(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning. According to the meeting minutes provided by Auditor Mark Maxwell, Tony Buman, Shelby County Zoning Director, was present and recommended the passage of a Wind Turbine and Solar Farm moratorium in Shelby County until more details can be worked out on the proper conditions and possibly be implemented in county ordinances. The Board then acted to approve two resolutions pertaining to both commercial Wind and Solar Farms.

In other business, Chris Fredericksen, Shelby County Engineer, gave a Secondary Roads report which that specifies Fredericksen is authorized, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, to execute the certification of completion of work and final acceptance thereof in accordance with plans and specifications in connection with all Farm­ to-Market and Federal or State aid construction projects in the county. Auditor Mark Maxwell said also, a utility permit has been applied for by the Rural Water Association for utility in a right-of-way. The permit was approved. Carolyn Blum, Shelby County Treasurer, was on hand to present her semiannual report to the Supervisors and give a quarterly report to the Supervisors which included that the number of drivers license examinations have increased with parent taught Drivers Education.

Geralyn Greer, Shelby County Recorder, gave a quarterly report to the Supervisors with the current event in her office and that she has volunteered her services on a State Committee for the State Recorders Association. Greer also introduced her new employee, Makenzie Burmeister, to the Board of Supervisors.  The Supervisors then considered the hours earned by the interim EMS coordinator, many compensatory hours have been earned and necessary in the start up of the Shelby County Department. All hours have been logged and turned in by the EMS Coordinator. The Board passed a related resolution to assist the EMS Department in Employee Compensation:

“Whereas the Shelby County EMS department was organized quickly, and Shelby County took over operations from Medivac in less than one month. Whereas no Supervisory position existed at the time of the transition. Whereas the assistant EMA director volunteered to head the creation of the EMS department and was named interim director. Whereas the duties of both positions take many hours more than allowed in EMA employee handbooks. And the limits of compensation time allowed are suspected to be exceeded in the interim EMS role. Therefore let it be resolved that until July 1st, 2024, any excess compensatory time accumulated over the maximum allowed in the EMA handbook, will be allowed to be paid out at a one hour worked to one hour paid ratio . Signed timesheets by a County Supervisor and the interim EMS director must be turned in and properly filled out to receive any of the compensation payout.”

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council role in governing and advising the Supervisors has never clearly been defined. Marcus Gross, Shelby County Attorney, spoke and the EMS Advisory Board is in place to assist the creation of the Shelby County EMS and to assist the Board of Supervisors in making future recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the operation of the EMS Department.

Jordon Sanders, interim EMS Coordinator was present to have the Supervisors consider a new wage scale for the EMS department. The Board approved the wage scale as presented.

A building and grounds use application by the Roar into Harlan organization was presented to the Supervisors to hold their monthly Thursday evening events this next summer. No incidents involving the Courthouse grounds have been noticed or reported to County officials. The Shelby County Supervisors passed a motion to approve the application as presented.

The Shelby County GIS director, Mark Maxwell, presented a contract between Harlan Municipal Utilities and the County for GIS services. Harlan Municipal Utilities want to have a three-year contract with the County versus a perpetual contract as has been the case in the past. A motion to that effect was passed.

The budget limits placed on Counties by the Iowa Legislature has caused the Supervisors to consider several options of cutting costs to taxpayers. A new County retirement incentive has been drafted with the details available at the Auditors office. Generally described as employees with over 25 years of continuous full time employment with Shelby County, over 55 years of age and eligible for bonafide retirement may apply for an early retirement package now offered by Shelby County. A motion to approve the retirement package passed as presented.