Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Good morning, everybody. It's Tuesday, September 15th, 2026. My name is Don Swanker. I'm going to call the Jackson County Board of Supervisors meeting to order. To my left, I have Mike Stein. To my right, I have Nen Flago. Bjorn from IT. Lisa from the Auditor's Office. Brittany in the virtual press box. And first thing up is we've got visitors and citizens. Is there anybody you see online? We've got the City of Bellevue. We've got Jaden Sheckle. We've got Michael Miller again. Anybody online or in the gallery would like to address the board for something not listed on the agenda? Hearing nothing, we'll move on to Jennifer Jones, our recorder, to give us departmental up. They want to talk about fees collected. Good morning.

Everything's running just the way it normally is. There's really nothing new.

That's the beginning and end of your report.

Nothing changed.

So we do have the fees collected, certified and leisurely delinquent assets.

No, that's not me.

Fees collected.

So this morning, if you would approve her report, I would need a motion to accept, write some file, and authorize, share, and honor your signatures on the County Recorder's Report of Fees Collected for the month of August 2026, the amount of $42,548.18. Make a motion to approve.

I would second. Got a motion. Second by Mike to accept place on file and authorize chair and auditor signatures on the county recorders report a fees collected for the month of August 2026 and the amount of $42,548.18. Any other discussion? Do you see, Jennifer, the transfer tax? Is that...

Going down a little bit, or is that about normal?

That's based on how many sales that month.

Yes, it fluctuates up and down constantly.

Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Thank you very much.

You've got to come up with something else. You can't just say, oh, no, I guess it's good. I mean... Have a good day. Thank you. Next up, we have Ruth Edrich from Veterans Affairs to give her departmental update. Good morning. Good morning, Ruth.

Good morning. I don't think mine will be as fast for this one. So for our August activity log, we checked status on 52 claims. There were 20 decisions made. Partial decisions and remands, there were five of those. We did 14 new disability claims, eight appeals. burial benefits, healthcare applications, claims for dependents, and then our intent to file. So individuals that are considering filing a claim within the next year. There were 93 open claims and we filed 77 of those. So our percentage of claims was 82% for the month of August. We had 164 phone calls, 29 emails, 61 in-person visits. sent out seven faxes, 10 pieces of mail, and worked on, with 47 unspecified, which is just us taking notes, working on different claims. So that was a total of 318 interactions. Our secretary assisted with 43 phone calls and 30 walk-ins. So for July, there are 445 veterans and or their eligible dependents that are receiving $932,378 in compensation. So that's July's compensation report. And then just a quick update on our meeting that we held in August. As discussed previously, the VA commissioners would like to install a flag at the Penrose Annex. So the Secretary Dorothy Weiss said she's working on putting together a proposal to present to the VA commissioners. And then when they kind of say, yeah, this is what we want, my plan is to bring it here as well and present it to you. Thank you. and good jeffing on that too yes i was going to reach out to jeff and um get him in contact with dorothy so that way they could um yeah look things over yeah coordinate yeah yeah coordinate coordinate what what is appropriate for both um both parties involved so yeah i was grateful to dorothy for heading that up and getting um taking care of that that for me so and you and

About a month ago or so, wasn't it?

Oh, my new VA commissioner.

It was in the last minute, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, we have a new VA commissioner, yes. And then we also have Dorothy Weiss took the position of secretary, and then John Pitlow remained as chairperson for the commission.

Awesome. Yeah. Any other questions for me?

I know out at ISAC, we had one of our conferences was about the VA and the Commandant, I think. I don't know if that was the right title for her. There was a lot of conversation about the that passed proposed and he's like I don't know if that's done yet but you know there was people that had good conversation where you know say somebody from Jackson County applied in Jackson County and got their benefits but then felt it was better to move maybe out to Des Moines or whatever to be closer and then now that county's losing that but yet they got established so people were like make sure we're looking at something that or that reflects the work right yeah right where the work was done originally from so or he's like you know different people spoke up or they moved even out of state because you know they're getting their benefits now but they can go to Florida right or right yeah and that does happen and I think that was part of the kind of the pushback from um the CDSOs is that we don't just do work

In our counties and then, if people move, you know, then the county award report goes down so it looks like you're not. Right, but you are because you know you got them peaceful yeah.

Well, I just want to thank you for the reports and stuff you put together, because in talking to several supervisors from different counties. How. part-time kind of stuff and when we when we found somebody that actually had a full-time person we asked what kind of reports and we were talking some of the stats that you give us in your monthly report they had no clue what that was then they were like we had no idea it was like and it's like you know when you're talking like you say you're bringing almost a million dollars a month our veterans are that's a huge savings or that's a huge benefit to the Jackson County and they had no clue so I actually showed several of them what the report we get because they don't get any

benefit they could get from it so right and i think that's part of the you know part of why i shared it too is because this is important to understand you know because you because you're willing to fund the office you know these are the benefits that the veterans are able to receive which in turn is a benefit for the county so yeah it's good information to to have to make informed decisions it's a good nice reporter but it also shows

Passionate for what you're doing.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, we, we really in our office. We really do. You know, we really work hard and I would say across the state, the are the same. Everyone I've met is passionate about helping.

I mean, they did say that also that they can't say enough about what they're doing.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Um, with that, I'd make a motion to accept a place on file a better.

Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Seeing no Becky. Josh, do you mind if we get the engineer's office out of here quick? Yeah, that's good. Thank you. Kelly, engineer's office. Welcome, welcome. How we doing, sir? Good morning. What you got for us? Good stuff.

Yeah, we have a 28E agreement for design, construction, inspection services, and the bridge replacement on 12th Avenue.

And that's the one kind of south of town? Yeah.

And I... This is Jayden. I did attend Monomous City Council meeting last week, gave them an update on where we're at with design and lettings with the plans. And they did approve the 28E agreement. And this is basically the same agreement that was done with their previous bridge a few years ago, that historic bridge that they ended up not doing. So same template and everything, verbiage, just different bridge.

Jayden, as I read that, it basically said they got the money from wherever it was from, and they're going to reimburse us to a number, I'm going to give a round number, of half a million dollars, $500,000. If costs succeed,

So the bridge construction costs of the bridge replacement will be handled via the grant, that city bridge grant that is in joint effort with us. And where my engineer's estimate sits right now, because I got the plans at 90% ready to really send it to DOT. And so where my estimate is sitting right now is right at $400,000. And that grant, you're correct, was up to $500,000. So the construction costs will be The grant will more than cover what the construction will. This 2080 is simply for our design efforts. We have to get, for example, soil borings done, archaeological surveys done, and to get reimbursed for those expenses that we have incurred. That's what this agreement is for, and our design services. It is the city's intent that for next year's RC, whether you want to word it as next year's or this upcoming year's Our CTP program, they will be submitting. This would be their project they would submit for is for our design services.

Okay, with that, I'd make a motion to approve the 28 year agreement with the city of the West street, 12th Avenue. presented. I would second that.

We got a motion by Mike, second by Ninh to approve the 2080 agreement between the City of Monmouth and Jackson County for the West Street 12th Avenue Bridge Replacement Project as presented. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?

Motion carried. Okay. Second on this is you got a packet that has your statement for last form and corresponds from correspondence with them and then there's a two year time limit given the two year time to proceed with the process.

Okay, I know we had some questions last week on the depreciation of that. I don't know if we had a chance to talk to that.

I think that's in the packet. That's uncalculated in there, I think.

So yeah, the non-recurrent, Of the total statement of loss, we would be issued like odd. Looking at the document from you, it was like $60,000 initially. There is a recoverable depreciation that we would get once the facility has been replaced and we submit the invoice to ICAP there is a non recoverable depreciation in the amount of like six thousand some dollars that is what we would not get so all said and done we'd be sitting at around eighty six thousand if I doing my math correctly give or take you know a little bit that's where we'd be sitting for the total reimbursement for the shed And yes, as it relates to enough space, our current Sterling location would have enough space, but it is on the far eastern side of the county. And then with talking with Rick, he was one who brought up, we're just brainstorming ideas and the county farm. And I didn't, we can always have these discussions later, but I just wanted to, didn't know what you as the board's thoughts were on that discussion. Location at the county farm. It is centrally located, which does provide a large benefit, but you know, it's, I'm serious. Ground. So I just, I don't know what the long-term plan is for any of that space out there or whatnot, but again, we can have these discussions following. Or we can have now, whatever is your preference, but I know initially that, excuse me, ICAP will need the statement of loss sign. So that way stuff can, or we can proceed with. the replacement of the shed.

If I remember, one of the questions were, could we move it to a different location or was the insurance company requiring it to be built on site?

And they are fine with it moving to a different site. They would just, I think for paperwork and tracking, they would just need, excuse me, the address of where the new shop were to go, but it does not have to go in the same location or same site as where it currently is. Yeah.

Thoughts of the board.

I'm going to motion to approve the statement of loss.

I would second. Got a motion by Ninh, second by Mike to approve and authorize chair's signature for signing of the statement of loss for the Preston storage shed as presented. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Go ahead, Tom.

No, go ahead and finish.

Okay, next is our last is the together we build from our work session last week. And a plan of action was decided on best way to handle the drainage issue on site. And that is by means of grading a ditch from the low spot in the fair parking area to the existing intake, um, on the outside of the racetrack there near the grandstands. Um, I guess this is just looking for formal action for the effort for our department to do that ditch. And, um, from our meeting last week or after that meeting last week, I did receive a follow-up from one of the individuals that have talked to, uh, Derek, who would provide like a dozer on site and his time to push all the spoils dirt from grading the ditch out and level it off. So they are, and I'll be in more communication with the staff there, but they're working on getting, you know, they're contributing their part. So, um, our county's part would be our department grading that ditch. So just looking for formal action, if you will, on this.

Okay. Now, one question, um, On my way here today to this meeting, I got a call from a Together We Build person because he got a call from one of your county employees who talked to another county employee that thought maybe there was a different solution that would work better. Do we disregard that? Because I trust your numbers and you had graphs and charts and topographical layouts and all that kind of stuff.

I mean, the ditch will have a 0.6% longitudinal grade. And I mean, that is rather flat for a ditch, but... that, you know, the only real other feasible solution is extending a pipe from that intake by the racetrack all the way up to that low spot, which I think, if I remember correctly, we're looking at the magnitude of like 700 linear feet and, you know.

