Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

All right. Good morning everybody. We'll get this meeting called to order. Thank you for attending. Uh first thing is the approval of the agenda. Um Go ahead. I'll move to approve the agenda. I'll second. Those in favor? I I minutes to the March 24th 26 board meeting. I'll make a motion to approve. And I'll second. Those in favor? I I public hearing for budget 2026 27.

I'll make a motion to open. And I'll second. Those in favor? I. Any written comments? I've not received any. Me neither. I have not either. Karen,

did you get anything? Oh, you gone. Verbal comments. Just tap the mic on there and just It's a button right there on the front of it. Good morning. Uh I'm Dennis Wilho, 334 East FTH Street. Today I'm uh speaking to seek clarification regarding public notice requirements for recent budget related meetings. As I understand it, under Iowa law uh House File 718 updated in 2023, counties are required to provide public notice not only through traditional means but also through county website and where applicable official social media channels. uh in reviewing the um the tax levy the budget statement meeting held on March 24th as well as today's current meeting. Uh I was unable to locate for either one of those meetings on the county's website or on its social media platforms notification of these meetings. I also reviewed prior postings from previous years and was unable to find evidence of this require requirement being met um in the previous year either. It is entirely possible that I have overlooked where this information was posted. And if so, um, Chairman Batterson, I would appreciate being directed to it. Now,

I don't know where we post it other than the websites.

Share the county one. I I would have to look at the county Facebook page to see if it I can't answer that. page ain't up and going fully yet. So fully yet and the website I'm even in charge and who posts on the website. I don't have access to it.

I don't either. So if these if these notices were not properly posted as required by law, that raises concern not about any one individual, but about the compliance with statutory requirements designed to ensure transparency and public access. Uh given the importance of the county budget and the public's right to be informed, I would respectfully request clarification before we move further on whether these notice requirements were met. If they were not, I would urge the board to take appropriate corrective action to ensure the integrity of this process and maintain public confidence moving forward.

So Karen has it up that's on the county website. Are you talking about the actual posting of a public notice posting that is posted in the paper of record needs to be on the county website and on social media accounts. The public

the agenda is not a public notice. The public notice is the public notice on the on the website. I couldn't find it. And where where is that on the website? meetings and agendices. We're in that list.

So, I'm on the veterans page right now and they've posted the notice of public hearing proposed property tax levy and that is for the hearing for make it bigger here. Yeah, I know. I've seen it floating around. I see it on the social on on the website here. I haven't seen it on the social media though. Yeah, I have it on I have it on the veterans page right here. I knew I seen it somewhere.

But that's not the county's uh Facebook page. And I would urge you to consider making public notices separate from meetings as an agenda list because a public notice is more than a meetings uh agenda. Yeah, like I said, our Facebook page we just is not fully operational yet. So,

I'm not sure that that constitutes not posting it when it is uh the official Facebook page of the county. Um, but those are my concerns this morning and I appreciate finding that for me because I could not find it. I was not looking under meetings and agendas. Uh, and I will say I do feel that that needs to be a public post um, you know, stated as a public notice as opposed to within the uh, meetings and agendas because those are different things. Thank you. Anybody else? Good morning. I'm Eric Livingston. Um, I'm speaking on behalf of the uh uh Veterans Affairs Commission. Uh, we wanted to point out that uh agenda number five is uh going to be talking about uh the Department of Veterans Affairs. The director is going to be speaking uh specifically about our budget. So, I think it's important that address it to this point. We're going to be talking about our budget uh here in a few minutes or when uh we get to that point. Basically, what he's going to be talking about is that uh our budget this year was18 $118,000. We submitted a budget uh request from the commission for $117,000. Um um and it was reduced. The approved current last we saw was 103. One of the things that's uh desperately important to us right now is uh Tim Evans, our new director, has started out in a hole that he's trying to dig himself out of. He's doing an awesome job keeping up with day-to-day business, but he's not filling in that hole. We think it's uh it's of utmost importance that he has an assistant that helps him get out of that hole. So, uh, we are requesting, uh, 20

