Black Hawk County supervisors elect Leland chair, name Brennan chair pro tem and approve 2026 committees and routine authorizations
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Summary
At a Jan. 4 organizational session, Black Hawk County supervisors elected Supervisor Leland as chair and Justin Brennan as chair pro tem, approved standing committees and made a series of routine administrative authorizations for 2026 including auditor authorities, newspaper designations and road directives.
Black Hawk County supervisors convened a special organizational meeting on Jan. 4 and carried a slate of appointments and routine administrative resolutions for the 2026 calendar year.
The board elected Supervisor Leland as chair after a nomination from a fellow board member and a roll-call vote in which Grant, Paul, Kurtenbach, Schwartz and Leland voted in the affirmative. Supervisors also approved Justin Brennan as chair pro tem following a nomination and second.
The meeting moved to establish standing committees for 2026 and to confirm board appointments. During discussion supervisors identified four committee slots left unfilled—alternative energy policy review, courthouse building and security, insurance and policy review—and asked staff to add meeting times and to return with any final adjustments. The board amended the motion to add alternates to the alternative energy policy review and approved the committee slate by vote.
Board members also approved several routine resolutions that set administrative authority for the year. The board authorized the county auditor’s office to issue cigarette permits for 2026; adopted a resolution authorizing the county auditor to issue recurring payments (water, utilities, insurance, payrolls, postage and other routine items) during 2026; and named County Auditor Karen Showalter to conduct claims and payroll transactions effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The board designated The Courier and Hudson Hero as the two official newspapers for Black Hawk County for 2026. Supervisors approved motions directing County Engineer Catherine Nicholas to close or embargo county roads as necessary during the 2026 construction season, and to sign progress vouchers for farm-to-market payments.
Most routine items were approved with motions that were seconded and carried by voice vote or roll call. The meeting concluded with a brief adjournment.
The approvals put administrative authorities and committee assignments in place for the year and direct staff to provide meeting schedules and any necessary follow-up at the board’s next meeting.