Worth County Board of Supervisors approve reappointments, set $16 minimum starting wage and carry routine business

The Worth County Board of Supervisors at a regular meeting approved multiple reappointments to county boards and commissions, reauthorized the county engineer to carry out road- and drainage-related certifications and accepted several routine administrative items including payroll and claims. Supervisors also voted to set a countywide minimum starting wage of $16 per hour effective July 1 and adopted a construction-evaluation resolution used for on-site wastewater permitting.

Why it matters: The reappointments and administrative authorizations keep county boards and programs staffed and allow the county engineer to sign certifications of work and final acceptance for projects. The wage action establishes a new courthouse minimum starting wage to take effect with the fiscal year, which county staff said will be reflected in department budgets beginning July 1.

Board organization and appointments: Supervisors opened the meeting by reorganizing leadership and filling appointments. The board appointed a chair and vice chair for 2025 and approved a long list of reappointments and new appointees across boards and advisory bodies, including the county zoning board, board of health candidates (Mark Tomlinson and a candidate identified as Stephanie), veteran affairs (reappointment of Bill Hackbarth), conservation, civil service, and numerous regional authorities. The board then moved to reappoint and reauthorize Rich (referred to in the meeting as the county engineer) and authorized him to execute certifications of work and final acceptance related to county projects.

Budget, payroll and wages: The board authorized the county auditor to process salaries, insurance and payroll as listed in the meeting documents and approved payroll claims presented at the meeting. Supervisors approved salary changes affecting public health staff (the record shows that raises were discussed and that the board voted in favor) and separately approved setting the countywide minimum starting hourly rate at $16, to take effect July 1 with the fiscal year so departments can incorporate the change into budgets.

Policies and rates: The board adopted Resolution 2025-01 to continue use of the state master matrix for on-site wastewater construction evaluations. Supervisors also voted to adopt the federal mileage reimbursement rate (70 cents per mile) and to keep the meal reimbursement rate at $38. The board approved continuing the county's official newspapers as listed in meeting materials.

Other routine approvals: Supervisors approved drainage plans presented to the board and carried motions to approve regular reports and claims. They also approved updates requested for Central Iowa Detention Center forms (referred to as E28/E23 updates) so the county's membership and voting records are current for that regional board.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the meeting): the transcript records motions and seconds for the items above and shows motions carried for: reorganizing the board (chair and vice chair appointments), approving the agenda and prior minutes, a slate of reappointments to boards and commissions, reappointment and authorization of the county engineer, approval of drainage plans, authorization of the auditor to process payroll/salaries/insurance, approval of payroll claims, approval of public health salary changes, adoption of Resolution 2025-01 (construction evaluation/master matrix), setting the county minimum starting wage at $16 effective July 1, setting the mileage rate to 70 cents per mile, retaining $38 meal reimbursement, approving Central Iowa Detention Center E28 updates (2023), and adjourning. The transcript records "aye" votes on motions and occasional dissent was vocalized in a few instances (for example one supervisor said "I'll vote nay for now" on a reappointment prior to motion carrying), but no formal roll-call tallies with member-by-member yes/no counts were published in the meeting record provided.

What the record does not specify: exact numeric tallies for most votes and many individual salary numbers discussed in public health personnel conversations are not clearly recorded in the transcript excerpt (some wage numbers in the discussion are garbled in the transcript). The board recorded the effective date for the countywide minimum starting wage (July 1) and indicated departments should reflect the change in next fiscal budgets.

Ending: The board concluded the meeting after miscellaneous department updates (including building/grounds maintenance and public works updates) and took a motion to adjourn.