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Barry County commissioners reappoint residents to advisory boards; most motions pass unanimously
Summary
At a Dec. 2 special meeting the Barry County Board of Commissioners approved a series of appointments and reappointments to local boards — including the Area Agency on Aging, Central Dispatch, Commission on Aging, Parks and Recreation, and the Building Authority — with most motions passing unanimously. One Parks motion recorded two no votes.
Barry County commissioners approved multiple appointments and reappointments to county advisory boards during a Dec. 2, 2025 special meeting in the Commission Chambers.
The board reappointed Lois Bowers as an at-large representative to the Region 3B Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (Carewell Services) for a two-year term, and reappointed Cindy/Cynthia Vujea to the Central Dispatch Board in a citizen-at-large position for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and expiring Dec. 31, 2029. The commissioners also appointed and reappointed members to the Barry County Commission on Aging (Robin Berg, Sheryl Lewis‑Blake, Terry Dennison and Douglas Smendik) to three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
On Parks and Recreation, the board reappointed Daryl Cheeseman and Richard Moore to citizen-at-large three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and appointed Matthew Lewis to a partial citizen-at-large term that expires Dec. 31, 2026; that motion passed with five ayes and two nays. The board reappointed June Behrendt to the Department of Health and Human Services Board for a three-year term (term listed as beginning Nov. 1, 2025 and expiring Oct. 31, 2028) and reappointed Barry County Treasurer Kelli Shumway to the Barry County Building Authority for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Several items recorded unanimous support. For example, the motions to reappoint Bowers, to reappoint Vujea, and to appoint/reappoint the Commission on Aging candidates were approved with ayes recorded from Commissioners Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker and Teunessen and no nays. The Parks and Recreation motion recorded ayes from Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty and Jackson and nays from Smelker and Teunessen.
The minutes note that no applications were received for the Barry County Conservation Easement Board and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Votes at a glance
- Reappoint Lois Bowers to Region 3B Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (two-year term): motion by Jon Smelker, supported by Bob Teunessen; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
- Reappoint Cindy/Cynthia Vujea to Central Dispatch Board (citizen at-large, 1/1/26–12/31/29): motion by Jon Smelker, supported by Bruce Campbell; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
- Appoint/reappoint Commission on Aging members (Robin Berg; reappointments: Sheryl Lewis‑Blake, Terry Dennison, Douglas Smendik) for 1/1/26–12/31/28: motion by Mike Callton, supported by Jon Smelker; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
- Reappoint Daryl Cheeseman and Richard Moore; appoint Matthew Lewis (partial term to 12/31/26) to Parks and Recreation: motion by Catherine Getty, supported by Mike Callton; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson; Nays: Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
- Reappoint June Behrendt to Department of Health & Human Services Board (term began 11/1/25–10/31/28): motion by Bruce Campbell, supported by Bob Teunessen; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
- Reappoint Kelli Shumway to Barry County Building Authority (1/1/26–12/31/28): motion by Jon Smelker, supported by Bob Teunessen; Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Outcome: approved.
Why it matters: Appointments to advisory boards shape local service delivery and oversight for aging services, emergency dispatch and parks, and they fill vacancies that affect county operations in 2026.
The board recessed mid‑morning and then resumed to complete interviews and votes. Chair David Jackson reminded commissioners about mileage vouchers and upcoming meetings on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, 2025 and the organizational meeting on Jan. 2, 2026.