The question of an oil orange tile on the west side of RTA, whether you connect to that and bring it around, but Again, this to me seems like an after the fact farmer solution kind of thing where if you believe your numbers and the topographical and the digital work, we put a culvert in and it also solves the problem. I'm good with it.

not mistaken, I don't know if it's that tile exactly, but one of them was blocked that I couldn't get to. Nobody could even get through.

What they were suggesting to me, because there's that one drain on the east side of RTA that supposedly connects to it, is what they were suggesting. And I was like, well, if it failed once, you would assume it would fail again. It's hard to see a drainage ditch kind of plug up without easy correction and maintenance or whatever. So I kind of like what we proposed for the

We had a work session last week, of course, and we had that on our agenda, and we were there, and we were on both sides, or all sides involved were there, and we had your topographical measurements and elevations, and I think we kind of totally agreed that we would move forward. So with that being said, I would make a motion to move forward with, Tom, do you have anything to add? Not for that project. Okay. I'll make a motion to move forward with the

got a motion by mike second by then to proceed with the together we build site drainage ditch as discussed any other discussion all those in favor say aye aye opposed motion carries

I will give updates on construction projects. Quick mention with the rain this week, essentially non-stop. Can you hear me now? Yeah. Okay.

Sorry about that.

So with the rain this week, it's put our reclaim efforts on hold. Depending on the drying pattern that may follow after this week may dictate whether or not we continue with reclaim this year because we're getting into end of September, soon to be early October. We may not reclaim anymore this year. It just depends on what next week looks like for us. Just wanted to give a brief update on that, and I'll let Tom give an update on the construction projects.

And he looks excited about it. seating and some shoulder work as far as our growth. Channel board bridge, we're going to have a pre-pour for the deck coming up tomorrow, but it's not looking like that's probably going to happen this week. I can't really give you a time frame, just depends on when it dries out and they can get their equipment in to do the actual deck pour. And after the deck gets poured Well, I think that's about all we got going on. Now we're just trying to work on close out on Springbrook Road and Bridge.

That's coming along. It's going good. Any questions for the engineer's office?

No, I just want to commend, I think it's Brad that's out there on 216th, clearing brush and trees. I'll tell you what, it's amazing. Coming around some of them corners, you can now see from here to there, No, you never could. Seriously, I'd swing around there, and if I'd stay on my side of the road, I think they'd hit the windshield of the bus. They'd now just scrape the top, but now they're gone. And it's all mostly in there. It looks like it's just an unbelievable difference, I should say. It's a safety. I totally agree. We can't get enough of it at one time. Again, we hope that some of the landowners can do some spraying and whatnot to help us out with that because our conservation program just can't keep up with what's going on. We'll discuss that at budget season, I would assume.

Not to want to jinx the season or nothing, but I remember in the spring we were talking about all the projects you guys had going on in the engineering's office and how it was going to be spread thin and adding you know, an extra, you know, engineering tech and how it would help. But to me, it seems like it's gone rather, it's gone pretty well. It's gone pretty well. So every, your whole department is what you're doing. So keep up the good work and we look forward to all the other bridges that we're going to hear. All right. Any other questions? All right. You're off the hot seat. All right. Thank you. Becky, we'll get you in real quick. Yeah, you too. Thank you.

Good morning. Good morning. I will be quick as usual. So we had a recent resignation from a full-time corrections officer that created a full-time vacancy. After interviews, the position was offered to a current staff member. He has been with the department for almost a year and a half in a PRN capacity. So I would ask for a motion to approve the transition of PRN corrections officer Andrew Schmidt to a full-time position effective August 30th, 2026. I would make that motion.

I would second. Got a motion by then second by Mike to approve the transition of PRN corrections officer Andrew Schmidt to a full-time corrections officer effective August 30th, 2026. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

And he actually just returned from a deployment, so I looked at meeting him for a sentence.

Absolutely. Thank you for stepping up, filling in the position. Enjoy it, and thanks for your services. Cool. Thank you very much. Have a good day.

Thanks. We'll let you Josh now.

Okay, sir. Josh, you have the floor. Well, City Manager Makoka. Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

John, he's coming to this. No, I talked to Brian yesterday and he basically, we talked briefly about this and he said they had a trial that was set up for the starting and that folks home, but he just received this on Thursday. He said he really didn't have a chance to review it. So again, we can go through what we can.

Sure. Well, you know, the story it's pretty, We did receive our trial balances last week. Our staff hasn't been able to close out the books of those trial balances from audited financials yet. But like this agreement says, that number will be given to the other bodies here for their use in the budget season. Then you use that for the following January's payment to the City of Nakoka for the dispatching services. Going back to per capita perspective, that they would have written notice to the others to continue the conversation. There's a pathway for that to happen. If I was one of you looking at this agreement, I guess my chief concern, just like the hospital was, is how do we know dispatch isn't going to get some 10% contractual raise for personnel costs that's out of line? We had a lot of discussion about that. And what you see in the red text was there kind of Hey, we realize this needs to get done, but these are some of the things we'd like to see in there. Um, I did have an hour meeting with the hospital's attorney and their chief executive staff, uh, just to kind of talk about what a typical labor negotiation looks like for Makoketa when you're looking at the competition for the position, um, utilizing your, your regional CPIs and then, and then finalizing contract because, uh, You know, let's say, for example, for some reason, there's a labor rate increase of 8% on the contract. I think it's a reasonable expectation that the city should have to explain that to the group on why those increases happen. And I told the hospital, and the reason I'm bringing it up here is, like I said, if I was you guys, and we've had some conversation about... do we have say in the dispatch personnel budget? I think that's kind of what you're signing over to us, but we as taxpayers don't want to abuse that either. And the hospital is seeking some language in there in that section four about what exactly it is that heads into a personnel cost rate. So Lisa as well asked me the question, what are the blind spots that the supervisors had? And that's what I explained to her. And I think the city and others feel like this is a conclusion.

