Serv 22.00
Cherokee Regional Medical Ctr
Contract 4,111.06
Cherokee Rural Water
Serv 260.90
Cherokee State Bank Flex/Merp Flex/Self Fund 6,570.40
Christensen Brothers
Projects 279,271.48
City of Cherokee
Serv 1,437.56
City of Marcus
Serv 29.20
City of Meriden
Serv 25.00
City of Quimby
Serv 66.00
CJ Cooper & Associates
Serv 235.00
CML Telephone Coop Assn
Serv 1,614.52
Country Tire & Service, Inc
Serv 617.89
Crawford County Sheriff
Fees 40.83
Croell Inc
Pmt#7FAve 586,907.32
Dearborn Life Insurance Co Life Ins 1,301.71
Div of Criminal Investigation
Register 85.00
DoorPro
Serv 140.00
Joel M Ehrig
Reimb 257.13
Elan Financial Services
Supp 376.38
Evertek, Inc
Serv 400.00
Fareway
Groceries 2,576.52
Fareway Commissary
Supp 56.32
Fast Lane Motor Parts LLC Supp 117.36
Fisch Funeral Home &
Monument
Serv 900.00
FORCE America Distributing Parts 296.68
GCC Alliance Concrete Co, Inc.
Concrete 10,550.00
Kristine L Glienke
Travel Reimb 2,115.74
GovConnection, Inc
Supp 1,744.63
Hallett Materials
Gravel 884.00
Interstate Battery
Parts 597.28
Iowa Department of Revenue Sales Tax 164.50
IA Lakes Regional Water
Serv 180.74
ISAA Secretary-Treasurer
Fee 150.00
Iowa State Assoc of Counties Fees 535.00
Jack’s Uniforms & Equip
Clothing 12.00
JJSS,LLC Jim’s Sewer Service
Serv 210.00
Lynne Lauck
Serv 84.00
Lawson Products Inc
Parts 14.16
Loughlin Law Firm
Fees 75.00
Mail Services, LLC
Postage 684.74
Marco Technologies LLC
Serv 363.97
Martin Marietta Materials
Supp 3,018.64
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc
Supp 457.84
McDyer Tools LLC
Serv 5,154.00
Mid-American Energy
Serv 5,126.33
Midwest Alarm Company, Inc.
Serv 850.00
Midwest Lubricants, LLC
Supp 275.00
Midwest Wheel Companies Parts 93.88
Ashley Miller
Serv 2,100.00
Motor Parts Sales
Parts 197.91
Maria E Murillo-Tellez
Reimb 176.00
Nelson Electric
Serv 374.80
New Century FS
Fuel 7,229.52
Northside Tire
Six Tires 10,046.52
Nuvera
Serv 64.00
O’Reilly Auto Parts
Supp 25.10
One Office Solution
Supp 200.64
RJ Thomas Mfg. Co. Inc.
Supp 240.00
Point C Self Fund Admin Fees
Admin Fees 621.50
Point C Health COE
Caf Admin Fees 75.00
Record Management Systems Inc
Serv 106.47
Rees Mack Sales & Service Parts 511.16
Robertson Implement Co Inc Supp 97.00
Jennifer Ann Ryen
Serv 744.00
Sanitary Services Inc
Serv 893.40
Schmillen Construction Inc
Serv 44,187.27
SEAT Treasurer
Dues 900.00
Siouxland District Health Dept
Serv 100.00
Solutions Inc Harris
Serv 441.90
Jacob Spieler
Well Closure 562.36
Barb Steward
Serv 300.00
T Mobile
Serv 132.34
Thompson Propane & Supplies Supp 6,140.36
Titan Machinery
Parts 193.80
Triple C Pest Control
Serv 80.00
Truck Center Companies East Parts 575.09
Valley Veterinary Center
Fees 380.96
Veenstra & Kimm Inc
Serv 223.50
Verizon Wireless
Serv 1,715.87
Vestis
Uniforms 185.24
Visual Edge IT Inc./Counsel
Serv 463.69
Grand Total 1,043,247.67

Chairman Petersen asked for comments from the public. Ramona Nitz, Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District Chairman, provided an update on the slough bill process for landowners to apply for the tax- exempt status and stated that the State of Iowa is now getting involved. Nitz will report back as more information becomes available.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to open a Public Hearing for the proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried.
Chairman Petersen read a summary of the Solar Energy Systems Ordinance as published with full copies of the ordinance available to those in attendance.
Written comments were received from Les Beck, Legal Representative for Tyr Energy Development (TED) Renewables, and Justin Wills, TED Renewables. Several comments were received from those in attendance. The supervisors considered each of the comments and noted areas in the draft ordinance to be revised. Chairman Petersen will meet with County Attorney Ryan Kolpin to prepare an updated draft of the proposed solar ordinance and make the document available to the public prior to the second reading. The supervisors thanked those in attendance for their comments.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Ellis to close the Public Hearing for the proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Bellefy to approve the first reading of Ordinance #2025-01 Solar Energy Systems and to schedule the second reading on August 19, 2025. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in Section 36 of Sheridan Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Mullins, seconded by Ellis to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in Sections 13 and 14 of Tilden Township. Motion carried.
Puhrmann provided an update on activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Bellefy reported on a monthly department meeting where managers requested an amendment to the county personnel policy to increase the maximum comp hours from 80 hours to 120 hours. No action was taken.
The supervisors reviewed the current 28E Agreement for the Cherokee County Sanitary Landfill.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Ellis to appoint Ray Mullins as the Cherokee County Supervisor representative on the Cherokee County Sanitary Landfill with Dave Skou continuing as an Alternate and Gary Lundquist in an ad hoc advisory position. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2025-17 to Designate Voting Representatives for the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC). Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2025-18 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant Agreement between Enhance Iowa Board and Cherokee County Conservation Board of Cherokee County, Iowa. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Mullins to acknowledge a $20.00 per hour wage authorization for Emily Ankenman, Part-Time Emergency Management Agency/Environmental Health Assistant, effective July 31, 2025 as previously approved by the Cherokee County Board of Health and Emergency Management Commission. Motion carried. It was also noted that Justin Pritts, as Administrator of the Medical Examiner Investigator program, has designated Ankenman as Manager of the MEI program with a $500 monthly stipend to be paid from the Medical Examiner’s budget in the county’s general fund.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Ellis to approve a separation of employment and $313.12 final payout of hours worked for Rebecca Schmidt, Part-Time Jailer/Dispatcher, effective July 31, 2025. 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 Skou, seconded by Bellefy to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 a.m.
All board agendas and minutes are available online at cherokeecounty.iowa.gov .
Bryan Petersen, Chairman
Attest: Kris Glienke, County Auditor
Published in the Marcus News on August 28, 2025