hours a, uh, month or 20 hours a week for an assistant to help him. 20 hours, uh, specifically is asked for because to get full accreditation for that position, that individual needs to be working 20 hours or more per week. But, uh, with the 103, um, number that we're looking at, that assistance not likely or it's going to be underfunded. Um Tim working the number of hours he is right now. Having an assistant would be a pay raise for him. It would be burden off of his shoulders. He can't take a day off without falling behind. Whether it's training, which is required by the state, him having a sick day or even taking vacation is going to put him behind and it's going to make him work twice as hard as he already is. I think no one would uh would say that he's not doing an awesome job in the position he is. But if he can't catch up to where he should be, he's just going to be helping the new uh clients and leaving the older packages and the mess that was uh in his office when he showed up. Uh it's going to remain unchanged for years. So uh with that, I'd like if we want to address that uh when we get to uh or uh um agenda number five, that'd be fine. or if we want to jump to that right now, I'd be fine with that as well. You've kind of opened the door on the budget for veterans. So, I don't think it's going to violate anything. We go ahead and hear all veterans comments now on that. So, good. Tim, would you like to Thank you. Okay, first I'd like to acknowledge all the

vets that are here. Um, we appreciate you. Um, we wouldn't be here without you. I'd also like to acknowledge the board of supervisors. Um, um, recently I was contacted about a veteran that had been abandoned in uh, De Moine. Um, he passed away. His remains were abandoned and the um, board of supervisors worked with the funeral home to secure that. um veteran and he's going to be delivered to my office and I've been in contact with final salute and in their uh October final salute that Waplo County veteran will be interred in van meter so I just wanted to say thank you for that um I will speak quickly wasn't expecting this soon but I did want to cover the the um the annual report which really isn't annual I went back to um when I started I I was hired April 14th. I started taking veterans on June 2nd. Um, learning uh on the job as I went. I did want to report that during the time between June 2nd and 20 2025 and 31 March 2026, I've had 1,434 unique veteran contacts. That broke down to three in June, uh 77 in July, 171 in August, 165 in September, 169 in October, 140 in November, December was of 171, January 156, February was 161, March 207. Um during that same time frame, I've got 60 known veteran claims that were granted anywhere between one disability and eight. I think there is one as high as 10. Granted, ranging from 0% to 100%. I say known because although I ask the veterans to contact me anytime they get anything from the VA, oftentimes they don't. And the VA doesn't notify me and I simply don't have the time to touch every single file

every month that I have. It's just impossible time-wise. Um, so that breaks down to between six and seven veterans getting granted disabilities every single month since I started. Um, currently I have at least 80 active claims. This is old. Um, currently 80 active claims in processing representing over 250 separate disabilities that have been claimed. Uh, I also currently have 61 intents to file that have submitted. Um, that's simply where we've started the process what Eric was talking about. I I've gone through boxes in the back room. I still have I've estimated at around 13,000 documents left that I get to when I can because I'm trying to keep current stuff current and keeping the um the

Is that all the ones that were left? Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. That's I started with I've I've hammered that down quite a bit. Um but it's there's still around my estimate about 13,000 documents left to go through. Um, and out of those a number of veterans that are have out of that group that got their claims granted is because I would take some out of there at a time while I was working the current and able to finish their claims that had been started and left behind and and uh I had to re renew most of them. Um the dollar amount um I went from in May of 2025 uh the total claim amount to and that includes life compensation um pension um survivors pensions dependent insurance was 1 million14,847 per month that flows into the pockets of veterans, their dependents, surviving spouses. Um to compare uh in February, March's numbers are not out. That number I brought it from 1,14,847 to uh the end of February it was 1,155,149, an increase of $140,32 monthly flowing into the pockets of Welo County veterans and roughly an increase of 70% over a comparable time the previous year. Um, another major difference is how general funds um, general general services are dispersed. Um, one of the things we discovered when I first started, we were in a rears over $10,000 between HY and Fairway in uh, invoices that had just never been submitted. Um, that's that's tax dollars. That's what I consider tax dollars. So, we've been really judicious with that. We changed the the the commission and I changed the entire process and um to date um we have

