Des Moines County supervisors approve Phillips Ridge plat, law-enforcement contract and multiple personnel items

BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a one‑lot final plat for a minor subdivision called Phillips Ridge, authorized a law‑enforcement services contract with the town of Minneapolis for the 2025–26 year and signed off on a list of tax‑suspension referrals from the Iowa Department of Human Services, along with multiple personnel appointments and payroll step increases.

The Phillips Ridge final plat covers a single lot of just over 3 acres north of West Burlington off Gear Avenue and is being split from a larger farm parcel to allow construction of a new house, planning staff said. Jared (last name not specified), speaking for county planning, said the lot has received a sanitary permit from the county health department and will use an existing road entrance; an access easement is shown on the plat to guarantee access if the lot is sold independently.

“This is a one‑lot minor subdivision; it’s within the two‑mile review area of the City of West Burlington, and the city signed a letter of approval under their ordinance,” Jared said, recommending approval. The board voted unanimously to approve the final plat.

The board also approved a law‑enforcement services agreement to provide policing to Minneapolis for 24.5 hours per week for the 2025–26 year. Sheriff Glenda (last name not specified) described the hourly rate as a pro rata share of the county’s full cost to provide an officer (vehicles, insurance, fuel and equipment included) and said the county uses the same hourly‑rate method for other contract towns such as Danville.

Sarah Doty, county auditor, and Sheriff Glenda explained that the contract rate is derived by calculating the county’s full cost for a full‑time officer and prorating that to the contracted weekly hours. The board voted 3‑0 to approve the Minneapolis contract; supervisors voting yes were Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker and Jim Carey.

The board approved a list of tax‑suspension referrals provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). County staff said the DHS notifies residents who may be eligible for suspension; the suspension delays tax collection for qualified property owners but does not cancel taxes — taxes become due and payable if the property is transferred or sold. The board approved the DHS list 3‑0.

Several appointments and personnel actions were approved by unanimous vote. The board confirmed members of the county’s condemnation commission (a roster of landowners, operators and municipal representatives was read into the record). It also approved an appointment to the Danville township trustees: Brock Clayton Beckman to a four‑year term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.

The board accepted the retirement of Kay Levinson from the treasurer’s office, effective Jan. 10, 2025, and approved a set of personnel actions across departments, including sheriff’s office shift/hour adjustments (Derek Gordy and Bill Merrick), step increases and a resignation at the county’s correctional facility (Holly Carpenter), and step increases in other offices. One staffing action with clear salary figures: Brianna Teal received an anniversary step increase from $51,128.19 to $52,259.27. The county attorney’s office approved a step increase for Kay Haven.

Votes at a glance

- Phillips Ridge final plat (Resolution 2025‑04, final plat, one‑lot minor subdivision): Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: approval of the final plat for Phillips Ridge; mover/second not specified in the record.

- Law‑enforcement agreement with Minneapolis (contract year 2025–26): Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: approve the law‑enforcement services contract; mover/second not specified.

- DHS tax‑suspension referral list: Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: approve DHS tax suspension list; mover/second not specified.

- Condemnation commission appointments (roster of private landowners and municipal representatives): Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: approve condemnation commission roster; mover/second not specified.

- Township trustee appointment — Brock Clayton Beckman (Danville township trustee, term to Dec. 31, 2028): Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: confirm appointment; mover/second not specified.

- Retirement — Kay Levinson, treasurer’s office (retirement effective Jan. 10, 2025): Approved 3‑0 (Shane McCampbell, Tom Broker, Jim Carey). Motion text: accept retirement; mover/second not specified.

- Sheriff personnel adjustments (Derek Gordy; Bill Merrick): Approved 3‑0. Motion text: approve personnel changes as presented; mover/second not specified.

- Fractional‑center and other personnel actions (includes Brianna Teal step increase and other staff changes/resignation): Approved 3‑0. Motion text: approve personnel actions as presented; mover/second not specified.

- County attorney step increase — Kay Haven: Approved 3‑0. Motion text: approve step increase; mover/second not specified.

Why it matters

The Phillips Ridge approval settles land‑use and access details for a new residence and confirms inter‑jurisdictional review with West Burlington. The Minneapolis policing contract continues the county’s practice of providing law enforcement services to small towns on an hourly, cost‑recovery basis; the county’s stated price includes vehicles and equipment and is prorated to contracted hours. The DHS tax‑suspension approvals direct staff to process eligibility referrals that temporarily delay collection for qualifying residents, with taxes remaining due if property is sold. The appointments and personnel votes fill routine county governance and staffing needs for 2025.

What the board said about next steps

Planning staff stated the Phillips Ridge plat will be filed and recorded per county process. Sheriff Glenda said the county will continue to calculate contracted hourly rates by prorating full‑time costs; specifics of the Minneapolis contract rate were not read into the public record at the meeting but can be provided by the sheriff’s office or auditor on request. County staff said the DHS will notify eligible residents about tax suspension and that the county’s role is to confirm eligibility and process the suspensions.

Public comment and questions

One member of the public asked about the hourly rate and anticipated hours under the Minneapolis contract; Sheriff Glenda and county staff answered that the contract covers 24.5 hours per week and that the hourly rate is calculated from the county’s full cost of providing an officer. No formal public objections were recorded during the meeting.