The O’Brien County Supervisors approved some operational details on Tuesday January 3.
Opening the changes to the coming year was approving Dan Friedrichsen as chair and Tim Overmire as pro tem. Friedrichsen took of leading the meeting from outgoing chair, Dennis Vanden Hull.
Employees of the county can choose 1 floating holiday each year. The discussion this year was a split choice between Tuesday December 26, extending the Christmas holiday, or on Friday April 7. After some discussion April 7 was selected.
Township Clerks and Trustees still had a few openings. Instead of appointing the officials they have confirmed for the upcoming year and then appointing the remainder in a week, they decided to find qualified candidates to fill the open positions and then appoint them all. The board discussed the annual township meeting with city clerks, fire chiefs and township officials set for Thursady January 12 at 5:30pm at the Primghar Community Building. The purpose of this annual meeting is to hear reports of each fire department and to set taxing rates for the townships by each department for the coming year. The reports are due to townships by January 15th. The auditor’s office will be ready to prepare each township budget once the fire departments set their tax rate.
The Construction Evaluation Resolution was up for approval. This is an agreement between a county and DNR for use and evaluation of a scoring matrix for siting a livestock facility. Supervisors considered the value of using the matrix in terms of convenience to the supervisors and to the developer, and how its use affects the power of the board of supervisors in decision-making. Nancy McDowell motioned to not adopt the resolution, seconded by John Steensma. Dennis Vanden Hull dissented. The resolution was defeated.
Katie Morgan, O’Brien County Attorney requested the supervisors to approve the appointment of Assistant County Attoreys Rachael Becker and Paul Caligiuri. The appointment was approved.
Sheryl Drefke was approved to serve on the Sutherland Library Board of Trustees. Kayleigh Larsen resigned her position, readying to move out of town. Drefke lives outside the city limits which requires board of supervisor approval, which they gave.
Committee assignments were made and the meeting adjourned.