Barry County board elects David Jackson chair, names David Hatfield vice chair; adopts rules and 2026 meeting schedule
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Summary
At its Jan. 2 organizational meeting in Hastings, the Barry County Board of Commissioners elected Commissioner David Jackson as chair and Commissioner David Hatfield as vice chair for 2026, adopted board rules and approved committee assignments and an amended meeting calendar.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 2 to elect Commissioner David Jackson as board chair for 2026 and Commissioner David Hatfield as vice chair, adopt the board's rules and approve committee assignments and an amended 2026 meeting schedule during its organizational meeting in the Historic Courthouse in Hastings.
The meeting opened at 9:00 a.m. with County Clerk Sarah VanDenburg calling roll. Present were Commissioners Marsha Bassett, Mike Callton, Bruce Campbell, Catherine Getty, David Hatfield and Bob Teunessen; Commissioners David Jackson and Jon Smelker were listed as absent. The board approved the meeting agenda on a voice vote with no oppositions and the meeting proceeded to leadership elections.
Clerk VanDenburg opened nominations for board chair. Commissioner David Jackson was nominated and, after a motion to close nominations, Commissioner David Hatfield moved and Commissioner Bob Teunessen supported a motion to nominate Jackson as board chair. A roll call vote recorded ayes from Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Getty, Hatfield and Teunessen; there were no nays and Commissioners Jackson and Smelker were absent. The board adopted Resolution No. 26-01, electing Jackson chair for 2026.
For vice chair, Commissioner Bob Teunessen moved and Commissioner Bruce Campbell seconded a motion to appoint Commissioner David Hatfield. Nominations were closed, and the same roll call tally (six ayes, no nays, Jackson and Smelker absent) carried the motion. The board adopted Resolution No. 26-02 naming Hatfield vice chair. Clerk VanDenburg then relinquished the meeting to Vice Chair Hatfield at 9:05 a.m.
Commissioner Catherine Getty moved, with Commissioner Marsha Bassett's support, to adopt Resolution No. 26-03 to approve the Barry County Board rules as amended; the motion passed on a roll call vote with the same tally. The board discussed committee assignments and noted that Bassett had been assigned to two bodies that meet simultaneously; the chair agreed to work with members to resolve scheduling conflicts.
The board reviewed and approved the 2026 meeting calendar with two date changes: the April 28 meeting was rescheduled to April 27, 2026, and the December 22 meeting was moved to December 15, 2026. The amended regular meeting schedule was approved by motion and carried by roll call.
Under limited public comment, County Administrator Eric Zuzga wished the board a Happy New Year and briefly outlined anticipated challenges and key plans for 2026. In commissioner comments, Bassett expressed appreciation for the committee assignment revisions and Campbell asked that the Department of Human Services Board's two separate meetings be formally recognized as such.
A motion to adjourn by Commissioner Bob Teunessen, seconded by Commissioner Marsha Bassett, carried on voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 9:23 a.m. The minutes were signed by Vice Chair David Hatfield and County Clerk Sarah VanDenburg.