Osceola County approves legal-services budget amendment, two finance resolutions and township appointment; staff reviews levy rates

Osceola County officials approved a budget amendment to fund outside legal services, adopted two finance resolutions related to a paying agent and a loan agreement, and appointed Richard Crowett as Viola Township trustee, while county staff reviewed proposed levy rates that must be finalized by 4:00 p.m. the following day.

The county authorized a budget amendment request from the county attorney's office to pay for services from Bevel and Gardner and Associates. The motion to approve the amendment was made by DeBoer (role not specified) and supported by Helmers (role not specified); the three voting members recorded aye votes and the motion passed.

The board then approved Resolution No. 31, which authorizes execution of a paying agent, registrar and transfer agent agreement. The motion for Resolution No. 31 was moved and seconded during the meeting and carried by the same affirmative votes.

The board also approved Resolution No. 32, described at the meeting as approving and authorizing a form of loan agreement, authorizing issuance of notes, levying a tax to pay the notes, and approving a tax-exemption certificate and continuing disclosure certificate. The motion to approve Resolution No. 32 was made by DeBoer (role not specified) with support from Helmers (role not specified); recorded votes were unanimous as read aloud by the chair.

Officials appointed Richard Crowett as Viola Township trustee for a term ending Dec. 31, 2028. A meeting speaker said Crowett was aware of the appointment and willing to serve; the motion to appoint was made and supported and the members present voted aye.

County staff reviewed proposed levy rates and related budget details and told the meeting the levy rate must be set by 4:00 p.m. the next day so notices can be published. A staff member (name not specified) said the general-basic levy remains at the statutory maximum of 3.50 mills and the general-supplemental levy was set at $1.05. The staff member stated debt-service payments for the upcoming fiscal period are $405,000 and noted an approximately $600 per-payment fee was included when calculating the debt-service levy (reported as 56.811 cents). The meeting record also shows the voted emergency medical services levy listed as 45 cents and the public-safety levy listed as 94 cents. The staff member said the publication required by the state will go in the local paper the following week and that some percentage-change figures included in the statutory notice may appear large because they compare against prior years with significant reductions.

Votes at a glance - Budget amendment to fund Bevel and Gardner and Associates for county attorney services: motion by DeBoer (role not specified); second Helmers (role not specified); outcome: approved (ayes recorded from Helmers, DeBoer and the chair). - Resolution No. 31 (paying agent, registrar and transfer agent agreement and authorization to execute): mover and seconder recorded in the meeting; outcome: approved (ayes recorded). - Resolution No. 32 (form of loan agreement; issuance of notes; tax levy to pay notes; tax-exemption certificate; continuing disclosure certificate): motion by DeBoer (role not specified); second Helmers (role not specified); outcome: approved (ayes recorded). - Appointment of Richard Crowett as Viola Township trustee (term to 12/31/2028): motion and second recorded in the meeting; outcome: approved (ayes recorded).

The meeting record indicates staff will publish required levy notices and that, under state rules discussed at the meeting, levies may be decreased after being filed but not increased. No formal motions to change levy rates were recorded during the portion of the meeting in the transcript.