The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning, in Harlan. During their meeting, the Board discussed the lease with Heartland Family Services at the annex building. Auditor/Board Secretary Mark Maxwell says the lease will be up for renewal on January 1st, 2024. It calls for monthly charges of $700 for the space leased. Board Chair Steve Kenkel suggested raising the lease payments 50 cents per square foot to $12.50 per square foot, amounting to $8,400 for calendar years 2024 and 2025. A motion to that effect was passed.

Todd Valline reported on the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Supervisors. The report included information from the latest SWIPCO meeting and Valline also reported that Southwest Iowa Transit Authority has one of the highest volume of rides in the state of Iowa. Several upcoming programs and promotions were also presented.

Brandon Burmeister, Shelby County Engineer, recommended that the Supervisors approve Utility Permits for Farmers Mutual Telephone Cooperative for permits numbered 2023-9-28-1, 2023-9-28-2, 2023-9-28-3. All three of the permits were approved. Burmeister then gave his Secondary Roads Department updates to the Supervisors concerning his department, including photos of some recent culvert and bridge replacement projectd completed by his department.

The Supervisor’s committee reports included Bryce Schaben reporting that the house at Manteno Park has been reroofed by the Conservation Department and that some of the sheeting was bad and added extra expense to the project. Steve Kenkel reported on the CO2 pipeline activities. He noted that three more Shelby County landowners will be testifying to the Utilities Board. Kenkel also advised that the Utility Board schedule is very dynamic.

Mark Maxwell, as Shelby County Election Commissioner, asked the Supervisors to approve the hiring of a part time person for election IT and processes help, on Election Day. The individual will have to have IT skills and experience of polling place processes. He said the total employment hours are expected to be about 20, total. Maxwell said there is some new technology that is required at some polling places this year that places the pollbooks behind the County firewall for more election security. Also, being a county employee permits the person to have more freedom working with other precincts. He noted that being a precinct election official only restricts being able to help other precincts at the polling place. The Board approved a search for and the hiring of, a part-time IT person.

Chair Steve Kenkel noted that all wellness activities required by County insured employees need to be completed by October 31st and all department heads have been notified. Also the 14th of November, at the first Canvass of the City/School Election there will also be a budget workshop to go over initial budget plans for fiscal year 2025.