But one question I have in previous agreements, it set up this new board made up of the mayors, chief of police, sheriff's department, county supervisor. I don't see that language in here because that board was supposed to supersede this imaginary board that's never met since the 80s kind of stuff. Is that still going to be included? Is that separate? Is that not happening yet?

I think it can't happen. It's not identified in this agreement, though. Okay. You'd agree with me, I'm sure, but what is the point of the communications board? Brendan would say the same thing, because they never met until this issue came up. 4.4 in this agreement, for example, says that if there's informal disputes, we should meet if there's some sort of breach of agreement that we meet and try to resolve those in a In a reasonable way, but if you want to see something added in here, like an advisory committee to this agreement, we can establish that somewhere in it.

You know, I guess that, you know, when you say, what is it all of the city councils or the mayors or the super, but who's all going to meet, you know, because again. 25 or 30 people in the room, like we saw last time we got the advisory board together, was not productive.

Do you want an annual review put into the contract?

Well, yeah, that's been addressed in 11.1 maybe somewhere. It says it's automatic renewable. Should it be reviewed every year, you know, which would include our salaries, probably, You know, we're reviewing that at budget time or whatever it may be. I guess the old communication board, somehow, somewhere we got to resolve that anyway. And we talked about, yeah, if we had a board, obviously it's something we need. So there shouldn't be an agreement between the county and if we're covering the ground, we have to have an agreement. We should have an agreement. And obviously it's essential that we use it. Based on the percentages, you know, again, you know, to me, that's a fair way, but I mean, we can discuss that all day long again, but there was one other section in there about insurance. It says something about insurance.

What are we insuring? You're just showing proof of your own liability insurance to us because they're not our employees. No, I mean, that, The insurance section was designed so that it shows everyone has a general liability certificate in the event of some catastrophe. But it's not to sit here and name the city as an additional insured. And then Jackson County is like, we're not adding six names to everyone's insurance certificates. I guess the one we're insuring. Yeah, yourselves. It's showing that you have an insurance certificate.

For what, though? We don't have the employees, we don't have the building, we don't have the equipment. I don't know the answer to that question. I would assume it's a legal thing, or yeah, I guess, but I, you know, and not to say that, yeah, I mean, we could supply a certificate, but the issue I had with that particular section is to what amount, what your fear amount is much greater than Cebula's.

Yeah.

Cool. A couple of things I had on the recitals. Item B talks about a coconut bridge communicated center as the piece happens subject to the 911 service plan out there at Jackson County. I know there was a talk about, you know, I just asked about this board that kind of oversees this replaces the advisory board. And then the 911 board that buys all the equipment. And I'm like, my question is, is that sufficient to maintain autonomy? Or if we talk about personnel in one and equipment in another, that was just, I don't know the legal language. That could be a Brian question, but I know there was concern about the advice. Like if we formed the new advisory board, they don't have power over the 9-1-1 board that buys all the equipment, even though the names sound a lot alike. We just make sure they're separate.

Does that need to be written anywhere? Because a 9-1-1 board would tell you that it's their equipment and it's a state.

Well, 6.2 kind of states that equipment or systems funded by the Jackson County Joint 9-1-1 Service Board. or state 9-1-1 program shall remain subject to 9-1-1 services. Grant conditions, blah, blah, blah. But I assume that means, yeah, because a lot of that company was owned by the 9-1-1 board. And not to say that the county, like we discussed, that the county bought some of that with the COVID funds and such. Again, it's tit for tat here, but we got to have an equivalence there and

On 8.2, we talked about reciprocal backup mutual aid agreements with other PSAPs. My only concern is if you guys go out and let's say Jones County contracts with you or somebody else and you're getting paid, is there a residual kind of decrease or is that money separate? You know what I mean? If you get all of a sudden there's like the hospital came in, it reduces everybody's fees. If somebody else wants to join in and they contribute towards it, That was one question that I saw as a possibility in there.

In such an instance, I think you have to revise the 2080 with all parties on it. Someone else is coming in.

Okay. And as far as you said that you'll give the notice for how much it's going to be, would that come by November or January? October 15th. October 15th. And there was an expectation of payment by January or? Like the following year. So like, for example-

So October 15th, in this instance here, where we have our audited financials, we give that number to you so that you can work it into your fiscal year budget for the next year. But then you're thinking way forward about what you're asking from the taxpayer to then pay us in January. So it's some distance ahead, not just six months, about when we're expecting that number that we give you.

So I guess that's my question. You give us the number this October.

Mm-hmm.

January. Mm-hmm.

do you want paid in january because what we do in january for our budget is for six months it starts july january of 28. okay so we already know what the january of 27 is going to be what he is suggesting is that the number comes out october 15th here in october of 26 payable in january of 28 exactly so it's been a year yeah okay that's just i just wanted to make sure

I mean, by and large, you read through this, you know, granted, I'm not the greatest legalese or legal mind or whatever, but it seems kind of like a relatively straightforward contract that it's been hammered out. I mean, there's a few little things that I guess I would like Brian or John to kind of give us their official stamp of approval, but I think this is probably as close as we've ever been.

