Stanhope council approves city clerk hiring, adds clerk to bank accounts and OKs training

The Stanhope City Council on Oct. 14 voted to authorize the hiring of Jori Young as city clerk and approved several administrative changes to banking and training.

Council member Mindy Hetland moved to approve Resolution 2025-6 authorizing the hiring; Council member Jill Haman seconded. The council recorded a roll-call vote with Hetland, Haman and Doug Sogard voting in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Kempton Young abstaining and Councilman Beau Jensen absent. Hetland read a statement summarizing Jori Young’s qualifications and congratulated her on accepting the position.

The council also approved adding City Clerk Jori Young to the city’s bank accounts and updating signer authorities for the general fund and Fire/EMS accounts. Hetland moved and Haman seconded the banking changes; the motion passed by roll-call with the same abstention and absence noted. Under the new arrangement, Jori Young, Mayor Pro Tem Kempton Young and Council member Jill Haman may write checks and access certain accounts; existing two-signature requirements for borrowing, transfers, and safety-deposit box access remain in place as described during the meeting.

Clerk Jori Young asked to attend three upcoming trainings: City Finance 101 in Oelwein on Oct. 31, a virtual Budget Workshop on Nov. 25, and Iowa’s Living Roadways events on Nov. 7 (which includes a free Grant Writing 101 session). Council member Haman moved to approve the training requests and Council member Doug Sogard seconded; the motion carried with Mayor Pro Tem Young recorded as abstaining.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of consent agenda: motion by Mindy Hetland, seconded by Jill Haman; motion carried (Jensen absent). - Resolution 2025-6 (hire city clerk): motion by Mindy Hetland, seconded by Jill Haman; yes—Hetland, Haman, Sogard; abstain—Kempton Young; absent—Beau Jensen; outcome: approved. - Add clerk to bank accounts and signer authority updates: motion by Mindy Hetland, seconded by Jill Haman; roll-call approved (same votes as above). - Clerk training approvals: motion by Jill Haman, seconded by Doug Sogard; approved (Mayor Pro Tem Young abstained).

The council’s action formalizes the clerk hire, integrates the new clerk into financial access for routine transactions, and funds staff training described at the meeting. The clerk’s hire was presented as a personnel resolution; the resolution text and the State-mandated Open Meetings/financial documents referenced during discussion are on file in the City Clerk’s office. The council did not set further effective dates beyond the resolution and administrative approvals noted in the meeting.

The council will revisit administrative and operational items at its next regular meeting.