Carroll County supervisors approve plats, appointments and an appropriations resolution; acknowledge 2026 valuations

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors on an organizational meeting approved a series of routine actions including three plats, multiple board appointments and an appropriations resolution that allows the auditor’s office to spend the remaining 15% of the fiscal year 2025 budgeted funds. The board also changed the wording of an agenda item so the board would "acknowledge" rather than "approve" the county’s 2026 valuation report.

Votes and key actions at a glance

- Agenda modification and approval: The board voted to change agenda item 3 from "approve valuation report" to "acknowledge valuation report" and approved the agenda with that change. (Motion and second; vote recorded as passed.)

- Approval of minutes (Jan. 2 organizational meeting): Motion passed. Vote recorded as passed with one abstention.

- Plats approved: The board approved three plats—L and P Songgroff (20th and Ivy), Keith, Rhonda and Scott Janney (170th and Ivy), and a plat for the David Digges revocable trust (Highway 30 in Quail). (Motion and second; carried.)

- Acknowledge 2026 valuations: County staff reported overall valuation increases across several classes and the board agreed to acknowledge the valuations rather than formally approve them. Staff reported residential valuations up 3.74%, agricultural land up 2.78%, agricultural buildings up 6.3%, commercial down 0.28%, industrial up 11.05% and railroads down 9.56%. Taxable growth was reported at 3.01%.

- Reappoint zoning commissioners: The board moved and seconded to reappoint four existing Carroll County Zoning Commissioners and asked staff to recruit a fifth to represent unincorporated communities; the motion carried.

- Appoint condemnation compensation commissioners: The board appointed four replacement condemnation compensation commissioners: Anne Earlbeck, Chris Ludwig, Jessica Veil and Lisa Moore. (Motion and second; carried.)

- Appropriations resolution: The board approved a resolution permitting the auditor’s office to expend the remaining 15% of budgeted funds for fiscal year 2025. Auditor Emily conducted a roll-call vote: Mike Anderson—yes; Stephanie Hausman—yes; Scott Johnson—yes; Eugene Meiners—yes; Mark McCray—yes. Motion carried unanimously.

During discussion of valuations, supervisors referenced House File 718 and noted the county will be affected by the statute’s limits; staff flagged that the county’s allowable increases in some levy categories will be limited under current state law. No additional formal policy changes or budget increases were adopted at the meeting.

The meeting concluded after committee reports and scheduling; several supervisors noted upcoming meetings and deadlines for budget reviews.