Yeah, it seems pretty simple. I wish we had started that three years ago.

Yeah. and then adding a sentence on some advisory group.

Well, you know, because I know it had been in the past just so we don't want to have to call everybody in an executive committee or, you know, type of thing or, you know, or...

I guess, Josh, I would like to have input from entities as the 911 board to see if they have any concerns or questions, you know, just before we say, yeah, we're good with it. And I don't know if anybody else has any suggestions they want to comment on. But again, we've talked to the communitarian. It seems fairly simple that we could try to proceed here.

I'm assuming that's Teresa from the city of Bellevue online.

Yes, I have the mayor here and I have the mayor here.

Okay. Do you guys have any questions, comments, concerns?

Well, the biggest concern is we always talked about sitting down, you know, giving this, it was mentioned like a one to three year and all of that has went away. And it's now, once you sign this agreement, you're in it. And if you want to, I mean, there's no, coming back to the table and saying, this isn't working or none of that. I mean, it's you either give 12 months notice to terminate. I mean, I just don't see. I mean, we went back on a lot of our conversations.

Well, in my conversation with Josh, over the next three years, he's talking large turnover to dispatch and it's just not a great time to do any large personnel transitions, things like that. So that could be where some of this, Josh, you can answer to that.

Yeah, Teresa, your control lane is putting a written notice that we need to revisit the contract or we're in a position at a later time to transfer this to a county entity and have it be its own county department. Right. we're not willing to hit that button right now. And I don't think any of us should because we're dealing with a staff transition internally.

Do we put a year time, not a year, but specific time, maybe a three-year or five-year rather than renewable year after year to revisit?

Yeah.

Because I think when you do things that are just... automatically renewal every year people forget to even look at them to see if it's things need to change because as we all know in three years or five years from now right life could be way different on how things are so maybe instead of having that be you know maybe an automatic renewal for a term of

five years or something and then you revisit yeah or maybe this could be back we get to this advisory committee we're talking about and they have to review it annually um it's hard to say okay let's look at three years or we got this incident whatever personnel you could find some six months or whatever you need to, and all of a sudden transition happens and everything's working great. History, I think, proves that that's not likely. And it's hard to find people because, again, for dispatch, it's a unique job that is challenging to find people that are willing to jump in and do it. So it might take a while for transition to happen where you can't just arbitrarily have a date on it.

Teresa, 11.1 of this agreement, if you have it, I don't know if it was emailed to you.

Yes, I have it.

It says the initial term is June 30th of 2028. If anything, I thought Bellevue for sure would be you know, let's go back to usage or per capita versus value conversation. I did not honestly expect that we'd have a conversation about indefinite term on this agreement. The control of this is still within your guys' reach to continue and declare that we need to revisit what we're doing so that, you know, money, for example, for Bellevue or McCoker or the other cities becomes an issue that we have a taxing pathway like we have tried here.

um i i take that for what it's worth but i think you have controls to keep that conversation going so so can we get rid of that last sentence of 11.11.1 and then put an expiration date in there because that last sentence doesn't no expiration date that's pretty strong well the thing is you know in looking at the the funding mechanism um restrictions after three years

I mean, the thing is, and we know what's going to happen, there's always going to be an increase in salaries and benefits and what needs to happen. And so, you know, Bellevue, okay, we're looking at $78,000, whatever. The next year, we could be looking at $88,000. And the next year, we could be looking at over $100,000. And we can't tax for that under the EMS levy. It doesn't fall into that.

Well, Teresa, I can guarantee that while I sit here, if your taxing goes up $25,000, that means our taxing will go up by 25%, which means our contribution of $310,000 will be well over $400,000. And we're going to be squeaking like hell because we ain't going to stand for it. And there'll be some eyes on it. So to think that was kind of jumps will be just arbitrary. I don't think that's, I don't think that's because we'll all be, because we have the largest chunk in this and we can't swallow a hundred thousand dollar jump any more than some of you guys can swallow a $25,000 jump. Am I wrong?

I mean, it's a need. It's something we all need, you know, whether whoever it may be. But yeah, we don't expect any major, major increases. Again, we have other boards of equipment. Mayor.

Yes, Mike. This is Josh speaking. I'll go over to the hospital right after this meeting and talk about that last sentence of 11.1. I don't see why they'd object to that.

Yeah, that just seems pretty, I mean, don't you all agree that that just seems pretty strong? No, you know, no expiration date to this agreement is set and identified to apply to the approval of the agreement. That just seems like, I mean, I would think that, I mean, because we've talked in every meeting we sat in, we talked about a timeframe for this agreement, you know, for a length of, and I just think that that's just pretty strong for that.

So if we get rid of that sentence, will we move the June 30th of 28 out a little farther and make it just a three-year agreement or whatever?

I think that'd be fine. But again, I don't want to speak for the hospital's feelings on it. But, you know, Bellevue, I do want you to understand the type of staffing pressure we're under right now.

Oh, I can only imagine.

Right, no. hiring two people right now to replace people that said they're leaving or retiring in a room of seven people. The city, let alone the whole county, can't afford to have people not answering the phones.

