Page County supervisors set jail bond sale date, approve interim attorney contract and several county measures

Page County supervisors on an administrative meeting set a Feb. 25 sale date for general-obligation bonds to finance a jail, approved a 45-day employment agreement for an interim county attorney, authorized sponsorship letters for sheriff grant applications, ratified a county wellness agreement and raised election poll-worker wages.

The board voted to set the competitive bond sale for Feb. 25, with the sale window scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and an award of the sale expected later that day, according to Maggie Berger of Spear Financial. Berger told supervisors the county’s auditor and another staff member would log in during the sale to receive the results. Supervisor motioned and the board approved the resolution (Resolution 11-2025) setting the date and authorizing use of a preliminary official statement.

Supervisors approved a 45-day employment agreement for an interim county attorney. The agreement names James Barley and describes duties including prosecution of crimes filed in Page County, seeking necessary court orders, attending board meetings as requested and performing duties referenced in section 331.756 of the Iowa Code. The contract runs through March 30, 2025, can be extended by mutual agreement and provides that the interim attorney receive the normal compensation and benefits offered to the county attorney.

Page County Sheriff Charles McCall told the board the sheriff’s office and its reserve association are applying for grants and need county sponsorship letters to qualify. Supervisors authorized the chair to sign a set of guarantor/sponsorship letters for specific pending applications, including one already submitted to the Community Foundation of Southwest Iowa and two generic letters for future applications.

The board approved a wellness agreement with the Iowa State Association of Counties that supervisors said supports the county’s insurance program. Supervisors also approved raising poll-worker pay: regular poll workers from $9 to $11 an hour and polling-place chair pay from $10 to $12 an hour; the county noted poll workers typically work at least 15 hours on election day.

Supervisors approved multiple sets of meeting minutes submitted for record: minutes from Jan. 20 and meetings on Feb. 5, 6 and 7. Earlier in the session the board approved the meeting agenda.

Votes recorded during the meeting were taken by voice. Where the transcript records only voice votes, the board recorded the motions as passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 11-2025: Set sale date for Series 2025 GO bonds (jail). Motion passed by voice vote. Key detail: sale scheduled Feb. 25, sale window 10:30–11 a.m.; award to occur later that day. - Interim county attorney employment agreement: 45-day contract for James Barley through March 30, 2025; motion passed by voice vote. - Sheriff grant sponsorship letters: approved; motion passed by voice vote. Sponsorship covers the sheriff’s office and the reserve association; one application was to the Community Foundation of Southwest Iowa. - Wellness agreement (Iowa State Association of Counties): approved by voice vote. - Poll-worker wage increase: regular workers to $11/hour; chair to $12/hour; motion passed by voice vote. - Approval of minutes (Jan. 20; Feb. 5, 6, 7): approved by voice vote. - Agenda approval at start of meeting: approved by voice vote.

The board used voice votes for the recorded motions and indicated approval with “Aye.” No roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending Supervisors completed the items on the agenda and indicated they would reconvene later the same day if needed to handle outstanding claims and other business.