changed that to uh fiscal year to date from July. Um so far we've got uh $1,8362 for food vouchers and provisions, $1,618 for rent payments and $484.87 in utility payments. Um, again, it's the it's the taxpayers's dollars and I'm a taxpayer also. So, we we do pay close attention to that. Other things that we've been able to do uh through various services such as the Iowa trust fund, veterans trust fund, and the legacy um putting in a a chairlift for a veteran that was couldn't get out of his house. He was able to see the sun for the first time in a long time by that. Chairs that simply lift them. Um emergency roof repairs. um emergency front door repairs, things of this nature are outside of the typical thing that we think about when we're talking about some guy working on claims. But it's not just claims, it's the funeral, it's the funeral things, it's the pensions. This morning before I got here, I got a call from some correctional facility, I'm not for sure, a veteran that was just getting out and we need to submit uh to have his um disabilities reinstated. So, the gamut of what we do is is complete. And so, regarding the budget, um the other thing I wanted to point out is uh because I'm 100% disabled veteran, when you when I was um hired, I declined the insurance because I just cover all my insurance through the VA. And so one of the things that we'd like the board to consider when thinking about how we can fit this into our um budget if we are able to do that is to consider that that's a dollar amount the county is not spending whatsoever. Um I I did talk to uh my compatriate in Monroe County and she mentioned that their budget was $150,000 a year. Now you can't compare apples to apples here because it's two

different counties with two different sets of expenses. Um, and in their budget, actually in the veterans department, the actual insurance costs were included in that budget, too. So, um, but the point is is we appreciate that you're willing to work with us and listen to us regarding our concerns. We know there's a budget crisis and we're going to work and do everything we possibly can in order to number one is facilitate what the veterans need and that's why I'm there. So, I I think that about covers it for me. Unless I forgot something.

Again, you know, we feel that with what Tim's doing, you know, with the amount of money coming into the county and everything that he desperately needs somebody in there to help with the claims, with the administration part of it. So if the poor guy can have a day off now and then. I mean, you know, as it is, yeah, he can take a day off, but he comes back then he's got twice the work because he took a day off. You know, it's it's not fair to him to not be able to take time off and not have to suffer consequences.

Are we are we still utilizing the 280s we had with the other four? Was it four of them or five of them? Other counties? I didn't hear the question. No, we're not using that. We are solely depend

so busy themselves that they are not taking on any county uh veterans either. They are they're not taking on any other counties outside of theirsum because of the mass amount that they have to do. So if and I and I spoke to another DSO county DSO about this and they said that you know if they can't fit them in they have to send them to De Mo to a VSO there. Um all counties are like this. I mean, everybody's swamped. They they won't even be able to take in what's needed out of Wuffalo County. Although we could get credit for that, they won't be able to take. So, Tim's kicking himself out of the hole, as we all know,

left behind and trying

trying to get to that point of being able to have new faces um coming in, but having new faces and having ones that were um left behind that were completely forgotten that we found in cardboard box that nothing was ever filed. Um these veterans were losing out a lot of money and it's not unusual for him to call me or text me from the office at 6 o' at night because he's still working. He he he needs to take a vacation. Plans on taking a couple of weeks for personal things that he needs to have done. Can you imagine how many phone calls, how many voicemails are going to be just on that phone? That

I I did want to add to that. I just took a call, a voice message yesterday from a veteran. He was actually calling to find out if we can assist in one of those chairs that can lift him up. And I always ask how you are on your benefits. And he said, "Yeah, great. I just got 80% and it only cost me $3,000. So I inquired why it cost him. Well, he he didn't know that I was up there and another veteran said, "Hey, you got to try these people." So I have the name and information for those individuals because I need to make sure that they're legit. Um but my point is after speaking with him for a short bit, he's a Vietnam vet. He was boots on the ground and they did nothing with any of his health problems as far as uh coronary or diabetes or they just got the PTSD thing, right? And so that's just another example of that's $3,000 that was not in the pocket and it can be I just spoke to another vet. It was over $10,000 that it was it cost them to use somebody outside. So that's something else we need to consideration because the money goes into the pockets of the vets and it gets spent. That's over a million dollars a month every month. Um, and although it's not all being spent here in the county, but a good portion of it is. So, just a thought.

Tim is very passionate about what he does. I mean, from my experience, the VSOs we've had in the past, they would go in, they would find a claim, they would file it and, you know, get whatever was easy to see. Tim goes in and he digs into the stuff and he makes sure that they're getting everything that they're entitled to. He he fights for these bets like you wouldn't believe that that's we've had nothing but compliments and several of them. Several of them. No, no, that's that's one reason why he got a big increase in his salary. So,

they keep uh selling me the wrong lottery numbers. So I I'll be here for a while. I'd like to bring some emphasis on something that Tim said earlier. One of the reasons it was identified for us why the budget is being reduced is because we didn't spend all of our money in the previous fiscal year. And what Tim just said is over $10,000 in the previous fiscal year was not paid that we had to bring forward to pay those bills because they're not identified for the invoices he spoke about for

so those uh if we had actually paid our bills because of the situation we're in that led to the fact that we could not we did not use all it's not because we didn't need the money it's because of the inefficiency previous

and the office was closed for six months. And the office was closed for six months essentially um during all of you all know what happened last year um just sorry it'll come back to um the office. I'm sorry. If if it comes back to me, I'll raise my hand. the next day. I have a lot of friends that are very

