(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday for their first session of the new year. According to the minutes provided by Auditor Mark Maxwell, the Board’s first order of business, was to elect officers. They re-elected Steve Kenkel as Board Chair, and Steve Parkhurst as Vice-Chair for the 2023 Calendar Year. Later on during their meeting, the Supervisors in Shelby County acted to appoint Board members to the many numerous, various County Commissions and Committees. Other administrative matters were approved as well, including naming of the City’s Official newspapers for 2023 (The Harlan Tribune & News Advertiser), where Public Notices will be posted, and a list of Official Shelby County Depositories.

In other business, Todd Valline Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce was present and notified the Supervisors that the Shelby County Citizen of the year nominations are now being accepted at the Chamber office. He said also, the recent Christmas season generated over $88,000 in Shelby County Gift certificates and all these funds must be spent in Shelby County. The three recent winners of the Shopping in Shelby County contest were announced and two were from out of County, indicating the number of out of County shoppers drawn to Shelby County. It was also mentioned that the City of Harlan has completed two of the three needed hearings to change their Hotel Motel Ordinance. This is part of the reorganization of the Hotel/Motel funds collected in Shelby County and how they are distributed.

The Board approved Resolutions pertaining to: an Economic Development Purpose Statement; the appointment of Deputy County Officials; A Non-discrimination Resolution; and the authorizing of a partnership with the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund the allows the Board to contribute $1,000 per housing unit assisted in the County, outside the city limits of Harlan, not to exceed $6,000 in calendar year ’23.

Brandon Burmeister, Shelby County Solid Waste Board Director asked for the Supervisors to Re-Appoint certain members to the Shelby County Solid Waste Board. The request was approved. The Board then set the mileage reimbursement rate at $ .655 a mile for County Employees on Official Business, as well as the the days that will constitute paid holidays for the 2023 Calendar Year. The appointment of Scott Markham as County Medical Examiner was approved, along with a proposal that other previously approved individuals will also act as medical examiner. The Supervisors also approved members of the Compensation Board for the Condemnation of Private Property.

They also acted on approving County Employee health insurance costs and benefits, and incentives for physicals/online assessments that serve to reduce the County’s insurance rates.

The Board received FY 24 funding requests as part of their budgeting process:

• Kyle Lindberg Shelby County Jail Administrator presented a budget with spending for fiscal year 2024 estimated at $716,972.00. Staffing issues and office administration does not allow for sufficient jail fund recovery time. The current part time person at the Sheriffs office could be given full time responsibilities that include recovery of funds from inmates with longer stays. The money recovered would be placed in the Jail Room and Board fund for jail improvements. This would lessen the burden on the Capital fund for jail improvements.
• The Veterans administration budget was presented with expenditures for fiscal year 2024 being budgeted at $51,220.00
• Alex Londo of Shelby County EMA presented his Department’s funding request from Shelby County at $867,131 for fiscal year 2024.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday, said a man from Nebraska was arrested at around 5-p.m., Thursday, on an active Montgomery County warrant. Matt Staley, of Chapman, NE, was taken into custody on an original, Possession of a Controlled Substance/ 2nd offense, charge. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is the first of five statewide officials elected in November to hold a public ceremony to recite their oath of office.

Bird, who officially started her term on Monday, told a big crowd in the Capitol’s rotunda yesterday (Thursday) that she was just getting used to speaking about her new post in the present tense. “I’m going to take the values I learned on the farm, work hard, do the right thing and get the job,” Bird said. “That’s my commitment: to uphold the laws and the constitution.” Bird is the first Republican in 44 years to serve as Iowa Attorney General. She acknowledged Tom Miller, the Democrat she defeated, who attended the ceremony.

“You have been so helpful to us, so gracious to us in every way. I appreciate your service and your courtesy and your approach to your work as a lawyer. Thank you,” Bird said and the crowd stood to applaud. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, who will be inaugurated for a new four year term next Friday, campaigned extensively for Bird. Reynolds says Bird is taking office at just the right moment — to challenge Biden Administration policies.

“America’s form of government rests on federalism, which limits the powers of Washington, D.C. while protecting the rights of the states and most importantly the rights of its citizens, but so often our leaders in Washington get it backwards,” Reynolds says. “They disregard the democratic process within the states on issue after issue.” The governor says Iowa’s new attorney general will fight federal mandates and open borders as well as what Reynolds called social engineering.

“To them, the states are simply in the way,” Reynolds says. “Well, they’re right about one thing, at least. States like Iowa are definitely in the way and with Brenna in the AG’s office it will be no easy thing to push us aside.” Earlier this week, Bird joined a lawsuit challenging President Biden’s plan to cancel some student loan debt as well as three other lawsuits challenging COVID-19 vaccine requirements.