Deuel County commissioners approve transfers, contracts and 2026 salaries; deny $900 appeal fee waiver

Deuel County commissioners on Jan. 6 approved a package of administrative and financial actions, adopted the county’s 2026 salary resolution, and denied a request to waive a $900 appeal fee.

Key votes recorded in the minutes include a transfer of $1,000,000 to the Highway Fund and $14,000 to the Civil Defense Fund for 2025 (motion by Steve Rhody, seconded by Harry Mewherter; all voted yes); authorization of $50 cell-phone reimbursements for specified county employees (motion by Rhody, seconded by Judith Homan; all voted yes); payment of Zoning Board members at $150 per meeting plus mileage (motion by Mewherter, seconded by Fieber; all voted yes); and approval to allow the auditor’s office to pay claims early when necessary to avoid late fees (motion by Rhody, seconded by Fieber; all voted yes).

The board adopted Salary Resolution 26-01, which lists monthly salaries and hourly rates for named county officials and employees and sets travel and meal reimbursement rates (motion by Homan, seconded by Fieber; all voted yes). The minutes list individual salary and hourly rates for employees by name and role and indicate longevity pay is included in the stated rates. The commissioners approved Johnson Controls’ annual contract for $13,034.58 and a separate boiler-repair quote totaling $10,700 (motions carried; all voted yes). The board also approved warrants as presented.

A motion to waive a $900 conditional-use appeal fee, moved by Scott Fieber and seconded by Jay Grabow, failed on roll call: Homan—nay; Mewherter—nay; Fieber—nay; Rhody—nay; Grabow—nay. The minutes record that applicant Jacob Beutler said he would pay the fee and proceed with the appeal.

The meeting adjourned after the actions were taken. The minutes record motions, movers and seconders for each item and list vote outcomes when recorded.