I would like to I don't plan on going anywhere. Just I don't want I want to throw that out there. I mean

Yeah. Go ahead. And perhaps you know this, but I'm the person that meets with the VA board on a monthly basis, the the commission that operates for TIM. And we've certainly discussed this. Um my comment to them was that u it's going to be difficult to change the budget in the short term, but that we could always do an amendment of the budget as the the year proceeds. So I I made that clear to them that we can do that. And I just want to you look at this years ago, like two or three years ago, we were actually had a budget I think of around 130,000 134,000. And it's been reduced a couple times now. And I think at that point we were spending money on some things that were not not necessarily appropriate. And it wasn't just on the service that that Tim provides. So, I think that cutting it a little bit was appropriate. I also uh and Darren, you mentioned about the the 28e agreements. I also brought that to their attention. I think it's a pretty decent idea. And the reason that would would work, I think, is because um in the short term, you want to hire a part-time person, but then if we get through this backlog, we probably don't need that person is is the hope. Now, that's maybe not the case, but uh my one of my thoughts is to add some dollars to the budget that would pay for some 28 agreement contractors to come in. They did it in the past. I can't see that they couldn't do it in the future. And I I heard what you said on that. So, I we can consider that. So, in light of all that, and I want to also remind everyone that at our meetings, the three of us on the budget, I was an advocate when the VA met with us to uh put money in for the the assistant or the contract assistance and I was also in favor of the salary

increase. So, just I wanted to make sure that that was clear. So I am open to to some future discussion and figuring this out with the two of you too.

There is a bill out right now or something like that. And um this bill that 99% sure will be passed and the governor will sign it. It gives basically the jurisdiction over to Iowa Veterans Department affairs. They will be in charge of all the training. part of this bill, the one that really really is going to affect every single county is that they are requiring before we got a $10,000 a lot or grant every year. We could basically count on that $10,000 and the guidelines we followed the guidelines for what that could be used for which came in very handy for us. Now the requirement going to be that you have to have a percentage increase to to receive money. So, they're going to do it as a tier. So, if you're if you I can't remember what the exact percentages are off the top of my head, but if if you meet that, which is probably they think there's only going to be maybe three or four counties, you'll get the $10,000. It's going to graduate down. You may $3,000. That means that more work is put on the VSOs because not only are they now trying to work Tim especially, he is trying to work the past problems the present, but now the state doesn't understand that not every

veteran qualifies for benefits. But you have to see that veteran and you have to work them up. You have to have an appointment with them to find out if they do qualify for benefits. So the time is still there. It's still being taken. Even if they don't qualify for benefits, the state wants to know how much increase have we done in this office to provide more care and more benefits to those veterans out there. Does that make sense? We're still going to have that time taken up in the office to talk to Jim and hopefully um another VSO can at least talk to them to find out if they do

and likely produce enough money. Right. And then Right. Exactly. We won't be counting on our $10,000 anymore. Um and the outreach still has to be there. still has to be paid for outreach. Um but likely they're going to project growth and then um match it with the dollars that they see. 99% sure that bill will get passed and the governor will sign it and it will go in probably effective. Right.

No. I've got the bill right here.

Come up to the mic. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Because I had a twoour speech. Sorry, that's shorter than normal.

