Record: 10-17

By Phil Cobb | October 17, 2026 |

COMMISSION MINUTES

The Nodaway County Commission met on Thursday, Oct. 1.

In attendance were Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Scott Walk and Melinda Patton, county clerk.

Business before the governing board included:

• Requisitions and approvals: Invoice to NWMO Regional Council of Governments for Household Hazardous Waste collections; Inventory Transfer/Disposal forms. Collector/Treasurer to Rush Printing for office supplies; Sheriff to Delbert’s Garage for vehicle maintenance and repairs; to Amazon for equipment; to Consumers Oil for vehicle maintenance; to Gray Oil for diesel and fuel.

• The Commission reviewed the following information received by mail or email: Emails and articles from citizen on proposed data center; Annual Training Certificate – Steve Whittington, Deputy Coroner

• Quarterly Office Holders – The Commission hosted the quarterly meeting for office holders with the following in attendance: Burns, Walker, Walk, Lori Burns, Sally Duff, Rex Wallace, Lisa James, Austin Hann and Patton. The next quarterly meeting will be January 7, 2027. Also in attendance: Geoffrey Woehlk, Maryville Forum.

–L. Burns reported that she has gained a couple and lost one case. Burns is getting ready to do her annual trip the first week in November to see all her people face to face.

— James stated her office is still working on scanning books. She has talked to the software company about working on getting the information uploaded into the system, so they’re searchable.

— According to Duff, she has finished up tax sale season. Eleven properties were offered for and purchased. A new record for sale was set on a 10-acre tract that sold for over $43,000. Two properties that sold last year have been redeemed both of those properties have been demolished. New barcode scanners were purchased last year, that they are working on as well as credit card scanner. Duff went to conference last week. Looking into Lexus Nexus software for purchase.

–Hann reported the jail currently has 19 inmates. Hann stated has still has a cook position open, however the Court Security position has been filled and training will be done. Within the next four weeks his department will roll the court security project at the courthouse and will be looking to do a media push to let the public know what changes will be made. On the patrol side, the deputy sheriff’s supplemental salary fund is underway. The county has one cadet in the academy. We’ve officially hired a second one out of the academy. Hann stated they have had a number of patrol cars that have been in the shops, mechanically wise. We’re just getting hit hard with mechanical issues. The central square project, which is a new records management system that the county is switching to for the jail and the sheriff’s office, is underway. An enclosed cargo trailer was donated to the Sheriff’s Department. They plan to use this for the First Responder foundation, which does the Santa Cops for donations.

— Wallace stated he is waiting for levees to get set. His office has about 130 assessment sheets that need to be added in the system. Wallace will be out for annual training next week

–Patton gave a status update on the tax levy process. Absentee voting has begun for the November Election. During the No Excuse time period, which starts two weeks prior to the election, Patton stated they are going to have a satellite site within the Administration Center for those voters. The last day to register to vote to be able to vote in the November election, is October 7th. Inventory listing was sent out several weeks back. Office Holders are statutorily obligated to complete these and turn in by October 10th. Prepping for the April 2027 election. Patton plans to send out budget forms after the election is over and will be looking for those to be turned back in the first part of December. County Government Day will be set for the third week of February.

–Commission shared updates on BRO projects. Recently went with engineers to get easements signed for two BRO bridges. There is the potential that the county will have five bridges next year built under the BRO program. The commission explained this will bloat our budget considerably, but it doesn’t cost us a dime for those bridges. It’s federal money that was approved to be given, and the matching money comes from the soft match program of what our own bridge crew builds. The county also just applied for two more BRO bridges, which would put the county at nine BRO bridges, possibly in a four-year span. Soft match bridges are still on schedule. The FEMA/SEMA Disaster Relief incident is still in process. The county appreciation dinner date is December 17th. The third-floor remodel project is still underway.

• Discussed the roof leaks. A message was left for 3E regarding the generator.

• Public Comment – A citizen asked for updates on Bridge #0741000 in White Cloud Township. The commissioner’s did not have any updates to share from the county attorney or Scale Microgrid. A citizen discussed the Graham Community meeting she had hosted. Concerns for water, electricity and county-wide planning and zoning were discussed. Assessor Rex Wallace was asked a few questions regarding local versus state assessed property. Present: Bill Oliver, KXCV/KRNW, Scott Wilson, Tim Schafer, Rena Puckett, Susie Strauch, Kim Swyers, Nina Wiederholt, Dustin Skoglund, Donna Tompkins, Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development, Sheriff Austin Hann and Wallace.

Took a call from Dakota Oswalt, NW Missourian, regarding the proposed project.

• Independence Township spoke with Commissioner Burns regarding concerns with getting rock down before the deadline. White Cloud Township hauler has been contacted to deliver rock. Union Township Trustee has been contacted regarding rock. An attempt was made to call the Barnard Quarry.

• Project FEMA 4929DR-MO appeal letter was signed and submitted to SEMA.

• The commission, along with Brian Engle, road and bridge supervisor, inspected Road #290 in Union Township, Bridge #0251010 in Union Township and Bridge #0741000 in White Cloud Township.

• The commission went into closed session at 1:06 p.m. and back to open session at 2:10 p.m.

• Reviewed and signed county contribution election form for 2027. The commission elected to keep the current election (4% compensation on behalf of employees hired on or after February 25, 2002) in effect for 2027.