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Mahaska County supervisors unanimously approve refunds to churches, set work session on Ordinance 37
Summary
After public comments from members of New Life Fellowship and other churches, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to refund taxes paid by local churches and agreed to a work session to consider rewriting Ordinance 37 and possible fines.
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 15 to refund taxes paid by multiple local churches and to schedule a work session to consider revisions to Ordinance 37.
Vice Chair Steve Wanders moved to approve the refunds, and Chairman Mark Groenendyk made the motion to refund the money paid by the churches; Member Chuck Webb seconded and the board voted all aye. The action followed a series of public comments from church representatives and residents urging relief from the assessed tax.
The discussion began during the public-comment portion when Terri Hayworth and Marianne Heyne of New Life Fellowship Church and Jana Bandstra (reading on behalf of Kristi of New Life Fellowship) asked the board about the tax being collected on the church and how to appeal it. Jared Dears raised a separate concern about what he called an inaccurate legal report and presented video he said supported his claim. Micah Van Mersbergen spoke in support of the churches and asked the board to delay any rewrite of Ordinance 37 until potential fines and remedies were better understood.
Arvin De Boef of the Assembly of God Church and Lorn Heyne of New Life Fellowship addressed the board asking specifically for refunds of tax payments. County staffers Andrew Ritland and Lindsey Thomas briefed the board on legal steps the assessor had taken and on potential remedies. After hearing those presentations the board approved refunds and directed that staff and supervisors hold a work session to review Ordinance 37 and the possible fine structure before any ordinance rewrite is finalized.
The meeting included several routine approvals. The board approved May 2026 claims and the Sheriff's Treasurer report, renewed a tobacco license for Hotel O, granted a fireworks permit for a June 27 display at Eddyville Raceway, renewed the county's agreement with Nyhart, reappointed Joe Durian and Julie Wells to the VA Commission for terms effective July 1, 2026, authorized installation of a drainpipe on the S 11th building, and approved several payroll changes. The board also agreed to table consideration of the ISAC Technology Service Bureau Services agreement. The meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
Votes at a glance: all votes recorded in the transcript passed on unanimous "aye" votes by the board. Specific formal actions recorded in the minutes include agenda approval (removal of item 12), approval of May claims, approval of the Sheriff's Treasurer report, approval of the tax refunds for churches, renewal of the Hotel O tobacco license, approval of a fireworks permit for Eddyville Raceway (June 27), renewal of the Nyhart agreement, tabling of the ISAC Technology Service Bureau agreement, re-appointment of two VA commissioners (terms July 1, 2026–June 1, 2029), approval of the S 11th drainpipe installation, payroll personnel changes, and adjournment.
The board did not specify in the meeting minutes whether the approved refunds apply retroactively beyond the current tax year; at least one pastor, Mike Linder of Engage Church in New Sharon, asked whether the refund would cover his congregation for the current tax year. The board's direction to hold a work session on Ordinance 37 is the next procedural step recorded in the meeting minutes.
