Polk County commissioners approve monthly claims; Commissioner Boruch abstains on Boruch Masonry payment

Chairman Jerry Westring presided over the Polk County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 16 in Osceola, where the board audited and approved the county's monthly claims. The board voted to allow all claims except those payable to Boruch Masonry Construction; that motion, made by Westring and seconded by Commissioner Boruch, passed on a roll-call vote (Westring, aye; Boruch, aye; Boss, aye).

Commissioner Boss then moved to approve the claim to Boruch Masonry Construction for concrete work on the storage building near the hospital. Chairman Jerry Westring seconded the motion. On the roll-call vote, Boss and Westring voted yes and Commissioner Boruch recorded an abstention; the motion carried. The minutes do not specify a dollar amount for the specific work in the storage building line item beyond the Boruch Masonry listings in the claims (see county claims register).

The meeting included presentation of claims across several funds, including General Fund payments (total salaries listed at $91,876.95 and vendor charges such as Contryman Associates P.C. at $13,500.00), Road Fund items (notable entries for gravel, fuel and equipment service), the Inheritance Tax Fund (including a Boruch Masonry line of $13,619.13), and smaller dedicated funds such as the COVID American Rescue Plan Fund and the Senior Citizen Service Fund. The minutes list vendor-level entries for transparency but do not record additional debate on the claims.

By handling the Boruch Masonry claim in two steps (allowing all other claims first, then separately voting on the Boruch Masonry payment with an abstention), the board followed a recorded process for resolving a payment that involved a listed vendor. The board adjourned at 11:30 a.m. and will next meet Dec. 23, 2025 and Jan. 6, 2026; agendas will be available at the county clerk's office.