Oh, for sure, Josh. No, I agree 100%. I mean, because that this is a, you know, this is something that everybody uses. And you know, everybody needs, you know, I mean, if you close, I mean, you just can't close for an eight hour shift and think the county is going to keep surviving. You know, I mean, I get what you're saying. I mean, we need people there.

Another question. How is the hospital funding it? Are they taking it out of their operations budget?

As I understand it is the case. There's no special levy for them.

Okay.

Okay. And then I will say, Josh, I have brought up the issue of usage versus the per capita budget. And I mean, my Cebula, the usage of that Cebula uses it way more than Bellevue. And Bellevue is paying way more than Cebula. Oh my God. And so, you know, I don't know. I understand Cebula is small. I understand the system is there to be used. I mean, I know we're using dispatch and we're very, and by the way, we're very happy with dispatch. So please pass that on. I think they, we think they do a very fine job and that's from ambulance fire and the PD. So, no, we really, the fully going by per capita really don't feel, we understand as Bellevue, we need to pay more. Just thinking fully using the per capita just isn't quite fair.

But that could all change in a year or two. I mean, not that the per capita could change, but- say Bellevue's usage, you know.

Teresa, listen, we hope that nobody has to use it, to be honest. But we got to have it. And it's like house insurance. It keeps going up and up. I hope I never use it. I hope I never use it, but I got to pay it. But I understand the cost of doing business again. It's a nasty term, but I'm hoping you can all agree.

Yeah, Teresa, I think that... Let's fast forward a year and a half for now. Let's say our department in communications is staffed. It's under new, good leadership. Our feet are on the ground. At that time, I think we can have some advanced conversation about forming its own tax entity, one of our 810s, and that solves your problem. But within this initial term of two or three years, I get it, you're going up $40,000 for two or three years. Exercise that frustration and continue to advocate for why we need this property tax system set up and fixed so that department can make a good transition when our feet are on the ground. it's a short-term pain and I don't want to have to keep telling you that over the next two or three years. So what I would say to you is hold us to it, help be a part of that conversation. And, you know, we want the same thing too. That's why we fought here as a city with the parties and one having an agreement, but the 810 levy is a major concern. The cities would stand to benefit from it just like you would.

Yes. And Josh, you know, I'm not shy. If I've got something to say, I say it. So, yeah, I do realize we do need this. I mean, and like I said, please pass it on, you know, your dispatchers. They probably don't often get to hear the good stuff. They're doing a fantastic job.

So I want to go back to 11-1. Again, we appreciate all the work that everybody's done here, and I appreciate everybody's input. We may have a little more input before we completely do this, but I think we're real close, honestly. Yeah, I think the hospital board's opinion, sorry, Mike. And as far as the expiration date, I think that just identifies the fact that it will move forward. It's not that we can't go back and address this agreement. And I'm not saying, Billy, we shouldn't have a time frame on it. That doesn't bother me a bit if it's two years or three years. But I think we need to revisit this yearly, that budget time. You know, whether there's slight changes or major changes. We don't know what's coming forward with the AI thing. You know, it's all up in the air. I think we're real close, I would say.

I think the other thing is that, Teresa, you say that you have a loud voice. I guess my comment, this is Lisa, my comment to you is make those phone calls to those legislators that have made this property tax reform. Everybody's, you know, we're all kind of worried and concerned about it. And I think this is only going to get worse. So I would encourage you to reach out to those people and say, This isn't working for the city of Bellevue, and I'm sure Josh is in contact with area legislators to say that this isn't working for the city of Maquokena, and I think even the Board of Supervisors. So everybody needs to have their voice heard now when it comes to property tax reform. What does that mean, and does that affect us?

I agree.

Absolutely.

It can include personnel. Because again, I don't mind cutting taxes. But if you cut taxes, the only way you offset that is you cut expenses or you find other means to collect revenue for which those last two things for the most part seem like the surface, it looks very advantageous, very beneficial. It sounds good. But when the fallout that comes from there, and the state still claims their extras, it seems like they're always saying, well, we need a little extra this, we need to cut this. With the Save Act money that the school, you know, the Maquoketa School District is going through, how they're claiming a little bit more of that back to pay their bills, puts ours on the chopping block, and they pass the buck down. So I appreciate what they're doing, but they got to they got to figure things out too and either come up with some other income or cut some expenses. So, but we will take these, you got, you got kind of down to maybe the 11 one, looking at the date, taking that talk in the hospital with that, the possibility of the advisory board and the review things like that. Um, insurance, what for and what amounts. What definitions thereof. I think that makes it a, I'm sure there'll be a few other tweaks here and there as we look and our lawyers get to look at it, but that becomes a pretty solid document that hopefully can move forward.

Can we get on next week?

I think we just leave it on the agenda and wherever we're processed or wherever we're at in our preservation, Yeah, I think we just leave it on the agenda and then we can either table it or do something else.

There's potential the hospital board may approve it next Tuesday at their board meeting. What time is their board meeting? Noon. Okay.

So I would say if they approve it at noon, our meeting will most likely next Tuesday be over with. Why don't we do it in two weeks? Or do you want us to maybe...

I would like keys to have, like, say, for example, if we're at a hospital right now and they let's remove this sentence and this date's going to change and yeah, okay. That document, in my opinion, should go to keys and keys should go, okay, this sounds okay. Okay.

