Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, APRIL 4, 2023

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 9:00 AM at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Board Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue in Glenwood was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the Chair, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gerde, Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, and Paul Wildman.  Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator, was also present; Neil Nelson, County Attorney was not present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda and Approval of Official Proceedings from March 21, 2023 were presented by the Board Chair. Motion to approve the agenda, made by Gerde and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for March 21, 2023 as amended, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

Consider the Request for Out-of-State Travel for County Recorder to attend the 2023 Educational Symposium hosted by Fidlar Technologies in Davenport, IA was presented by Sarah Green, Recorder. Motion to approve a request for out-of-state travel by the Sarah Green, County Recorder to attend the 2023 educational symposium hosted by Fidlar Technologies in Davenport, IA on May 22-24, 2023, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Highway Department Monthly Update was presented as an informational item by Brian Giese, Engineer.

Conditional Use Permit: Commercial Firearms business (Zempel, Langhei Township); Conditional Use Permit: Feedlot Expansion (Reichmann, Leven Township); Conditional Use Permit: Anaerobic Digestor (Biogas RNG LLC, Westport Township); and Preliminary Plat: Third Addition to West Shores (Tank, Leven Township) was presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to approve of the Conditional Use Permit (Zempel) for a commercial firearms business, along with the Conditions and Findings as presented in the March 23rd P.A.C. Staff report, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve of the Conditional Use Permit (Reichmann) for feedlot expansion with Conditions and Findings as presented in the March 23rd P.A.C. staff report, made by Gerde and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve of the Conditional Use Permit (Biogas RNG LLC) to construct and operate an anaerobic digestor with Conditions and Findings as prepared by staff, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve of the Preliminary Plat of Third Addition to West Shores (Tank) with Conditions and Findings as presented in the P.A.C. staff report, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. 

State Auditor’s 2022 Audit Engagement Letter; Tax Abatement – Parcel 02-0497-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; Tax Abatement – Parcel 03-0114-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; Tax Abatement – Parcel 02-0055-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the State Auditor’s 2022 Audit Engagement Letter Agreement, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 2023 tax abatement in the amount of $824.00 for Jan Strauss on Parcel #02-0497-000, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 2023 tax abatement in the amount of $879.66 for Bruce & Deb Blair on Parcel #03-0114-000, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 2023 tax abatement in the amount of $37.04 for Randy & David Wildman on Parcel #02-0055-000, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $95,304.64 plus supplemental bills of $4,962.23 plus employee reimbursements of $213.75, totaling $100,480.62, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Request for appropriation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to Hearts & Hands Food Shelf; and Approval of the Per Diem Expense Reports were presented by the Board Chair. Motion to approve appropriation of $10,000 to the Hearts and Hands Food Shelf from County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for community food supports as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Gerde and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and Commissioners.  

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 11:06 a.m.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Gordy Wagner,

Chair of the Board

April 24