Harrison County Supervisors Meeting January 2, 2026 Chairman Brian Rife called the meeting to order with members Tony Smith and Rebecca Wilkerson in attendance. Motion to approve the tentative agenda was made by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. Minutes from December 23rd and 30th were approved on a motion by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion Carried. Attendance: Auditor Megan Reffett, Paul J. Rhoten, John Straight, Michele Stirtz, Thad Pothast, John Rasmussen, Rashelle Wohlers, David Sherer, Kim Crispin, Sarah Delanty, Lori White, Brad Doyle, Larry Oliver, Don Blackford, Jamie Myer, Nate Epperson, Clint Sargent, Bruce Pauley, Kris Pauley, Mary Moore, Fran Hutson, Matt Pitt, Todd Denton, Laura Soetmelk Reorganization Chairman Rife called for the reorganization of the Board of Supervisors. Smith made the motion to appoint Brian Rife as Chairman and Rebecca Wilkerson as Vice Chairman second by Rife. Smith Aye. Rife Aye. Wilkerson Nay. Motion carried. Annual Appointments The Board reviewed and discussed the annual appointments. On a motion by Smith, second by Rife, the following appointments were approved. Smith Aye. Rife Aye. Wilkerson Nay. Motion carried. Official Newspaper: Harrison County Times Reporter County Engineer: John Rasmussen and staff Drainage Engineer: Jon Rosengren with Bolton & Menk Drainage Attorney: Keith Tucker Medical Examiner: Ahmad Alchommali – MD Medical Examiner Nathaniel V. Alvis, MD deputy Carrie L Grady MD deputy Daniel H. Richter, MD deputy Romaine S Sangha, MD deputy Sara M McIntosh, ARNP/ME investigator Brandi Schaefer, ARNP, ME investigator Juanita Alvarex-Hall, ARNP ME investigator Lisa Emswiler, RN investigator Megan Phillips, RN investigator Board of Health: Lindsay Poore appointed to remainder of the vacant term ending Dec 31, 2027 Angela Radloff appointed to 3-year term ending Dec 31, 2028 Larry Oliver appointed to 3-year term ending Dec 31, 2028 County Public Health Nurses: David Sherer, Administrator, and staff Budget Director: Megan Reffett Director of Relief: Brittany Freet Director of Veterans Affairs: Brittany Freet Veterans Affairs Commission: Don Rodasky, Eugene Jacobsen, and Laura Hansen Weed Commissioner: Brock Leaders Zoning Commissioner: Matt Pitt Sanitation Commissioner: Matt Pitt Planning & Zoning Commission: Robin McClannahan appointed to 3-year term ending December 31, 2028 Zoning Board of Adjustments: Lauren Roden appointed to 5-year term ending December 31, 2030 County Conservation Board: Kris Pauley appointed to 5-year term ending December 31, 2030 Civil Service Commission: Loess Hills Alliance: Deb Nelson (director)/ Vacant (alternate), Appointed to 3-year term ending Feb 2029 Board Memberships: Wilkerson: Harrison County Soil & Water Conservation Commission Hungry Canyons Alliance Loess Hills Alliance Loess Hills Development & Conservation Authority Board of Health – nonvoting delegate Harrison County Conservation Board – nonvoting delegate Rife: Job Partners Training Advisory Board West Central Development Corporation Golden Hills RC & D Family Preservation Coalition Willow Creek Watershed Missouri River Region Landfill Commission Harrison County Food Pantry Smith: Enterprise Zone Commission 28E agreement – case management Juvenile Detention Center Emergency Management Commission 911 Service Board Local Emergency Planning Committee Regional Planning Affiliation Region 18 Southwest Iowa Transit/Planning Council/ Housing Trust Harrison County Trails 2027 Appointment for Harrison County Conservation Board The Board discussed the option of appointing a Board of Supervisors member to the Harrison County Conservation Board in 2027. Attorney Delanty provided an attorney general’s opinion that advised against having a Board of Supervisors member on a volunteer board that they have control over. The Board agreed to get an updated opinion from the Attorney General and table this item until a later date. Request to temporarily close the Courthouse for Courthouse employee training After the date was set and requested to be closed there was a possibility of conflict with the court schedule. The Board agreed to wait until next week until they know the official date for the jury selection before moving forward with the decision to close. Drainage The Board met as Trustees for the various Drainage Districts. Michelle Kersten, Drainage Clerk, presented the Board with information and after discussion the following were approved: An invoice in the amount of $93,076.32 to Lieber Construction, Inc for payment application #1 for the C&R Drainage District was unanimously approved on a motion by Smith and seconded by Wilkerson. An invoice in the amount of $14,532.50 to Bolton & Menk, Inc, for professional services for the C&R Drainage District was unanimously approved on a motion by Wilkerson and seconded by Smith. An invoice in the amount of $526.00 to Bolton & Menk, Inc for professional services for the South Nobles Lake Drainage District was unanimously approved on a motion by Smith and seconded by Wilkerson. Approval of Master Matrix Resolution CONSTRUCTION EVALUATION RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Iowa Code section 459.304(3) sets out the procedure if a board of supervisors wishes to adopt a "construction evaluation resolution" relating to the construction of a confinement feeding operation structure; and WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution can submit to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) an adopted recommendation to approve or disapprove construction permit application regarding a proposed confinement feeding operation structure; and WHEREAS, only counties that have adopted a construction evaluation resolution and submitted an adopted recommendation may contest the DNR's decision regarding a specific application; and WHEREAS, by adopting a construction evaluation resolution the board of supervisors agrees to evaluate every construction permit application for a proposed confinement feeding operation structure received by the board of supervisors between February 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027, and submit an adopted recommendation regarding that application to the DNR; and WHEREAS, the board of supervisors must conduct an evaluation of every construction permit application using the master matrix created in Iowa Code section 459.305, but the board's recommendation to the DNR may be based on the final score on the master matrix or may be based on reasons other than the final score on the master matrix; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF HARRISON COUNTY that the Board of Supervisors hereby adopts this construction evaluation resolution pursuant to Iowa Code Section 459.304(3). Motion to approve as presented by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Smith Aye. Wilkerson Aye. Rife Aye. Motion carried. Wishing Hills Barn Liquor License Motion to approve the liquor license for Wishing Hills Barn by Wilkerson, second by Smith. Motion carried. FY27 Budgets Budget director Megan Reffett presented the budgets for Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Elections, and General Services. Discussion on what IT services should be moved from all departments to the new countywide IT department was held. The Board requested that all IT expenses be moved to department 52 so that they could be tracked easily. Budget director Reffett will send the budgets back to the departments and request all IT expenses be transferred. Comments Jamie Meyer – Comments on board appointments Mary Moore - Comments on board appointments Michele Stirtz – Comments on consistency and transparency Kim Crispin - Comments on board appointments Don Blackford - Comments on voter registration Member Wilkerson – Comments on the public comment policy and prayer at meetings With business of the day completed, the Board adjourned on a motion by Smith, second by Wilkerson. Motion carried. ATTEST: Megan Reffett, Auditor Brian Rife, Chairman HCTR 1-14-26
