Pottawattamie County supervisors approve veterans and weather proclamations, authorize disaster closeout and personnel changes

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to proclaim March 29, 2026, as Vietnam War Veterans Day, to recognize Severe Weather Awareness Week March 23'27, 2026, and to approve several administrative and personnel actions.

Supervisor Jeff Jorgensen read and supported the Vietnam War Veterans Day proclamation and, speaking as a Vietnam-era Marine, said he appreciated the recognition. "I am a Vietnam era veteran ... I certainly appreciate being all of the Vietnam war veterans being recognized today because we certainly weren't recognized back in these days," he said. The board moved and approved the proclamation by roll call; supervisors also urged residents to volunteer for the Wall that Heals through the Veterans Service Office website.

The board also approved a proclamation recognizing Severe Weather Awareness Week and highlighted a statewide tornado drill scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 25. Keith (read in the proclamation) noted the county's partnership with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the National Weather Service and encouraged residents and organizations to review emergency plans and sign up for local alerts.

Doug Reed, director of emergency management, asked the board to authorize closeout work for a 2024 disaster recovery project and to execute an authorization letter allowing the county engineer's office to use the county UEI so remaining funds and reimbursements can be pursued. Reed told supervisors the authorization is needed to finalize project closeout documentation and secure outstanding payments; dollar amounts were not specified at the meeting.

Dixie Wilson of the auditor's office presented assessor application recommendations. The board approved the list as presented: 112 homestead applications recommended allowed and 13 recommended disallowed; 15 military applications recommended allowed and 2 recommended disallowed; 13 disabled veteran homestead applications recommended allowed and 0 disallowed; 1 family-farm application recommended allowed.

On personnel matters, the board approved a revised job description and posting for a budget and finance director after discussion about whether the description should explicitly list miscellaneous reporting duties, including ARPA and FEMA reporting. The board also approved a job description that would place the public relations lead as a department head; supervisors agreed to approve the job description but deferred any contract approval to a future meeting.

The meeting concluded with a motion and roll-call vote to enter closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss purchase or sale of real estate.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (voice vote). - Vietnam War Veterans Day proclamation (03/29/2026): approved (roll call; all present voted yes). - Severe Weather Awareness Week proclamation (03/23'/27/2026): approved (roll call; all present voted yes). - Authorization for 2024 disaster recovery closeout/access to UEI: approved (motion carried). - Assessor application recommendations (homestead, military, disabled veteran, family farm): approved (motion carried). - Budget and finance director job description: approved (motion carried). - Public relations job description/organizational change: job description approved; contract deferred (motion carried). - Motion to enter closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j): approved (roll call).

What happens next Staff will proceed with the disaster closeout steps and related authorizations; the auditor's office will notify applicants about assessor rulings; the County will post the budget-and-finance director position; the PR contract will return for consideration at a future meeting; the board moved into closed session for a real-estate discussion at the end of the public meeting.