Des Moines County supervisors approve routine claims, set absentee voting hours; reporter asks about data center moratorium

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a series of routine claims, permits, contracts and personnel actions and announced absentee voting hours ahead of the June 2 election; all motions passed unanimously.

County Auditor Sara Doty told the board the Auditor’s Office will be open for in-person absentee voting on Saturday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that Monday, June 1 is the last day to vote absentee in the office. Doty also said public testing of election equipment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Board of Supervisors meeting room.

The approvals covered several standard items on the consent agenda. The board approved payroll reimbursement claims totaling $1,197.85 (motion by Member Jim Cary, second by Vice Chair Tom Broeker); an accounts payable claim of $59,876.34 tied to an Emergency Management grant opportunity (motion by Vice Chair Tom Broeker, second by Cary); an amended list of county depositories (Broeker motion, Cary second); a fireworks permit for the Sperry Fireworks Show on July 3, 2026 (Cary motion, Broeker second); a contract with Cost Advisory Services, Inc. (Broeker motion, Cary second); and a request for proposals for Veterans Affairs “Coffee & Conversation” programming (Cary motion, Broeker second). Personnel actions approved included appointing Benjamin Toal as Assistant County Attorney, $75,718 annually, effective June 1, and a six-month step increase for Mandi Spencer to $53,947 annually, effective April 27 (Broeker motion, Cary second). The board also approved the May 19, 2026 meeting minutes on a Cary motion and Broeker second.

Department heads gave brief operational updates. Conservation Director Chris Lee said Big Hollow was full over Memorial Day weekend and Starrs Cave Nature Center will begin summer camps in a couple of weeks. Sheriff Kevin Glendening reported the jail held about 90 adults. IT Director Brandon Mehmert noted staff will attend the ITAG conference next week, and Emergency Management Director Shannon Prado said she is pursuing several grant opportunities.

During the public input period, Veterans Affairs Director Brooke Marland said she will be absent for the next two meetings due to travel and vacation. Reporter Tracey Lamm of The Hawk Eye asked the board whether an ordinance or moratorium exists that would halt the permit process for a proposed data center; the transcript records the question but does not record any answer or further board discussion on that point.

The board adjourned at 9:37 a.m. The meeting minutes and audio are posted on the county website, www.dmcounty.com.