The Dodge County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 15 adopted a multi-year Capital Improvement Plan and approved a series of routine policy and budget items, including ARPA-funded equipment purchases for the sheriff’s office and multiple Human Services budget amendments.

The board approved Resolution 24-38 to adopt the county’s Capital Improvement Plan for 2025 through 2029 after a Finance Committee report; Supervisor Guchenberger moved the resolution and Supervisor Benter seconded. The board recorded the vote as passing 30 to 1.

The board also adopted Resolution 24-39 to formalize an Investment Policy (no fiscal impact) after Finance Committee review; Supervisor Guchenberger moved, Supervisor Boenter seconded, and the motion passed 31 to 0. During that item Supervisor Houchin confirmed that Nancy Kaye, whose signature appears on committee paperwork, had participated virtually.

Several ARPA-funded purchases for public safety were approved. Resolution 24-40 authorizes acquisition of mobile fingerprint scanners (the resolution text in the packet uses the vendor name "Edemia," and the sheriff’s office referenced an IDEMIA fingerprint scanner already in the jail) and increases the 2024 budget by $20,000 using ARPA funds. Supervisor Beal moved the item, Supervisor Yarroch seconded, and Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the county currently has no mobile scanners and is waiting for the board’s authorization: "We don't have any of these right now. I haven't had any purchases. We're waiting for this resolution to purchase." Supervisor Steger commended the sheriff’s explanation: "I just wanna thank Dale Schmidt for, or Sheriff Schmidt for putting in there a very descriptive why he needs it, how much they need it, and how much it's gonna save them time and also for the safety of the residents of Dodge County." The meeting transcript records an unclear vote text for this item (the transcript says "it passes 2823"); the item was carried but the transcript does not provide a clear numeric tally.

Resolution 24-41 authorizes purchase of two radios for the sheriff’s office with ARPA funds (fiscal increase noted); Supervisor Guggenberger moved, Supervisor Miller seconded, and the board adopted the measure with a recorded vote of 29 to 2. Resolution 24-42 authorizes purchase of equipment described as a mass spectrometer (the packet references "908 devices" and a fiscal increase of $72,015.57); Supervisor Guggenberger moved, Supervisor Beal seconded, and the board adopted it 30 to 1.

The board approved three Human Services and Health budget amendments. Resolution 24-43 increases the 2024 human services budget by $2,370,499 for Title 3B programs including home-delivered meals, congregate meals, public health, and children's long-term support; Supervisor Hedrick moved, Supervisor Gueckenberger seconded, and the board adopted it 31 to 0. Resolution 24-44 adds $65,110 for a Family First CST supplemental and a substance abuse block grant supplement; that item passed 31 to 0. Resolution 24-45 increases human services grants by $244,008 and passed 31 to 0.

The board also approved technology upgrades in Resolution 24-46, reallocating funds so the county can commit expiring ARPA dollars to network-area storage upgrades and free up sales-tax funds for other capital projects. Supervisor Klobuchar moved and Supervisor Steger seconded; during discussion Supervisor Houchin asked why sales-tax money was replaced by ARPA and staff replied that the county is prioritizing the use of ARPA before it expires and expects remaining ARPA to fund road projects. The motion passed 30 to 1.

Planning and land-use items that were adopted include Resolution 24-47 (adoption of a public participation plan for the comprehensive plan update, no fiscal impact, passed 31 to 0), Resolution 24-48 and Resolution 24-49 (zoning amendments for properties in the Town of Lowell, both reported favorably by the Land Resources and Parks Committee and adopted by the board; vote tallies are recorded in the transcript as passing with majorities), and Ordinance 1154 (land use code amendment for Woz Investments LLC, adopted by voice vote).

Administrator Claffer announced that hard-copy budget documents are available in the back of the room and that supplemental finance reports are being provided electronically; staff offered to supply additional hard copies by request. Supervisor Johnson moved to adjourn to next week at 6 p.m., Supervisor Kane seconded, and the meeting was adjourned.

Votes at a glance: R-24-38 CIP 2025–29 (moved Supervisor Guchenberger; second Supervisor Benter; recorded 30–1); R-24-39 Investment Policy (Guchenberger/Boenter; 31–0); R-24-40 Mobile fingerprint scanners (Beal/Yarroch; transcript unclear—item carried; fiscal +$20,000 ARPA); R-24-41 Two radios (Guggenberger/Miller; 29–2); R-24-42 Mass spectrometer (Guggenberger/Beal; 30–1; +$72,015.57 ARPA); R-24-43 HS budget (Hedrick/Gueckenberger; 31–0; +$2,370,499); R-24-44 HS supplement (Hedrick/Miller; 31–0; +$65,110); R-24-45 HS grants (Hedrick/Guggenberger; 31–0; +$244,008); R-24-46 NAS upgrades/ARPA reallocation (Klobuchar/Steger; 30–1; shifts noted in packet); R-24-47 Public participation plan (Beal/Klobuchar; 31–0); R-24-48 Runhack zoning (Bubholz/Kane; carried); R-24-49 Nye zoning (Beals/Kane; carried); Ordinance 1154 (Steger/Ringle; carried).

The board’s actions were procedural and largely unanimous or near-unanimous on routine budget, policy and planning items; the meeting record shows limited debate and several items approved on voice or brief roll calls.