Wapello County board members met to organize for 2026 and approved leadership and a broad slate of reappointments on the agenda.

Speaker 4 moved to appoint Bryant Van Baddison as chair and Speaker 3 seconded; the board approved the motion. Speaker 2 nominated Carrie as vice chair for calendar year 2026 and the board approved that nomination. The body then voted to reappoint county department heads and to accept a lengthy list of committee and board members for 2026 after Speaker 2 read the names aloud.

The reappointments included positions across many county functions: accrual accounting committee (Kelly Spurgeon, Sandy Billings, Carrie Kennedy, Lori Falcon); the American Disabilities committee (Chris Swope, Heather Powers, Michael Merlin, Kelly Spurgeon); American Gothic House board (Rick Tibbs, John Heinscheid); safety/workplace committee (Don Phillips, Travis Caster, Lynell Dears, Brad Skinn, Chris Swope, Laurie Fowler, Brian Ziegler, Lisa Kent, Rick Tibbs, Andy Alderson, Rhonda Bailey, Steven Grogan); IT director listed as Andy Alderson; wellness fund committee (Lynelle Deers, Brenda Kennedy, Karen Wilcoxen, Amanda Jones, Erin McConnell); Area 15 multi‑county housing agency chairman Jerry Potts; Board of Health liaison Brian Ziegler; building code and appeals boards with listed appointees; conservation board and medical examiner appointees; the county newspaper designation and members of the board of adjustments and planning and zoning commission; and the newly named EMS advisory council with core members including Brian Ziegler (board representative), Bill Hoffman (city council), Dr. Douglas Lizzie (medical director), Amanda Hall (EMS association practicing provider) and others. Speaker 5 asked a clarifying question about one council member; Speaker 2 said he would provide paper copies if anyone needed them.

The board voted to approve the full list and also approved the minutes of the Dec. 16, 2025 meeting. No dissent or roll‑call breakdown was recorded in the transcript.