Polk County commissioners approve most audited claims, authorize $44,650 payment to contractor with abstention

The Polk County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 15 audited and approved the county’s listed claims and authorized warrants to be drawn against the appropriate funds, the board minutes show. Chairman Jerry Westring moved to allow claims with the exception of the invoice from Boruch Masonry Construction; that motion was seconded by Commissioner Boruch and carried by roll call vote.

Following discussion, Commissioner Boss moved to approve the claim to Boruch Masonry Construction for concrete work and to authorize a warrant to be drawn on the Road Fund. The motion, seconded by Chairman Jerry Westring, passed on a roll call: Boss aye; Westring aye; Boruch abstain. The approved Road Fund vendor listing included a $44,650 invoice to Boruch Masonry Construction.

The claims docket read into the record also listed general fund payroll of $76,910.21 and multiple vendor payments across county funds, including payments to Gehring Construction and Ready Mix ($28,114.26), Johnson Sand & Gravel ($19,640.61), and Overland Sand & Gravel ($36,930.46) among others. Fees for the month of September were credited to the appropriate county funds as reported by the clerk.

There was no separate public discussion about the substance of the Boruch Masonry invoice recorded in the minutes beyond the roll‑call votes. The meeting record notes that a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the meeting room and that the meeting convened at 9:30 a.m.; the board adjourned at 11:40 a.m. and scheduled its next meetings for Oct. 24 and Nov. 5, 2024.