Cherokee County Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 with Bryan Petersen, Cheryl Ellis, Dave Skou, Ray Mullins II and Shane Bellefy present. Madeline Combs, Chronicle Times, represented the press. George Wittgraf, Ned Lundsgaard, Chuck Stubbe, Les Beck, Ben Metcalf, Justin Wills, Erin Rydgren, Gauthier Dubois, Kelly Puhrmann, Justin Pritts 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 Mullins, seconded by Ellis to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Bellefy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
There were no comments from the public.
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. 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 third reading. The supervisors thanked those in attendance for their comments.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou 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 second reading of Ordinance #2025-01 Solar Energy Systems. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Bellefy to schedule August 26, 2025 as the third reading for the proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance #2025-01. Motion carried.
Kelly Puhrmann, County Engineer, presented utility permits for consideration.
Motion by Skou, seconded by Mullins to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in Section 24 of Rock Township. Motion carried.
Motion by Bellefy, seconded by Ellis to approve an underground construction on county right of way application for CML in Section 22 of Cherokee Township. Motion carried.
Puhrmann provided an update on activities in the Secondary Roads Department.
Motion by Ellis, seconded by Skou to approve Resolution #2025-19 Inter-Fund Operating Transfer of $973.46 from the Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Fund to the General Basic Fund effective August 19, 2025. Roll call vote: Mullins-aye, Ellis-aye, Bellefy-aye, Skou-aye, Petersen-aye. Motion carried and resolution adopted.
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 Bellefy to adjourn the meeting at 10:22 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 September 4, 2025