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Calhoun County supervisors appoint county attorney, approve permits, EMS appointments and accept election canvass
Summary
At its June 9 meeting the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Ben Smith as county attorney, approved multiple underground construction and drainage permits, appointed an EMS medical director and medical examiner, approved EMS hires and contracts, and accepted the June 2 primary canvass results.
The Calhoun County Board of Supervisors on June 9, 2026 approved a slate of personnel appointments, infrastructure permits, contracts and the county's primary election canvass.
By unanimous vote, the board moved to employ Ben Smith effective June 14, 2026 to fill the county attorney vacancy under applicable provisions of Iowa law. The motion to appoint Smith was moved by Cory Ridgely and seconded by Dave George.
The board approved three underground construction permits presented by Calhoun County/Sac County Engineer Nick Buse: Calhoun County Electric Cooperative Association Permit 8-2026 (650 feet of URD in front of 2848 Fletcher Ave for a grain bin), Permit 9-2026 (600 feet URD near 2713 Fletcher Ave), and Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association Permit 6-2026 (installation of 5 miles of buried fiber north of Lake City). Motions for each permit carried with unanimous approval.
The board also reviewed and allowed claims and bank drafts (checks 82083-82182; DFT0005993-0006004; DFT0006007) and drainage claims (82183-82188) as presented. Acting as Trustees for Calhoun County Drainage, supervisors approved Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone's Calhoun County Utility Drainage Crossing Permit C-19U-2026.
On public-safety staffing, the board approved the appointment of Dr. Josh A. Smith, DO as County EMS Medical Director and separately as County Medical Examiner, both effective June 29, 2026. The board approved four EMS hires with the effective dates recorded in the minutes (Janessa Christensen, Jessica Peterson, Michael Glover and Haven McFarland). The supervisors affirmed proceeding with an EMS Donations Account as approved previously in Resolution 2026-10 on April 21, 2026.
Other actions included approval of a GFC copier contract and the hire of Savannah Pieczko in the Facilities department effective June 1, 2026. The board approved Resolution 2026-19 supporting a voluntary annexation application to the City of Pomeroy; roll call recorded all three supervisors in favor.
Finally, the board accepted the canvass results from the June 2, 2026 primary election and recorded the nominees submitted by political parties for county offices. Nominated candidates recorded in the minutes include Scott Jacobs (County Board of Supervisor District 2, Republican), Cathy Voith (County Recorder, Republican), Benjamin Smith (County Attorney, Republican) and Jena Patzner (County Auditor to fill vacancy, Republican). For several offices the minutes show no party nomination in the transcript (not specified). The meeting adjourned with the next regular meeting scheduled for June 16 at 9:00 AM.
Votes at a glance: all motions reported in the transcript passed by unanimous vote unless a roll-call (Resolution 2026-19) is specifically noted.