Can you hit that on for me? It helps to turn it on. I speak today not only as the member of the Waplo County Veterans Commission, but I'm also the commander of the Disabled American Veterans Post number one at TUMA. We advocate on behalf of disabled veterans legislatively and in our communities. We have a lot of people in this room who are dying now. We're all dying, but there are fellow Vietnam veterans here, boots on the ground, who were hit with Agent Orange. We all have benefits based on that. veterans who have served in other wars, whether it's the Gulf War, the First Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, wherever, we are all exposed to hazards that most people are not exposed to. We have fewer than 600 veterans in Waplo County receiving benefits. We have approximately 1,800 veterans residing in the county. Now Tim is doing a fantastic job. We've all heard good news about how he's taking care of veterans and that's a pleasant change. But I also have seen the files that he's talking about. No, I didn't open the file folder, but I pulled the files open and there are hundreds of files. Some of those folks are dead already, but there are others who had filed intents, who had filed claims. He's going through those. It's a task without belaboring the point for him to get through all of those files. He needs

even if on a temporary basis, he needs somebody in there who's qualified and can help him. Now, I realize as a board of supervisors, having been through a budget process in the military and as pastors of a pastor of churches, I realize you're dealing with competing interest. I realize that not everybody's going to get what they're asking for. I understand that. I understand the process. I understand decisions that you have to make. But I would ask today on behalf of Tim and on behalf of the veterans in this county who have may not be aware that they have benefits that he's going to need some help in squaring away some of these elder records, the filing, the other tasks that he's required to do as part of his job. Less than 600 are receiving benefits. There are around 1,800 in the county. We need a stronger outreach. I don't know how this bill is going to affect it. I've read it three or four times. It's written in legal ease and unless you're a lawyer, it's hard to understand. I'm not sure how it's going to impact the county BSOS. I do know that it's going to place possibly a burden on the county BSOS to up production. and that's going to put even more pressure on Tim where he may not be able to devote the time that he should be devoting to the veterans in the county. I want to thank all of the veterans that showed up today and I want to thank you for listening for at least taking into consideration the needs of the VSO and the outreach to veterans in this county. Thank you.

Thanks, D. Thank you. Tim, are you getting your $10,000 this year? Yes. Next fiscal year. Yeah, we got it. And you can use half of that for part-time, right? 5,000. No, I don't. Yeah, I would have to look for the specifics. way that money can be used is if the board of supervisors agrees to uh fund for the next coming years

for a part. It's a one time deal that comes with the board of supervisors agreeing to hire someone and pay those wages from then on out. Good morning. I am not a vet. However, I am an Army brat. So, I have a few things to say. Um, I processed disability applications for four counties in California for 20 years. And I can tell you it was very difficult a number of times to deal with those applications because they were filing for county service disability. We had very good disability benefits. And more often than not, who was at my door were veterans who were actually been disabled as a result of their military service, not from county service. And I was in the unfortunate position of having to deny those claims or to downgrade them to non-service connected disability. What does this have to do with with what we're talking about today? It's just a fact that veterans in this country have been overlooked and dismissed and forgotten. All these files were talking about are real people. They are not files. They are people and even those who have died have in some cases spouses who should be getting benefits. So I I just wanted to put that on your radar. I also wanted to and I'm not trying to lecture you. I understand very well the budget challenges you face. Uh a bunch of us have volunteered in the past to assist in the veteran service offs to this is years past to uh help with the backlog. But of course there are confidentiality and training

requirements that make that not possible. Now, however, I would suggest, especially in light of what the state is doing, that somebody get a hold of a representative or a senator and get a bill in the works to provide some mechanism where volunteer assistance can be trained. People can do this for free to assist. Um, it it's not going to help you this year, but it could help in the future. Uh, the last thing I wanted to say is that Waffle County has a disproportionate number of Vietnam era vets. They are older. They have more complex needs. Um, and I suspect without knowing, but I suspect that a number of the cases that are those files in the drawers are from people who, as you heard today, were boots on the ground in a prolonged conflict that that need help. So, thank you for listening.

You may take on it. Go ahead. I knew you weren't done.

You are not against Absolutely not.

But we do have I would It all just boils down to the state giving us more mandated things to pay for with no funds. And it's a dying shame that the board members can't help in any way. Can't get in any of these files. when Rick had me come down look at this stuff before you can't even you can just see boxes you can't go in close enough to see how many people are are there because you can't access that information so the restrictions of the restrictions of being able to to help hand tie you that's one reason I ask about 28 if you know they could still come over and help catch up so but I know other counties are the same as same as us and they're the same as us on many avenues as even Don stand there can tell you other sheriffs are in the same boats there's just not enough money to go around and nobody wants to pay more taxes and that's where we fund 90% of all this from so um and like Brian had told you before we can't make a whole lot of changes I don't think we can make any changes to the budget right now, but

you can't because it's already been turned in. But down the road, we can look at ways to do an amendment and fund it and cross it over. I was running some numbers while you was talking. So, if you had a part-time, your budget, which you turned in at 118,000, would actually increase to 123,000. So, it'd be higher than what you turned in. And that's one reason we wanted, you know, we rewarded you with your, you know, your board was adamant. They wanted you to get more money, so to get you comparable. So, we did that. We got you up to the comparable. But

