Chickasaw County Emergency Management Commission approves budget for publication after 6-3 roll call; public hearing set Feb. 11

The Chickasaw County Emergency Management Commission voted 6-3 on Jan. 28 to approve its proposed budget for publication and set a public hearing for Feb. 11, 2026.

Commission member Mueterthies moved to approve the budget as presented for publication; Ostert seconded. The roll-call vote was Mueterthies—Aye; Ostert—Aye; Ashley—Nay; Jimmy Mitchell—Nay; Commission member Taylor—Aye; Chair Steve Geerts—Aye; Tenge—Aye; Hackman—Nay; Vice Chair Ryan Shawver—Aye. The motion carried 6-3.

Before the vote, Commission member Hackman moved to fund the Emergency Management Commission budget under Iowa Code 29C.17(2)(b). That motion died for lack of a second and was not voted on.

Vice Chair Ryan Shawver moved, seconded by Hackman, to approve the revenue figures as presented for publication; the measure passed unanimously on a roll call (Shawver, Hackman, Ostert, Ashley, Jimmy Mitchell, Taylor, Mueterthies, Chair Steve Geerts, Tenge voting Aye).

The commission also voted to set a public hearing on the proposed budget for Feb. 11, 2026, at 17:50 at the Community Service Building in Chickasaw County. Jimmy Mitchell moved to set the hearing; Taylor seconded.

On procedural items, the commission approved the Jan. 28 agenda and the minutes from the May 28, 2025 meeting by voice votes. The body retained its current officers by unanimous consent: Chair Steve Geerts, Vice Chair Ryan Shawver, Secretary Jeff Bernatz and the commission’s representative to the 911 Service Board, Jimmy Mitchell.

The meeting was called to order by Secretary Jeff Bernatz at 18:00 and adjourned at 20:30.

Next steps: the proposed budget will proceed to the public hearing on Feb. 11 for public comment before final adoption.