Black Hawk County supervisors enter closed session to discuss real estate negotiations

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors met in a special adjourned session on May 5, 2026, in Waterloo and via Microsoft Teams and voted unanimously to enter a closed session under §21.5(j) of the Code of Iowa to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate where premature disclosure could affect the county’s negotiating position.

Chair Linda Laylin noted the meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.; Supervisors Justin Brandt, Tavis Hall, Ritch Kurtenbach and Chris Schwartz were recorded present. The board first moved to receive and place the agenda on file with the County Auditor; that motion carried (mover and seconder not specified in the transcript). The minutes state that, unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously.

The board then moved and seconded a resolution invoking the closed-session exemption in §21.5(j), Code of Iowa, specifically to "discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property." The board recorded the vote as AYES: Justin Brandt, Tavis Hall, Ritch Kurtenbach, Chris Schwartz and Linda Laylin; NAYS: None. The resolution was adopted.

Following the vote, members moved to direct the Finance Director that the Board of Supervisors meeting in closed session be adjourned; that motion also carried (mover and seconder not specified). The transcript does not specify any details about the property or properties under discussion, any price ranges, or any proposed transactions.

No public testimony, staff presentations with substantive detail, or formal motions naming a purchaser, seller, or parcel appear in the transcript excerpt provided. The next procedural step recorded in the transcript is the board’s direction to the Finance Director to adjourn the closed session.