I appreciate that, too. I don't think that I It was like you was in the meeting. It's kind of do you want the raise or do you want a part-time? Well, I think I recorded saying I'll take the part-time over the raise any day of the week. Yep. And And you said that, but your board didn't want that for you. So, thank you though. Huh? Yeah. You guys didn't want that for him? No, we never said that. But you wanted for him to forego his raise to get the part time.

Is a raise for him. Maybe not a financial race. That's given him time back in his pocket, given him a personal life. It it a oneman department. He You're right there. He takes off. He's closed.

I know. That's

Yeah. And that's where Rick and I run into that stonewall last year. We was talking about what to do because you can't really do anything. What was was it part-time before? certified. They weren't certified. They can only do certain things, right?

She was certified. Yes. The part-timer before. Were they certified? Yes. Terry Bradley had the office. Bernie was also Bernie Parish was also a part-time BSO. He and you have to be certified to the state and through nationals to become a BSO. Like Cindy to even be able to walk in that room and look at a file and have to go through all of the certification class. Um, yes, Bernie was part time

and just so you know, I was in favor of the pay increase and he's still underpaid and I was in conflict with the commission on that issue perhaps, but uh I feel strongly that we need to pay our people what they're worth. I'd be willing to sit down and have a meeting because we can't change anything now and publish and all that. So, absolutely. We haven't received a copy of the budget. Nobody in Yeah. the final budget is done. I'll send it to you. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. Yeah, Danielle's sitting there. You can check on that. Yeah. So, Tim, just set up a meeting time and when Rick's busy and you can be there and we'll be good to go. I should have time in June. We'll do it on your lunch. I already worked during my lunch. So, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you. Okay. Any more verbal comments on the budget? Okay, Steve. the only

and the treasurer. Why they do the other half but there is a finan talk about $100,000. I

it's it's a dying shame that we're not giving more to the veterans at the state level and now we're hearing that they're going to cut the aotment that the restrictions on spending that make it hard to spend it anyway because I think we had to send some of it back last year or the year before. I mean, a lot of it was the administr Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, we should never have to send any of that back. So, okay. Any other comments, Steve? All right. Have entertain a motion to close in the public hearing.

I'll make a motion to close. I'll second. All those in favor? I. Resolution 62026 adopt fiscal year 2627 budget. I'll make a motion to approve

and I'll second but I'd like to comment before we go ahead and vote. So thank you. um you know what we've been through on this budget and I feel that in the end we need to be more aggressive on raising the revenue side of things and we've had some opportunities to do that that have not happened. I'd like us to take that more seriously in the future as a board of supervisors. And I also feel like there are some areas of our budget that could have been cut more if we could change some of the things that are that are going on in the county. And I feel we have the power to do that. In the short term, we're we're limited on doing that, but I think we need to commit ourselves to cutting some of the expenses in the the future so that they're more realistic for our size of county. And so I think I am committed to that in the future. With all that in mind, I'm still in in favor of passing this budget at this time knowing that we can always adjust it as we need to. So thank you.

Okay. Before I call for a vote, just to clarify, we went from a $300,000 deficit. Is that correct? And everybody, every department absorbed some of the cuts. So, it's not anybody in particular. There was a lot of budget cuts

and some people volunteered to cut things they just couldn't cut. Like Lisa sitting there, she's I'll make more cuts. already. That's like trying to cut slend her already. Can't do it. There's nothing for her to cut, but she was volunteering to try to take more off to help other departments. And this is by far the the worst cutting we had to do. And now we still don't know what the state's going to do. If we had an idea where they're coming with taxes, it would sure help us make a budget. trying to make a budget before we know what to do with taxes is kind of backwards. They should have their end set so we know what to do on our end. One of the proposals they was talking about like for you, you said you would have to have a 1% increase and to get your alignment. They were going to control the county budgets to no more than a 2% increase

total. So that would be hard to show a 1% increase. you'd never probably get kept a lotment. So with that, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor? I I on to number four, public hearing for reszoning application land on a residential C2 highway service submitted by Whan Reigns. Motion to open the public hearing. I'll make a motion to open. Second. All those in favor? I written or comments. Did you you had phone calls, right? Not written.

