(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting Tuesday, May 17th, in the Harlan City Hall Council Chambers.  During the session a Public Hearing was held for the 2022 Budget Amendment. Having received no written or spoken comments from the public, the Board approved the amendment, as proposed.  There will be no increase in taxes. The budget was amended to include revenue from bond proceeds, as well as ARPA proceeds and expenditures and Secondary Roads Department spending.

Auditor Mark Maxwell, in his meeting minutes, said Lonnie Maguire, Director of Community Services, was on hand to tell the Board about the transition of her department from Shelby County Employees to Pottawattamie County Employees. Local property tax funding has been eliminated and the State of Iowa will now reimburse Pottawattamie County for the Southwest Iowa Mental Health costs. Services have not changed and the employees will keep the same offices in Shelby County, with rent being paid to Shelby County for the occupation. A lease was presented and approved by the Supervisors, minor wording changes were proposed by County Attorney Marcus Gross. The Supervisors then approved the changes and permit the Chairperson to sign the document once the changes are made.

A department report was given by Carolyn Blum , Shelby County Treasurer, Blum explained the many activities and changes that have been taking place in her office. And, the Supervisors unanimously approved a yearly Weed Destruction Resolution, which states ‘Each owner and each person in possession or control of any lands in Shelby County, shall cut, burn or otherwise destroy all noxious weeds thereon, as defined in the chapter, at such time in each year and in such manner as shall prevent such weeds from blooming or coming to maturity, and shall keep said lands free from such growth as shall render the streets or highways adjoining said lands unsafe for public travel. Noxious weeds shall be cut or otherwise destroyed as published in the official newspapers of Shelby County.” And, “If owners or persons in possession or control of any lands in Shelby County fail to comply with the foregoing orders, the weed commissioner shall cause this to be done and the expenses of said work including cost of serving notice and other costs, if any, to be assessed against real estate.

American Recovery Act funding was considered during the Shelby County Supervisor’s meeting. Grant applications discussed at the last Supervisors meeting were then presented to be acted upon by the Shelby County Board of Supervisors. The following grants and amounts were presented for consideration.

Defiance water tower-Regional backup for water supply–$43,000

Shelby County Trails-Engineering—————————-$50,000

Shelby County Conservation-Playground Equipment——$20,000

Kountry Kids Care-Child care expansion——————–$100,000

Harlan Airport-Service improvements————————$20,000

Shelby County Golf Water Conservation———————$27,500

Petersen Family Wellness-Upgrades————————–$52,500

Shelby County Fair-Tourism Improvements—————–$20,000

Environmental Health Well Plugging————————-$15,397

Mark Maxwell says “This will exhaust all funds available from Shelby County through the ARPA program.”  The dollars will be spent in accordance with ARPA spending guidelines.