The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors voted to fill a recent vacancy in the county attorney’s office, adopt a procedure to review certain feedlot construction permits and complete a series of organizational appointments during its January meeting.

The board appointed Kevin Maugham as interim county attorney after a motion and second; the appointment was supported by board members who said an interim appointment would preserve continuity and save the county the expense of a special election. Following the vote the board administered the oath of office to Kevin Maugham; according to the transcript he said, “I, Kevin Maugham, solemnly swear…that I will faithfully and impartially to the best of my ability carry out the duties of the office of county attorney in Dickinson County.”

The board also appointed John Martin as assistant county attorney. During discussion a board member proposed a start date of Jan. 5, 2026, and an annual salary of $129,345, to include insurance and benefits; that compensation and the start date were added to the motion and the appointment was approved by recorded vote.

Supervisors completed organizational business including re-appointing Bill Leopold as board chair and confirming Steve Clark as vice chair. They approved a slate of representatives to regional and county boards and commissions, including appointments to the planning and zoning board (Erica Shalties), the Board of Health (identified in the transcript as “doctor Boris” and Beth Will), and the conservation board (Steve Anderson). One contested appointment to the board of adjustment prompted public concern: some callers told a supervisor they were worried that the candidate, identified in the transcript as Kirby, had voted to support wind turbines; supporters of the candidate responded that the board of adjustment’s role is to apply zoning rules rather than set land-use policy. The appointment proceeded after discussion and a recorded vote.

The board adopted Resolution 2026-1, a construction-evaluation resolution read into the record under Iowa Code section 459.3043 (and referencing the master matrix in Iowa Code section 459.305). The resolution directs the board to evaluate every construction-permit application for a proposed confinement-feeding operation received between Feb. 1, 2026, and Jan. 31, 2027, using the statutory master matrix and gives the county the ability to submit an adopted recommendation to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Other routine business approved by the board included the 2026 county mileage reimbursement rate at 72.5 cents per mile, designation of the Dickinson County News as the county’s official newspaper, approval of Dec. 30 meeting minutes and the acceptance of a DD19 MOD repairs agreement with contractor Corey Jerkins (the lone bidder on that item). The board also approved an eminent-domain notification list for public record and confirmed Tanner Bouchard as the county weed commissioner for 2026.

Votes at a glance: interim county attorney—approved (recorded ayes); assistant county attorney (John Martin, start date 01/05/2026, salary $129,345)—approved; construction-evaluation resolution (Resolution 2026-1)—approved; planning & zoning appointment (Erica Shalties)—approved; conservation board (Steve Anderson)—approved; DD19 MOD repairs agreement (Corey Jerkins)—approved. The transcript records a mostly unanimous set of votes on routine items; one board-of-adjustment appointment drew at least two ‘nay’ votes during discussion.

Why it matters: appointing an interim county attorney and an assistant with a specified start date and salary affects continuity of legal services for Dickinson County. Adoption of the construction-evaluation resolution gives the county a formal role in reviewing and submitting recommendations on certain confinement-feeding operation permit applications that would otherwise be handled by the DNR, which could affect local agricultural development and environmental review in the coming year.

The board adjourned after brief committee reports and no further public comment. The transcript does not specify the meeting date; the assistant attorney’s start date was discussed in the meeting as Jan. 5, 2026.