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Conservation director reports DNR clearance at landfill and repaired lake leak; supervisors weigh auditor staffing and 35% fund‑balance rule
Summary
Conservation Director Chad told the board DNR cleared the landfill and leachate pumping should cease while a two‑year monitoring plan proceeds; the county also received better‑than‑expected revenues but supervisors discussed implications of a possible new 35% required ending fund balance and deferred decisions on adding clerk hours to the auditor’s office.
Conservation Director Chad updated the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on July 13, saying the county “got the clearance from DNR on the landfill, so we’re no longer pulling leachate,” and outlining a two‑year monitoring timeline with a final DNR report due in 2028 before the county will consider permanently abandoning the leachate system.
Chad described several infrastructure items: dirt work for a new storage building is complete (a contractor claim for $36,000 was mentioned for the dirt work portion), rafters have engineer stamps and certifications, and the dive team located and installed a bladder at Airport Lake that appears to have stopped the leak. Chad also said campground revenues trended down slightly versus prior years and that plans for an ADA campsite and contractor scheduling remain in progress. He noted a planned timber sale at Gilmore Wapsi and upcoming bids for maintenance and tree‑planting contracts.
On finance, Board Secretary Sheila Shekleton presented fiscal‑year results showing about $507,061 more revenue in the general basic/supplemental funds than budgeted. Supervisors discussed a new law that may require a 35% ending fund balance; the chair warned that if general basic must be reduced to 35% by June 30, 2027 it would require the board to consider transfers to restricted funds and be more deliberate about spending. The chair said, “If indeed we have to get that general basic down to a 35% ending fund balance, I don't wanna just go on a spending spree.”
The auditors’ office raised a staffing request: Sheila asked for additional hours or a part‑time clerk to help with claims, payroll and election workloads. Supervisors debated options including moving a clerk to 40 hours, hiring part‑time help, or asking other offices to enter claims; the board agreed to consult HR and involved department heads before any formal change.
Other administrative items handled at the meeting included approval of a $9,009.60 one‑year service plan for county security systems (vendor listed as 'Barcom' in the packet), approval of quarterly audit reports and claims (including a claims batch totaling about $1,107,908.74), and acknowledgements of personnel actions in public health.
The board closed the meeting having recorded the operational updates and asked staff to follow up on DNR reporting, timber sale planning and fiscal‑policy options tied to the potential 35% fund‑balance requirement.