I not for this public hearing. Uh when we had before the zoning commission, we had two members from the public present. One of them was across the street from Wayland Reigns. Uh Colin um Vanderelo spoke in favor of that. Um he was not opposed to the resoning application. And then Mr. and Mrs. Brown at 5638 Madison Avenue. Um at first they had some reservation about that until they came to the public here and realized that it is a small lot. Um that an area that he wants to have the cars approximately 10 cars or less. Um some of the concerns that they had along with some of my uh commission members is they did not want this to be a junkyard. Uh Mr. Reigns stated that these would be clean titles. They would not be salvage titles. Um so that um gave the members a little bit of peace of mind on that. Um and they did they are recommending approval for it.

Okay. And you say that's limited to 10. Yep. You said no more than 10 cars on the lot and they would be clean titles. And can I ask is that specified in the application in his application? Yes. He did state that it would be no more than 10. And in my minutes and in the public hearing, it was stated that they would be clean titles. Perfect.

You have anything to add, Whan? I see you sitting there. neighbors. Nobody seems with it. There's commercial just down the road. I mean, I'm not very far from commercial right now with other businesses. There's several LLC's neighboring of me. So, it's kind of a business area, I would call it, just not not zone commercial to do it. So, that's what I'm reaching out to get done today. There's going to have to be a new building or driveway or anything built

just be the lot where it is access from the from Madison Avenue to the lot. There'll be a going to build like a shed on skids for an office. They'll have electric and all we need is what I'm Okay. They'll have handicap access as well, which is a requirement. Anything else, Miranda? No, not at this time. All right.

Yes, sir. like straight across. I'm assuming a thumbs up. You're good. Okay. Any other verbal comments? Motion to close public hearing. I'll move to close. I'll second. Those in favor? I I waving the second and third hearing.

I'll make a motion to approve. Do we have to do that? Is we got the motion? Oh, motion to wave it. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Second. All those in favor waving the second third hearing. I I resolution 10 2026 approval reszoning application. I'll make a motion to approve. Yeah, I'll second. All those in favor? Hi. And Timmy, you don't have anything else to add on the veterans annual report, correct? No. Sure. Yes.

That's her. She's gonna take your money. Yeah. She already took it. All right. Item number six, John Morland. Is he here? Yeah. Oh, morning. Morning.

Last time I appeared before the board of supervisors was in 1961 when I was hired as an assistant county attorney. I don't want to date myself, but they give you a little bit of an idea. And the course of that career that I had here practicing law, Dick Swag and Army G were very instrumental in my career in many many ways. But over a lot was my friend Judge Dy and and I'm proposing that the main courtroom be named after Judge Dory and other things that will be a part of that. It's this picture of him which which uh appeared in 1924 and in a a composite picture of all the members of the bar so he was a wonderful man not formally educated but he knew the way to get to the right solution. I'll give you a little anecdote about it. When I was in the county attorney's office, they called me one day and said a prisoner who we had had sentence was being led out of Fort Madison and he said that one of the people on the discharge. First thing I'm going to do is have it out with that judge that sent me down here. So Samart County attorney sent me out to the judge's house to talk to him and let him know the police were available to uh and the sheriff to uh uh have a guard set up. He said, "Oh, that won't be

necessary." It's not the guy who tells you it's going to get that you got to worry about. It's the guy who doesn't tell you that he's going to get you. At any rate, I thought a very He was on the bench 35 years and I thought a very appropriate way to honor the judge would be to name the courtroom after him. Going to hang the pictures of all the bar association people in the main courtroom. As a part of that, We'll have a little ceremony in May or whenever we get all of the things done. Luckily, I found the judge of great great grand out in Massachusetts. I've had great conversations with her about what uh what I'd like to do. And uh she uh she's all in favor of it. And she going to designate one of members of her family to come out if we have a formal ceremony and hang. That's all I've got. Any questions? I'd be happy to answer.

Any comment?

Well, Steve, do you have a comment? didn't want to leave you out. Any other comments? All right. I think it's a great thing. I'm obviously none of us have been around that long. except for Steve. But that's better.

But but yeah, so if you get a date if assuming we approve it, which I haven't heard any rebuttal, we'll get a date for a ceremony. We'll get it advertised and get it set up. So you All right. So, motion to approve renaming of the courthouse. I'll make that motion and a second. All those in favor? I Thanks, John. Thank you.

