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Black Hawk County departments present 2025 year‑end highlights to supervisors
Summary
Veterans Affairs, Recorder, Facilities and HR delivered year‑end reports Dec. 9 to the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors, citing client service metrics, new systems and facility upgrades that officials said will affect operations and budgeting into 2026.
Black Hawk County officials on Dec. 9 heard year‑end briefings from Veterans Affairs, the recorder's office, facilities and human resources that detailed service volumes, technology changes and capital work completed in 2025.
Yolanda Loveless, head of Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs, told the board the office updated its mission statement and continued outreach despite a drop in donated revenue this year. Loveless said the office reported roughly $9,500 in local donations so far for the year, down from about $20,000 the prior year, and highlighted nearly $2 million in retroactive benefit payments to veterans and spouses from January through November. "We're doing great things for veterans," Loveless said, and noted efforts such as gift‑card distributions for holidays and expanded outreach at community resource fairs.
Recorder Sandy Smith said the office completed a records conversion to the Avid system that created new subscription and bulk‑export options and automated daily exports to the assessor and auditor. Smith also updated the board on passport processing activity, saying the county accepted 2,262 passport applications this year and that the office will pilot additional services in 2026, including a traveling office and a veterans honor rewards program.
Laurie, the facilities director, summarized eight completed courthouse projects this year — including lighting upgrades, new conference rooms and improvements at the jail and Pine Crest — and said crews completed HVAC and building automation upgrades. Laurie noted the new Pine Crest air‑handling unit was installed but a snow‑melting component was missing and has been ordered.
Amanda Fazimier, human resources director, summarized workforce changes and programs, reporting the county hired 67 employees in 2025 — "we hired 67 new hires in 2025, and last year, we hired 67" — and noting improved retention versus separations. Fazimier highlighted new job classifications (including a civilian sergeant in the sheriff's office), a new onboarding module to reduce paper processes and workplace culture work by the Unite Committee now under legal review because of state law changes.
Supervisors praised the presentations and asked clarifying questions about service delivery, facility timelines and recruiting. The updates were presented as informational items; no formal board action was taken on department budget requests at this meeting.
