Crawford County supervisors place trustee and clerk appointment question on general election ballot

Chair Jean Heiden presided as the Crawford County Board of Supervisors on July 16, 2024, and voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2024-25, which directs the Crawford County Commissioner of Elections to submit a question to township voters at the next general election on whether the offices of township trustee and clerk should be filled by appointment by the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Muhlbauer made the motion, Supervisor Dozark seconded it, and the minutes record the vote as: Schultz, Dozark, Heiden, Muhlbauer and Rosburg voting aye.

The resolution cites a recent amendment to Iowa Code Section 39.22 that permits the Board of Supervisors to fill township trustee and clerk positions by appointment where allowed by statute. The resolution explains the board’s view that it is “frequently difficult to fill the position of Township Trustees and Clerk at the general election” and directs the Commissioner of Elections to place the following question on the next general election ballot: “SHOULD THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FILL THE OFFICES OF TRUSTEES AND CLERK WITHIN A TOWNSHIP BY APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD? YES OR NO.”

Why it matters: Changing from an election to an appointment process would alter how township-level positions are filled and could speed staffing where candidates are scarce, but it would also remove those particular offices from a direct vote of township electors if the ballot question is approved by voters. The minutes record the Board’s unanimous decision to place the question before voters; the minutes do not record any public comment or debate on the record about expected effects or implementation steps beyond directing the Commissioner of Elections to submit the question.

Next steps: The question will appear on the next general election ballot as directed; the minutes do not specify the ballot date or further administrative steps beyond submission by the Commissioner of Elections.