Honestly, I don't think I'm tired of kicking a can. Let's keep it on there. If we can't come to an agreement next week, we'll do it the week after. All right. Sounds good.

You want Josh to come back next week or do you want it on my agenda?

Put it on your agenda and you can zoom in or if you want to. Yeah, you can stop.

Well, it doesn't matter. But the point is, I mean, hopefully we get all our questions answered and input by then, whether I give you a call and we talk or talk to the county attorney. No, it's fine.

I guess it's on my agenda for next week and we'll go from there.

Great.

There you go.

Thank you very much, sir.

Thanks for your work. Keep the faith. Thanks, Teresa. Thanks, Teresa. Thank you. Thanks, Bears. Yes, thank you, guys.

Thank you.

We're going to move on with police and the auditors for the...

Okay. So today I need a motion to approve the September 8th, 2026 meeting and work session minutes as written by Auditor Smith and authorized publication in the official newspapers. I'd make that motion.

Second. We got a motion by Ninh, second by Mike, to approve the September 8th, 2026 meeting and work session minutes as written by Auditor Smith and authorized publication in the official newspapers. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

We are having a special claims process this week due to the holiday last week. We do not want to be late with paying of our bills. So today in the claims basket is invoices for card member services and AT&T. We felt that if we did not pay them this week that we would be incurring late charges. So I do have a special. for today. So I do need a motion to approve and authorize the auditor's office to issue warrants in the publication of the claims listing in the amount of $14,954.18. Move to approve. I would second that.

Got a motion by Mike, second by Ninh to approve and authorize the auditor's office to issue warrants in the publication of the claims listing in the amount of $14,954.18. Again, this is for credit card statements and cell phone Any other discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Well, she cares.

I need a motion to approve resolution 1208-09-15-2026, certifying delinquent leisure lake sewer assessments to the county treasurer for property tax collection effective September 15th, 2026. I'd make that motion.

I would second.

Got a motion by then second by Mike to approve resolution 1208-09-15-2026 certifying delinquent leisure lake sewer assessments to the county treasurer for property tax collection effective September 15th, 2026. Any other discussion? So in the amount of $2,323.50, which is a little less than normal.

Yeah. So with that,

IRS has increased their late penalties trying to discourage non-payments.

So a percentage of getting these back have been pretty good, correct?

You know, once we get the email from ECIA for IRS, Shelly does send out a notice to people to say, can you please pay before we do this? I mean, she's pretty effective when it comes to that. Unfortunately, we do have some people that don't have the funds to pay that. You know, the problem is, is that this is a sewer assessment. This is not a water assessment. And we do not, or I shouldn't say we don't. iris does not have the ability to shut this off so this is the only way to get these bills paid if it were a water system you can shut the water off but you can't shut a sewer system by law by law that's right so it is a little bit it is a little bit different it's handled a little bit differently

necessarily the way it's being handled. And we know that.

We've been through this every year about who should collect and who's ability and the problem is it. The system is better than it was 10 years ago. It's not going into the lake anymore.

That's right.

Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Looking curious.

Last week was a special election. Actually, last week there were two special elections in Jackson County. One was for the Maquoketa Community School District for a PEPEL election, and the Dubuque Community School District also had a special election. We had a voting precinct up in Lamont for those Dubuque Community School District voters. 23 people showed up at Lamont last week to vote on that election. and 495 people participated, 495, was it? Yeah, 495, 495, 495 people participated in the Kokoda Community School District portion of the election. You know, unfortunately, we had like 5,800 people that were potentially that was registered to vote. So not a very high voter turnout, unfortunately, but it is what it is. You know, I think that You know, this is a good example. This is a very good parallel description. You know, we have this big general election coming up. There's a lot of things being put in our mailboxes. It's on TV. It's on the radio. I think voters are pretty well informed that, hey, we're going to have an election in November. But these elections are a little bit different. These are specially elections. And I think that maybe not a lot of people knew that there was an election last week. We have requirements as far as publication and such. We meet all of those requirements. We put signs out. We try and unfortunately, though, if you're living in rural Jackson County and if you don't drive on Flat Street on Tuesday, you don't know that there's an election. I did have some phone calls and I have had in the past some phone calls when it is concerning these elections because people don't feel that they've been notified. So I don't know. We've talked about this before. As we sit in our chairs today, we don't know. How do we inform voters? How do we inform property taxpayers and such? This is a challenge in today's society. I don't have the answer. But unfortunately, 495 people participated in the Maquoketa School District and it was defeated. It was a simple majority. It was not a bond vote. It didn't need 60%. It only needed you know, a simple majority. So unfortunately, with the voters that showed up, this measure was not approved here in Jackson County. And I guess, you know, as far as the election itself, we tried to keep everything, you know, so people didn't have one place to go. We tried to make it simple. It was down at Pearson. It seemed to work well down there. What's different about this election is this is not a bond vote. We, in November, will be having bond votes for the Kirkwood Community School District. We'll have a statewide constitutional question. Easton Valley School District will also be having a bond vote, and the city of Bellevue will be having a bond vote also for the pool. When it comes to bond votes, this is the first time that we've been allowed to put a bond vote on the general election. This is not a special election. It will be put on the general election. And it will be our office that will be in charge of sending out notices to everyone in those identified districts that have bond vote, another cost. We have to notify all of the voters in those districts that there's a bond vote on this election. So I think you're looking at a higher turnout, I would think when you're going to be voting on a bond, a tax, then you should be notified. So we will be mailing those notices out mid-October. We have, again, we have deadlines, you know, no more than this and no less than that. So if you are in those districts, you will be seeing those notices put in your mailbox. Other than that, I think election day went really well. We didn't have any issues as far as equipment. We love our new equipment and it has worked very well for us. And I know that our election officials are very happy that they're using the equipment. Other than that, I guess as Board of Canvassers, you know, there's really nothing here. We will forward everything that you signed today. We will forward on to the appropriate county and we will also forward on to the appropriate school districts. So what I would need today then is a motion to approve the Board of Canvassers to certify and authorize board and auditor signatures on the true and correct abstracts and votes cast in Jackson County for the September 8, 2026 Special Maquoketa Community School District and the Dubuque Community School District election, as shown by the official abstract and further authorize auditor Smith to forward the abstracts. AND THAT'S WHEN I NEED MY MOTION. SO MOVED.

