Polk County supervisors on Dec. 16 voted to return proposed goals for the county administrator to the Executive Committee for further work and then ratified a separate contract amendment extending the administrator's employment term and adjusting severance. The vote to send the goals back passed 8–6; the contract extension was later ratified by roll call.

County staff presented three goals developed by the Executive Committee: (1) review, revise and implement updates to the county safety program and policies to ensure compliance with current OSHA and state/federal standards, and to address emerging workplace safety risks; (2) rebid the county's health benefit plans to seek competitive pricing and improved coverage options that align with employee needs and budget goals; and (3) develop and implement a structurally balanced county budget using levy, bonding, short-term loans, investments and other revenue sources to support fiscal stability and strategic initiatives.

Several supervisors asked that an employee-management or employee-development goal be added; after discussion a motion to send the goals back to the Executive Committee with that recommendation passed on roll call, 8 yes to 6 no.

Separately, the board considered an amendment to the county administrator's contract negotiated by the Executive Committee and the administrator. Staff and legal counsel described two substantive changes: an extension of the contract term so the amended agreement would run from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2030, and a stepped severance schedule negotiated with the administrator. Under the amendment the severance payout if the board terminates the administrator without cause would be six months for the first two years of the contract, increase to nine months in the third year and reach 12 months in the final year. Payroll adjustments (a 1.5% market adjustment Jan. 1 and a 2% merit increase July 1) were described as already adopted in the county budget and therefore incorporated into the contract document.

Board members who spoke in favor emphasized continuity and retaining experienced staff; others said a five-year contract term is longer than typical and questioned why the board was acting before the current contract term had expired. After discussion a motion to accept the Executive Committee's employment agreement was made, seconded and approved by roll call. The chair indicated the agreement would be executed following the meeting.

The board's recorded roll calls are in the meeting record; the motion to send goals back passed 8–6, and the contract amendment passed with a majority recorded in the roll call vote.