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Calhoun County supervisors appoint county attorney, OK $35,000 opioid-funded school position and several permits
Summary
At its March 18 meeting in Rockwell City, the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors appointed Ben Smith as county attorney effective March 21, approved two underground utility permits, authorized up to $35,000 in opioid-settlement funds for a Tier 2 school position, and set a March 25 public hearing on the FY25/26 property tax levy.
Vice Chairman Cory Ridgely and Member Scott Jacobs met Tuesday at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Rockwell City and approved a slate of personnel, permitting and funding items that county officials say will affect county operations and local services.
Member Scott Jacobs moved and Vice Chairman Cory Ridgely seconded a motion to employ Ben Smith effective March 21, 2025 to fill the vacancy of Calhoun County Attorney by appointment pursuant to Iowa Code §69.14A(2)(a) or employment pursuant to Iowa Code §69.14A(3); the motion carried with all present voting in favor. George was recorded as absent. The board did not provide further on-the-record discussion about the selection during the meeting; full minutes are available from the auditor.
Calhoun/Sac County Engineer Nick Buse presented department updates. The board approved two underground-permit requests. Permit 2‑2025 authorizes Olsson to run conduit for MidAmerican Energy along county right-of-way on D46 from the Sac County line to Harris Avenue down to Lake City and on D36 from Lytton to Rockwell City. Permit 3‑2025 authorizes Murphy Commercial Properties LLC and Hildreth Company Inc to install 4-inch HDPE pipe from 6903 Twin Lakes Road South to the parking lot at 2466 220th St. Both permits were approved on motions by Scott Jacobs, seconded by Cory Ridgely; the board recorded unanimous approval of members present.
Barb Riley, Calhoun County Public Health Director, joined by South Central Calhoun High School Principal Sara Pibal, requested use of opioid-settlement funds to support a Tier 2 position at the high school. The board approved expenditure of up to $35,000 from opioid funds for that role in fiscal year 2025-26; the motion passed on a Jacobs motion, seconded by Ridgely. Riley also discussed department staffing and the possibility of adjusting the FY 2025-26 public health budget to accommodate additional staff.
The board conducted a teleconference with officials from Pocahontas County to appoint reclassification commissioners for Joint Drainage District #9 Calhoun–#13 Pocahontas. The supervisors approved work order C‑05‑2025 for Drainage District #120 on a motion by Ridgely, seconded by Jacobs.
The board approved a paid-time-off sellback for employee Sandy SweeneyPamperin; the meeting record states the payout will be reimbursed by Rolling Hills because the region is dissolving June 30, 2025. The supervisors adjourned and set a public hearing on the proposed FY 2025-26 property tax levy for Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 8:45 a.m., with the next regular meeting to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Full motions and complete discussion are recorded in the official minutes on file in the auditor’s office.
