Polk County supervisors approve slate of routine resolutions, defer three items and enter closed session

At a Polk County Board of Supervisors meeting, the board approved a series of routine permits and resolutions, voted to defer three agenda items and entered a closed session under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss matters in which litigation is pending or imminent; the board reported it took no action while in closed session.

The meeting included one public comment from Miss Carol Maher of Downtown Des Moines, who praised a plan to move to binderless meeting materials and asked the board to display the active agenda item on room screens. Maher also renewed a prior request that people not stand “over your shoulder when you're making public comments with a gun,” an observation she said related to a prior meeting.

Votes at a glance: the board approved a renewal permit and passed a package of resolutions and administrative items (listed below). The board formally deferred items 16, 17 and 18 and later recessed into closed session citing Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c) (litigation). The board reported no action taken in closed session and then voted to adjourn.

The board approved the renewal application for a Class C retail alcohol license with outdoor service for Sonny's Pizza Bistro, 6594 Northwest Sixth Drive, Des Moines.

The board approved a set of resolutions (numbers as listed on the meeting agenda): authorizations for the auditor’s office to publish notices of public hearings (including hearings set for July 29 on disposal of county interest in real estate and on vacation of an unused road right-of-way in the Rising Sun Subdivision); acceptance of a bid for traffic signals, flashing beacons and street lighting maintenance; submission of the fiscal year 2026 revised secondary road budget and the five-year secondary road construction program to the Iowa Department of Transportation; awarding a contract for the Little 4 Mile Creek stream restoration project to RW Excavating Solutions; an agreement with the Polk County Conservation Board for the Sleepy Hollow Stream Restoration Project; and approval of a weatherization project to be awarded to an approved contractor.

Separately, the board approved use of opioid settlement funds to provide grantee technical assistance to Iowa State University; approved a settlement agreement, release of liability and related documents with Jennifer Myers; accepted a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grant through the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Department of Justice; approved a manufactured home abatement dated 07/15/2025; authorized funding related to a successful bid to host first- and second-round NCAA Division I men's basketball championship games in 2028; approved a minimal assessment agreement for Goldfinch Development; and approved community betterment grant awards and community sponsorship awards.

The board received and filed the Polk County annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending 06/30/2024 and the Polk County Veterans Affairs fourth-quarter report for fiscal year 2024–25. The board also received a notice of appraisement of damages and time for appeal related to condemnation for the 2026 neighborhood sidewalk program (East 40 Second Street project) and referred that matter to the treasurer and county attorney. A City of Urbandale notice regarding a proposed voluntary annexation generally described as within the corporate boundaries of the City of Grimes was referred to public works and the county attorney.

The board moved to defer agenda items 16, 17 and 18 and took a formal roll-call vote to defer them. Later, the board voted to enter a closed session under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss litigation; the board announced it took no action during the closed session and reconvened to adjourn.

Ending: The meeting closed after procedural motions to exit closed session and adjourn; no further public business was taken after the board reported no action in closed session.