Cloud County board approves hire, fiber installation and addresses Solid Waste bond shortfall

Cloud County commissioners handled several administrative, personnel and financial items during their Sept. 29 meeting.

On motions by Commissioner Ron Copple, seconded by Chairman Michael Cleveland and recorded in the minutes as unanimous votes, the Board approved hiring Travis Mills as Equipment Operator I (H1) in the Highway Department, effective Oct. 6, 2025; approved Twin Valley Communications' request to install fiber on Lark Road between 180th and 190th; and approved abatements 2025-316 and 2025-317 with a net change and refund of $1,199.60.

The Board also approved a 5-minute executive session for a personnel matter and later a 20-minute executive session to interview an Emergency Manager applicant (Applicant #1 participated by Zoom). Both executive-session motions were moved by Commissioner Copple and seconded by Chairman Cleveland.

County Clerk Shella Thoman presented the Solid Waste/Recycling billing spreadsheet and reported that a bond payment due in October could not be fully covered from the Public Building and Law Enforcement accounts; for tracking purposes the minutes record that the remaining balance will be taken from the Jail budget. Thoman reported sales-tax receipts for Sept. 25, 2025 totaled $93,582.97 versus $99,286.03 the prior year. The Board approved payroll expenses totaling $190,313.55 and payroll deductions and benefits of $80,127.73; the minutes say that detailed expense information is available at the County Clerk’s office and on the Clerk’s public records webpage.

The Board approved the Sept. 22, 2025 minutes as presented and adjourned at 2:12 p.m. until Oct. 2, 2025.

Minutes record no individual roll-call votes in the body of the minutes; each motion is summarized as having passed by a unanimous vote.