I WOULD SECOND THAT. TO APPROVE THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS TO CERTIFY AND AUTHORIZE THE BOARD'S SIGNATURES ON THE TRUE AND CORRECT ABSTRACTS FOR VOTES CAST IN THE JACKSON COUNTY FOR THE SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 SPECIAL WAKOKETEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS AND THE DEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS AS SHOWN BY THE OFFICIAL ABSTRACT AND FURTHER AUTHORIZE AUDITOR SMITH TO FORWARD ON THE ABSTRACTS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

mention that the notices and what they're required to do by law to wear the post and what honestly we are all taxpayers or a lot of us are taxpayers and if it affects you you should be responsible enough to know what's going on don't come back two months later and said i didn't know it let's have a responsibility it affects you um our school it certainly affects us and the and these and these improvements in our communities affect us in each way differently but uh have the responsibility to know what's going on in your community.

The Kirkwood bond vote is $88 million. I mean, that's going to be interesting. I think the Bellevue pool is $3 million. $3. Yeah. And then Eastern Valley also has a question. So I mean, there's a lot of, this should get a very high.

Well, the Kirkwood Community School, that's.

Anybody that lives in Jackson County, That is in the Kirkwood Community College District. We'll be voting for that question. The whole city of Monmouth is in the Kirkwood District. There's part of Monmouth Township and there's part of Butler Township.

I didn't realize that. districts. I mean, yeah, Eastern Iowa Community College, you know, I get that, but individual, it's like, you know, the satellite office in Waukokena has a district.

Actually, there's three community college districts in Jackson County, of which they're taxing entities. We, as taxpayers, pay that. So we do pay Kirkwood, we pay Eastern High Community College, we pay Northeast Community College. So yes, they're a taxing entity. You are very right. And just as a side note for people that we are starting to see, you can, for people, you can apply now for an absentee ballot. Ballots are not available yet. But for those, I think yesterday we took in over 100 requests for absentee ballots. So it's starting to kick up.

I know you talked a little bit with the Kokoda School District. And just understand, some of the people that talked to me that were voting for it or voting against it, they had their feelings and stuff. district because of what we go through because it seems like the state changes the rules halfway through the game or something and you can't budget or plan for that because it's an unforeseen thing and with the SAVE Act and how it was changes how the people at the local level use and spend the money and settle their books and you know trying to expand and grow and you know consolidate and all that kind of stuff little changes have ripple effects down the down the chain and unfortunately at the end of the chain all you can do is just try not to drown and it's it's unfortunate that You just got to be aware. You got to be informed. And you got to talk to your congressman out there at the state level because Sometimes they don't even really appreciate the full ramifications of what they're... And every time we go out there and we talk to them, what about this? Did you think about that? Well, we never meant for that. Well, it's not what you meant to do. You look at the speed limit change. Going to 60 miles an hour and all of a sudden you've got to realize that you've got to look at... curtain turn radiuses you got to look at rumble strip distance you got to look at new signage or hidden driveways and all that stuff all because somebody thought 60 miles an hour was just a way to I don't make people happy, but yet the unforeseen expenses that come from just raise it five miles an hour. Everybody drives it anyway. And, you know, it seems innocent, but it's expensive when you do that.

It's an unfunded mandate.

Yeah.

And again, as we've all said, everybody wants their taxes cut. But in doing that, it has a ripple effect all the way around.

Well, and I think what's unique is that everyone sitting in this room right now, we are property taxpayers. We are also employees, Jackson County employees. So unfortunately or unfortunately, we see both sides of this. And eventually, property tax reform will affect Jackson County.

All right. Anything else?

That's all for the board to do.

I got to say, so far we've had a couple elections with those new machines, and I think they work fantastic. I think it was a step in the right direction. Yeah. So boards and commissions, anybody got anything? All good. I was supposed to have a tag meeting last Thursday, but it was canceled. It was like a 9 o'clock meeting, and it was canceled at like 840. Yeah, the motion to approve.

Yeah, we did. No, I have ECI executive board meeting tomorrow night and a council meeting after the word. So yeah, I mean, there's several, several committees and boards that are moving along. That's probably really not interesting to you, but it's, we, we keep a prize of them and you know, make sure we do our part. So if nothing else, no further business, I make a motion to adjourn.

I had a motion by Mike second mind into adjourn. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? We are adjourned. Have a good day, everybody. Stay dry. Enjoy the race.