Mitchell County’s Board of Supervisors completed standard organizational business Jan. 2, electing Todd as chair and Pam as vice chair and approving a slate of routine administrative items carried by voice or roll‑call votes.

The board approved the published agenda and the minutes from Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. Supervisors moved to retain committee and board appointments as listed after discussion about roles for North Iowa Community Action and the North Iowa Port Authority, which supervisors said met infrequently. A motion to keep existing appointments passed by roll call.

Financial and administrative approvals included a motion authorizing the county auditor to issue warrants and make routine payroll and benefit payments; designation of the St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal and the Osage Oracle as Mitchell County’s official newspapers for 2026; and a delegation empowering the county engineer to execute certificates of completion and final acceptance for farm‑to‑market construction projects.

On employee reimbursements, the board set meal allowances at up to $30 per day and mileage at the federal rate of $0.725 per mile; the board also approved a $30 monthly partial cell‑phone stipend for supervisors who use personal phones for county business.

The board appointed Dr. Kelly Ross as Mitchell County Medical Examiner for 2026 with Dr. Jeff Nastu, Dr. Benjamin Harvins and Dr. Megan Peterson as deputies; the coroner’s fee was set at $100 plus mileage at the county rate. For right‑of‑way projects the board set compensation formulas including 1.9 times assessed valuation for acquisition, woven fence at $9 per rod, barbed wire at $7 per rod, and a $150 per‑acre crop‑damage allowance.

Supervisors also approved FY27 budget line items for local dues and assessments (Niacog dues at $1.05 per capita; Region 2 transit assessment around $2.25–$2.27 per capita; NCRERC dues at $0.82 per capita) after debate about whether to label those entries as "dues," "assessments," or "contracts for services." The board removed the word "contributions" from the wording to avoid potential compliance issues.

The meeting concluded with scheduling discussion for upcoming budget meetings and an adjournment at about 9:28 a.m.