Harrison County Supervisors Meeting February 17, 2026 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order at 9:00am in the Harrison County Boardroom with members Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda was made by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Joel Rohne, Micah Van Maanen, Sarah Delanty, Mitch Flaherty Interview With County IT Specialist Applicant #1 The Board of Supervisors and interview panel greeted the applicant and thanked them for coming. The applicant requested to enter closed session. Motion to enter closed session by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Rife Aye. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Motion carried. The discussion continued in closed session. Motion to enter back into open session by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Interview With County IT Specialist Applicant #2 The Board of Supervisors and interview panel greeted the applicant and thanked them for coming. The applicant requested to enter closed session. Motion to enter closed session by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Rife Aye. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Motion carried. The discussion continued in closed session. Motion to enter back into open session by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Interview With County IT Specialist Applicant #3 The Board of Supervisors and interview panel greeted the applicant and thanked them for coming. The applicant requested to enter closed session. Motion to enter closed session by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Rife Aye. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Motion carried. The discussion continued in closed session. Motion to enter back into open session by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Interview With County IT Specialist Applicant #4 The Board of Supervisors and interview panel greeted the applicant and thanked them for coming. The applicant requested to enter closed session. Motion to enter closed session by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Rife Aye. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Motion carried. The discussion continued in closed session. Motion to enter back into open session by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Recess At 11:50 AM the Board of Supervisors moved into recess until 2:15 PM Interview With County IT Specialist Applicant #5 The Board of Supervisors and interview panel greeted the applicant and thanked them for coming. The applicant requested to enter closed session. Motion to enter closed session by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Rife Aye. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Motion carried. The discussion continued in closed session. Motion to enter back into open session by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Action/Discussion on County IT Interviews and Possible Offer/Hiring The Board discussed the applicants and how they wanted to proceed. The Board motioned to interview additional candidates with a motion by Rife, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brian Rife, Chairman February 19, 2026 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order at 9:00am in the Harrison County Boardroom with members Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda changing the salary item to discussion only was made by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. Minutes from February 5th were approved on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Rife. Motion carried. Minutes from February 12th were approved on a motion by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Minutes from February 12th union negotiation session were approved on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Rife. Wilkerson Aye. Rife Aye. Smith Abstained. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Sherri Webb, David Sherer, Brittany Kapatos, Paul Rhoten, Michele Stirtz, Christina Dickinson, Stephanie Ragar, Todd Denton, Marilyn J Mentzer Drainage The Board met as Trustees for various drainage districts. Michelle Kersten, Drainage Clerk, presented the Board with information and after discussion the following were approved: Pay invoice for C & R Levee to Bolton & Menk, Inc in the amount of $5,507.00 for professional services was unanimously approved on a motion by Smith, seconded by Wilkerson. Pay invoice for South Nobles Lake Drainage District to Bolton & Menk, Inc in the amount of $245.00 for professional services was unanimously approved on a motion by Wilkerson, seconded by Smith. Department Bank Reconciliation Treasurer Shelia Phillips presented the January bank statements for review. K9 Officer Denton presented the bank statements for the K9 account. Handwritten Warrant to US Bank Motion to approve the handwritten warrant to US Bank in the amount of $11,014 by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Reopening Application Period for IT Director The Board discussed the possibility of reopening the application period for the IT Director. Motion to reopen the application period until filled by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Funding Request for Harrison County Humane Society Volunteers from the Harrison County Humane Society presented the Board with a request for funding for FY27. Current rates are $1.52 per person in rural Harrison County. Their FY27 request is $5.00 per person in rural Harrison County. The Board thanked them for coming in and agreed to consider their request during the budget process. FY27 Budget Discussion Wilkerson brought concerns regarding the line items that Conservation cut and that they could cut other items that could be paid by their trust account. Members Rife and Smith discussed that they were only concerned with the bottom line and if an amendment was needed, they would address it then. Discussion Salaries for Elected Officials Budget Director Reffett presented salary scenarios that were requested from each board member for their review. Discussion was held amongst the members regarding the increases in each scenario and how it would affect the overall budget. The Board will not make a decision regarding the salary rates until after the March 26th budget hearing. Claims Claims, as presented, were stamped for approval. Comments Sherri Webb – Comments on Humane Society and Pipeline legislation Paul Rhoten - Comments on raise for County Attorney Michele Stritz – Comments on microphones and the process for outside entities requesting funds Marilyn Mentzer – Comments on employee salaries With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brian Rife, Chairman February 23, 2026 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order at 9:00am in the Harrison County Boardroom with members Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda was made by Smith, second by Rife. Smith Aye. Rife Aye. Wilkerson Abstained. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Paul Rhoten, Brad Doyle, Michele Stirtz Resolution to Change County Attorney from Part-Time to Full-Time RESOLUTION 2026-003 Harrison County Attorney from part-time to full-time elected position WHEREAS, the Harrison County Attorney position is currently part-time, and WHEREAS, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors have recognized the increasing complexity and volume of legal matters, the Board believes that the people of Harrison County Iowa would be best served by a full-time county attorney, who shall refrain from the private practice of law, and WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 331.752 requires that the effective date of the change in status take place not less than sixty days from the date of adoptions, unless an earlier effective date is agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors and the affected county attorney. However, if the County Attorney objects to the change to full-time status, the effective date for the status change shall be delayed until January 1 of the year after the next General Election in which the County Attorney is elected, and WHEREAS, said Code section also requires that the resolution changing the status of a county attorney shall state the initial annual salary to be paid when the status becomes effective. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Harrison County Attorney shall be a full-time officer position effective May 1st, 2026, and that the initial base salary for that office shall be $101,035. Motion to approve by Rife, second by Smith. Rife Aye. Wilkerson Nay. Smith Aye. Motion carried. With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned on a motion by Smith, second by Rife. Smith Aye. Rife Aye. Wilkerson Nay. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brian Rife, Chairman HCTR 3-4-26
