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Cloud County declares local disaster emergency after weekend storm; board approves audit contract, abatements and referrals
Summary
Cloud County commissioners declared a State of Local Disaster Emergency after severe winter weather beginning Jan. 4, 2025, and unanimously approved administrative items including an audit contract, payroll, property tax abatements and referrals of two cereal malt beverage license requests to the Lincoln Township Board.
The Cloud County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Local Disaster Emergency on Jan. 7, 2025, citing severe winter weather that began on Jan. 4, 2025. Emergency Preparedness Director James Quillen presented the proclamation and, on a motion by Commissioner Ron Copple and second by Commissioner Michael Cleveland, the board approved Resolution 2025-1 by unanimous vote.
The declaration is intended to recognize local impacts from the weekend storm and to position the county to access response resources and coordinate cleanup. Highway/Weed Administrator Rod Michaud and Highway/Weed Clerk Kris Price reported on storm cleanup operations and said Michaud will attend a meeting about a request to use county-managed locations for a military training event called JADED THUNDER.
Solid Waste Director Mike Hake told commissioners the county is preparing a proposed Solid Waste agreement with Republic County; adjustments to the draft will be circulated to the Board and Republic County. Hake also reported the Recycling Center sold 43,620 pounds of cardboard.
The board approved several routine administrative items. On a motion by Commissioner Michael Cleveland, seconded by Commissioner Ron Copple, the board approved a contract for audit services with Lindburg Vogel Pierce Faris, Chartered, for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024. The board also approved payroll expenses totaling $194,343.59, with line-item amounts listed in the official record (General Fund $112,931.63; Road & Bridge $57,030.98; County Health $23,226.04; Appraiser $5,851.95; Noxious Weed $2,226.63; Election $6,912.46; Solid Waste $8,575.43). Payroll deductions and benefits totaled $81,808.27.
Commissioner Ron Copple reported he attended a Jan. 6 meeting of the Pawnee Mental Health Board by Zoom. The board approved property tax abatements (2025-01 through 2025-9 and 2024-191 through 2024-192) resulting in a net change of $12,405.64 and refunds totaling $5,134.85 (motion by Copple, second by Cleveland, unanimous).
The board also voted unanimously to send cereal malt beverage license requests for Rick Simpson and Mark Headrick to the Lincoln Township Board for action (motion by Copple; second by Cleveland). County Clerk Shella Thoman reviewed employee recognition rules for 2025 and encouraged staff to collect pop tabs for donation to the Ronald McDonald House; the team collecting the most tabs will receive an administrative paid day off.
The Board approved the Dec. 30, 2024 minutes as presented and adjourned at 11:54 a.m., until Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-1 (State of Local Disaster Emergency) — mover: Ron Copple; second: Michael Cleveland; outcome: approved (unanimous). Audit services contract with Lindburg Vogel Pierce Faris — mover: Michael Cleveland; second: Ron Copple; outcome: approved (unanimous). Payroll expenses approval — outcome: approved (unanimous). Abatements 2025-01–2025-9 and 2024-191–2024-192 — outcome: approved (unanimous). Referral of cereal malt beverage license requests for Rick Simpson and Mark Headrick to Lincoln Township Board — outcome: approved (unanimous).
