(Harlan, Iowa) – During their meeting Tuesday morning in Harlan, Steve Kenkel, Chairman of Shelby County Board of Supervisors announced that after 12 years on the Board of Supervisors he has decided not to run for supervisor again in the upcoming primary in June. In other news from the meeting, in his minutes of the session, Board Secretary/Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell, said the Supervisors approved the appointments of Denny Gross, Darrin Haake, and Robbie Bissen, to the Board of Adjustment, and an FY25 3-percent cost-of-living wage increase for all non-union employees, as well as for the employees qualified to receive the increase. All of those employees are eligible for a 1% increase in pay on January 1st, 2025, if they have the merit pay increase approved by their Department Head.

Shelby County GIS director Mark Maxwell asked the Supervisors for, and was granted permission to, sign documents approving the flights and associated costs for aerial photography used by the Assessor and Shelby County as well as other individuals and organizations that use the online photographs of Shelby County property. The new contract is again for six years and include a $204.76 a year increase in costs for the six-year duration of the contract.

The Supervisors then considered a resolution setting the Tax levy Hearing for fiscal Year 2025. The hearing was set for 9-a.m. April 1st, in the Supervisor’s Chambers at the Courthouse in Harlan. A public hearing will also be held at 9-a.m. on April 2nd, with regard to the Annex Building, which was initially purchased and renovated as additional Shelby County office space, housing the County funded Community Services, Juvenile Court, Sheriff’s department storage and County Attorney. The technology and the reorganization of those departments has left the building mostly vacated by Shelby County departments.  The hearing is to receive public input on the proposed disposition of the parcel containing the Annex.

In other business, Secondary Roads Engineer Chris Fredericksen, reported that the rock piles are being replenished and that adding rock or blading to roads at this time with dry conditions would worsen conditions. Moisture is needed, Fredericksen said, before regular maintenance of those types are resumed in full. Fredericksen also asked and recommended approval for a utility permit by the local Rural Water Association, the work would not cross the right of way but all be done in a ditch. The request was approved as presented.