Polk County supervisors approve routine resolutions, set hearings and appoint staff in unanimous votes

The Polk County Board of Supervisors approved a slate of routine resolutions, contracts and appointments during the meeting; the board recorded roll-call votes on minutes, claims, permits and multiple resolutions and set a public hearing on bond reallocation.

Highlights from the board’s actions include approval of a renewal alcohol license, agreements for lead-hazard repairs, extensions to drug-control grants, certification of a Title VI nondiscrimination assurance for a trail connection project, and adoption of the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. The board also fixed a date for a public hearing on reallocating proceeds from the county’s Series 2024B bonds and voted to meet in closed session to discuss litigation strategy under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c).

The meeting record shows affirmative roll-call votes by the five supervisors present (Holm, Hawkinsmith, Connelly, Altringer and McCoy) on the approved items in the transcript excerpt. Several items were referred to staff or other offices rather than approved on the floor, such as annexation notice materials and an Iowa DOT condemnation appraisal notice.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in the excerpt):

- Approval of minutes of the previous meeting — motion moved and seconded; roll call yes by all five supervisors.

- Approval of the county bill list — roll call yes by all five supervisors.

- Renewal application for Class E retail alcohol license for Liquorland, 4995 Merle Hay Road — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 2 — approving installation of a two-stage ditch within Drainage District No. 4 — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 9 — authorizing the auditor’s office to publish notice of a Feb. 11 public hearing on plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated costs for construction of single-family homes under an affordable housing project — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 10 — approving an agreement with Impact Community Action Partnership — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 11 — approving agreement with C & R Supply for purchase and installation of a chemical-injection spray system — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 12 — authorizing the auditor’s office to publish notice of a Feb. 11 public hearing to transfer ownership of land to the city of Bondurant for the Chautauqua Valley Trail realignment project — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 13 — approving Polk County’s Title VI plan and nondiscrimination assurances to receive federal funding for the Polk City Junction Trail Connection to the High Trestle Trail — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 14 — authorizing General Services to hold public auctions during calendar year 2025 to dispose of surplus county property — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 15 — appointing Margaret Lano as full-time Polk County Judicial Mental Health Advocate — approved by roll call.

- Resolution Nos. 16 and 17 — approving agreements (Fextive Limited and Richmond Construction) to address lead-hazard repairs at properties listed in the record — both approved by roll call.

- Resolution Nos. 18 and 19 — approving grant extensions from the governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy for the anti‑heroin task force and methamphetamine drug hotspots task force — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 20 — approving a position modification within the Community, Family and Youth Services Department — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 21 — fixing a date for a meeting on the proposition to authorize reallocation of bond proceeds from the Series 2024B bonds (reimbursement memorandum concurrence and ratification) — motion to fix the hearing date carried by roll call after a presentation by bond counsel.

- Resolution No. 22 — adopting the Polk County Emergency Management 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 23 — approving a settlement agreement, release of liability, indemnification and covenant not to sue with Polk County Health Services Foundation — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 24 — appointing county representatives to various boards and commissions — approved by roll call.

- Resolutions Nos. 25–26 — approving community development grants for Starts Right Here and the Science Center of Iowa — approved by roll call.

- Resolution No. 27 — approving community sponsorship awards — approved by roll call.

- Communications and referral actions: City of Ankeny voluntary annexation notice, Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority FY26 budget and amended FY25 budget hearing notice, and notice of appraisement of damages from Iowa DOT condemnation proceedings were referred to appropriate staff or offices (public works, county attorney, treasurer) per the record.

- Memorandum of appointments — approved by roll call.

- Item No. 34 — the board voted to close a portion of the meeting to discuss litigation strategy under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c); roll-call votes were recorded as affirmative for closure.

Several items were introduced with brief staff explanation. Eric Bullard of Alderson Cooney, bond counsel to the county, told the board that fixing the hearing date for the Series 2024B bond reimbursement was a “state law procedural process” intended to provide flexibility and ensure compliance with tax-code spending limitations.

Where the transcript excerpt recorded only routine “move/second” and roll-call confirmations, the record does not show additional debate or dissent on the listed items in the excerpt.