Polk County supervisors approve a slate of routine resolutions, grant awards and contracts

The Polk County Board of Supervisors approved a series of resolutions, contracts and administrative items by roll call during its June 1, 2025 meeting. The board voted on agenda items that included a conservation easement, local permits and vendor agreements, community grants, and authorization for general obligation notes.

Key actions approved by the board included:

- A resolution approving a deed of conservation easement for Trails and Mitigation Bank Phase 2 to the Great Outdoors Foundation (agenda item 7). The board approved the item by roll call.

- Approval of fiscal-year 2025–26 cigarette, tobacco and nicotine vapor permits for listed businesses (item 9) by roll call.

- Resolutions approving release of lien on property at 5590 Southeast Sixtieth Place, Carlisle (item 10) and agreements with the City of Ankeny for the 4 Mile Creek stream restoration project at multiple locations and Heritage Park (items 11 and 12). These were approved collectively by roll call.

- A resolution approving an amendment for education and prevention services with Focus, Inc. (item 13) and an agreement with EveryStep for health-promotion activities for seniors (item 14); both were approved by roll call.

- A resolution approving housing and care of persons in Polk County custody with the Benton County sheriff (item 15) and a joint-ownership agreement with the City of Des Moines for licensed products and services for the computer-aided dispatch system (item 16); both were approved by roll call.

- Approval of the Polk County assessor’s recommendation to allow the homestead tax exemption for specified applicants (item 17); approved by roll call.

- Authorization of an ACFR automation software and services agreement with Gravity IGM Technology Corp. (item 18); approved by roll call.

- A bond-authorizing resolution to issue general obligation capital loan notes: $180,375,000 (series 2025A, AMT-exempt facilities) and $57,455,000 (series 2025B, non-AMT), including approval of the tax-exemption certificate and continuing-disclosure certificate (item 19); approved by roll call.

- A group of resolutions (items 20–23) handled collectively that included abatement of property taxes, lien restructuring related to 1303 College Avenue, an advertising/sponsorship agreement with Exile Brewing Company for the Iowa Events Center, and an amendment to an agreement with RSM for consultation on emergency rental assistance fund implementation; approved by roll call.

- A resolution approving funding and directing staff to create a Polk County employee suggestion program as a pilot through fiscal year 2025–26 (item 24); the motion passed with Supervisor Connelly recorded as a no vote.

- Retention of attorneys Greg Lederer and Alexandra Galbraith Davis and the law firm Lederer Weston Craig PLC (item 25); approved by roll call.

- Community betterment grant awards and community sponsorship awards (items 26 and 26A) and various appointments to serve as Polk County representatives on boards and commissions (item 27 and 27A); approved by roll call. One change to appointments — replacing Assistant County Attorney Ralph Marasco with Deb Anderson on the deferred compensation committee — drew discussion and a recorded no vote by Supervisor Connelly, but the appointment carried.

Where specific roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt, the board’s members answered individually by name during votes (examples recorded as Holm — Yes; Hockensmith — Yes; Connelly/Connolly — Yes/No in specific items; Altringer — Yes; McCoy — Yes). In several grouped motions the clerk called the roll and each member recorded a yes vote on the motion as presented.

The board also approved routine minutes and the bill list and observed the Pledge of Allegiance early in the meeting.