Minutes - 5/5/2026

MAY 5, 2026, NINETEENTH MEETING OF THE WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS  

The Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Board members present were Carper, Dietrich, Nelson, and Ung; Bittinger II was absent. Staff members present were Karen James, Board Administrative Assistant, Ryan Ericson, Budget and Finance Director, Melissa Thomas, HR Director, Joshua Widman, Assistant County Attorney, and Michelle Skaff, Auditor/Clerk to the Board.     

The regular meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Moment of Silence.  

Motion by Nelson second by Dietrich to approve the May 5, 2026 agenda. Carried 4-0. Copy filed.

Motion by Nelson second by Dietrich to approve the following items by consent:

To approve minutes of the April 28, 2026 meeting. Copy filed.
    
To approve the claims totaling $3,555,668.08. Copy filed.

To approve the reclassification of Haley Messerschmidt, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney Dept., effective 03-02-2026, $132,379.00/year, 7%=$8,390.00/yr.  Per AFSCME Attorney-Move from Step 9 to Step 10.  Anniversary Date: 3/15/26.; the appointment of Kurtus Palsma, Summer Engineering Aide-Temp, Secondary Roads Dept., effective 04-29-2026, $20.00/hour. Job Vacancy Posted on 02/25/26. Temp-Not to Exceed 120 Days.; the appointment of Collin Dunnington, Summer Laborer-Temp, Secondary Roads Dept., effective 05-06-2026, $17.50/hour.  Job Vacancy Posted on 2/25/26. Temp-Not to Exceed 120 Days.; the appointment of Debra Clay, Election Clerk-On Call, County Auditor Dept., effective 05-06-2026, $19.82/hour.  Job Vacancy Posted on 4/20/26.  Entry Level Salary: $19.82/hr.; the appointment of Rebecca Stratmeier, Election Clerk-On Call, County Auditor Dept., effective 05-06-206, $19.82/hour. Job Vacancy Posted on 4/20/26. Entry Level Salary: $19.82/hr.; the appointment of Nolan Pauley, Civilian Jailer-FT Temp, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $26.04/hour.  Job Vacancy Posted on 2/18/26. Entry Level Salary: $26.04/hr.; the appointment of David Rios, Civilian Jailer, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $26.04/hour. Job Vacancy Posted on 2/25/26. Entry Level Salary: $26.04/hr.; the appointment of Dawson Hauptmann, Civilian Jailer, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026. $26.04/hour. Job Vacancy Posted on 3/18/26. Entry Level Salary: $26.04/hr.; the reclassification of Madison Hattermann, Civilian Jailer, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $26.98/hour, 4%=$0.94/hr.  Per CWA Civilian-Move to 3rd Class to 2nd Class. Anniversary Date: 5/15/26.; the reclassification of Taryn Lockhorst, Civilian Jailer, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $26.98/hour, 43%=$0.94/hr. Per CWA Civilian-Move from 3rd Class to 2nd Class. Anniversary Date: 5/15/26.; the reclassification of Maria Francisco Pablo, Civilian Jailer, County Sheriff Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $26.98/hour, 4%=$0.94/hr. Per CWA Civilian-Move from 3rd Class to 2nd Class. Anniversary Date: 5/15/26.; the reclassification of Jacob Gilreath, Civil Engineering Intern, Secondary Roads Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $3,570.33/bi-weekly, 3%=$103.99/bi-weekly. Rate Increase Per Wage Matrix   Anniversary Date: 5/18/26.; and the reclassification of Jisleny Ventura Perez, Youth Worker, Juvenile Detention Dept., effective 05-11-2026, $23.62/hour, 4%=$0.91/hr. Per AFSCME Juvenile-Move from Step 1 to Step 2. Anniversary Date: 5/21/26.  Copy filed.

Carried 4-0.

Motion by Nelson second by Dietrich to approve the other of Melissa Thomas, Director, Human Resources Dept., effective 05-01-2026, $118,386.72/year, 9%=$10,000/yr.  Salary Increase; the appointment of Vicki Ackerman, Election Clerk-On Call, County Auditor Dept., effective 05-13-2026, $19.82/hour.  Job Vacancy Posted on 4/20/26. Entry Level Salary: $19.82/hr.; and the appointment of Pamela Bonstead, Election Clerk-On Call, County Auditor Dept., effective 05-13-2026. Carried 4-0. Copy filed.

Motion by Nelson second by Carper to approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a Resolution Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for FEMA.  Carried 4-0.

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA
RESOLUTION #14,031

WHEREAS, the 2026 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (for Plymouth, Cherokee, Ida, Monona, and Woodbury Counties in Iowa) has been prepared in accordance with FEMA requirements at 44C.F.R.201.6; and,

WHEREAS, the County of Woodbury County, participated in the preparation of a regional plan, the 2026 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and, 

WHEREAS, Woodbury County is a governing unit that has afforded its residents an opportunity to comment on and provide input in the Plan and the actions in the Plan; and,

WHEREAS, Woodbury County has reviewed the Plan and affirms that the Plan will be updated no less than every five years.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County of Woodbury County that Woodbury County Board of Supervisors adopts the 2026 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan and resolves to execute the actions in the Plan.

ADOPTED this 5th, day of May 2026
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

Motion by Dietrich second by Nelson to receive for signatures a Resolution Temporary Road Embargo 220th Street.  Carried 4-0.

WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA
TEMPORARY ROAD EMBARGO   220TH STREET
RESOLUTION #14,032

WHEREAS, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors believe certain secondary roads in Woodbury County, Iowa which are paved or unpaved, will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles thereon is prohibited or permissible weight thereon reduced, and 

WHEREAS, Chapter 321, Section 471 of the Code of Iowa, gives said Board the power to prohibit the operations of said vehicles on such roads, and to impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles on said roads. 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, that, where signs are erected on a highway, operations of vehicles weighing in excess of said weight limit are prohibited on said highway. 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the said secondary roads subject to this resolution are more particularly described as:

1. 220th Street - County Route K29 east one and one half miles to the end of the seal coat.  
2. The County Engineer is instructed to remove said embargo if road conditions allow. 

SO RESOLVED this 5th day of May, 2026.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Copy filed.

Reports on committee meetings were heard.

Budget Director Ryan Ericson shared that CIP requests will be heard next week. 
    
Board concerns were heard.

The Board adjourned the regular meeting until May 12, 2026.

Meeting sign in sheet. Copy filed.