Van Buren supervisors appoint equipment operator and medical examiner, accept deputy auditor resignation

The Van Buren County Board on Aug. 26 approved multiple personnel actions and received department updates.

On the recommendation of County Engineer Ryne Thornburg, the board appointed Saban Simons of Ames as a full-time equipment operator in the secondary roads department, effective Sept. 11, 2024, at a wage of $23.78 per hour (motion by Meek, seconded by Richards; ayes: 3). Thornburg also notified the board that a new mechanic would not begin until Sept. 3 and reported a fatality that occurred along Eagle Drive; he said regrading of 160th Street is ongoing.

William Cline, representing the Medical Examiner staff, informed the board that Dr. David Parsons had decided to retire. The board appointed Dr. William Felegi as Van Buren County Medical Examiner with a term ending Dec. 31, 2025 (motion by Meek, seconded by Richards; ayes: 3).

The board accepted a letter of resignation from Laurie Burgason, full-time deputy auditor, effective Oct. 4, 2024, and approved payroll (#43923-44015), handwritten claims (#2259-2261) and claims (#2262-2308), including secondary roads claims (#30249-30270). The board acknowledged 1-year manure management plan updates from three facilities and members reported on committee meetings and the FY2026 budget process. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m.

The minutes record these personnel decisions and routine departmental updates; they do not include hiring details for the mechanic role or additional context about the Eagle Drive fatality beyond the notification to the board.