That means you're going to have to come back once. Resolution 8206 2025 utility values.

It's all listed by different townships and counties. So, yep. I'm going to make a motion to approve. I'll second. All those in favor? I resolution 92026 transfer of funds from general supplemental to health fund. I'll make a motion to approve. Yeah. Second. All those in favor? I officer training reimbursement agreement with Tatton Ricard.

Then Don with two employees with the deputies to reinforce training aspect. on the cont.

You know what the total dollar is? 757500. Right under $7,500. Okay. Yeah. 79 just under 8,000. So, okay. I'll move to approve the contract. I'll second. All those in favor? I I Thanks. resolution 112026 comp and assigned county health tax sale certificate for Dominique McCormick. This was on there last month or last time as well. I'm going to make a motion to approve now. Second. All those in favor? I

Yeah, we approved it. Actually approved this last meeting, but the wrong paperwork was filled out. So, resignation letter from Kelly Spurgeon, Wo County auditor. Kelly, here is she. She is stepping down.

I'm not sure what day her last day is. Do you know Danielle thought that's what was April 30? Lori just corrected me. We didn't approve that one last meeting. That was a different one. So, April 30th resolution from the auditor. All those in favor? I'll make a motion to approve. Oh, yeah. We should have that first, huh? I'll second. All those in favor? I I think she's going to be working at the school full-time.

Yeah. So, I'm I'm going to ask Danielle, can Danielle, can you stand up and tell us the process and let everybody know how that works?

Okay. So, with um the auditor resigning, that'll create a vacancy in the office for county auditor. Um and you as the board can decide to appoint somebody to that or call for a special election. If appointment um is the decision by the board um it does have to happen within 40 days of the vacancy occurring. Um there will be a notice in the courier um explaining the process and also that the public could if appointment is the decision the public could petition for a special election. Um if appointment is the route that the board decides the person would only be appointed um until the November election um because that office will be on the ballot this November uh to fill vacancy.

Is that 40 days from resignation date or letter 40 days um when the after the vacancy occurs. Okay. So May 1st then can we appoint a person prior to May 1st or do we have to wait till after the the date? We have to wait till it's vacant probably you have to point within the 40 days. Right. But but can we do it before April 30th or do we need to do it right after that? You have to wait till it's published. Right. We have to have the the notice.

Yeah. Any questions for that process or for Danielle? Thank you. Thank you. Hope you enjoy your stake. Any other business come for the board?

I I have an item, too. Okay. Um, just a a comment. Last meeting, I handed out a revision to the ordinance that we've been working on, and at this point, we still have no ordinance. Um, I feel like what we paid for on the um for the company that did the ordinance for us was was reasonable. I made some small adjustments to it. I would still like to proceed with discussion on that. One option is to wait to for the state to decide if they're going to do anything, but the state I doubt will do anything. So, I'd still like to continue to work on that because no ordinance is not acceptable. So, I'll leave it at that. We can discuss it in the future.

Travis Travis Caster, WLO County Assessor. Um, I just wanted to let everybody know yesterday with Governor Reynolds declaring us a disaster proclam or just declaring a disaster proclamation for Wapo County um changes some things for our office. Our typical um appeal dates are April 2nd to the end of April. That is extended out to June 5th. Uh being we were I don't know what word pointed or whatever for the disaster could declared a a disaster county. Um, so my board of review, which is typically in session the month of May, will have to be um can go all the way to July 15th. Um, but like I said, we'll accept applications or appeals um up until June 5th. What I would like to note is that just because the deadline's been extended, we still are the protest is still for what was there as of January 1st. So, we can't do anything for damage that's been done after the 1st of January. um as far as uh appeals that that doesn't mean you can't appeal but what you're appealing was what was there as of January 1. So with the storm being after that um there's really nothing for us to change and obviously

that'll be up to the board of review but um they should be looking at what's there as of January 1. So with the disaster declaration, it does extend those, but it doesn't mean that any damage done after the first is what you would be protesting. So, um, if anybody has any questions about that, they're they're welcome to contact our office. Anybody in here have a question for Travis on that? Your assessed values All right. Anybody else? All right. Entertain a motion to close the meeting.

I'll make a motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I. Thank you everybody for coming. Thank you.