Calhoun County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-09-08
Meeting: Board of Supervisors Meeting
Scheduled Start: 9:00 AM
Location: Board of Supervisors Room, Courthouse, Rockwell City, Iowa
The Calhoun County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider the county attorney vacancy, hold a public hearing on a confinement feeding operation permit, meet jointly with Webster County on drainage matters, address an EMS personnel matter, and consider several zoning and governance items. The agenda notes that items are handled on a rolling basis, so listed times and order are tentative.
Key Items on the Agenda
County Attorney Vacancy
At 9:02 AM, the Board is scheduled to address the vacancy in the office of Calhoun County Attorney. The agenda identifies two possible approaches: filling the vacancy by appointment pursuant to Iowa Code §69.14A(2)(a), or employment pursuant to Iowa Code §69.14A(3).
The packet does not identify a proposed appointee or employee or state which approach the Board is expected to choose.
Public Hearing on MLT, LLC Confinement Feeding Operation
A public hearing is scheduled for 9:20 AM regarding a construction permit for the MLT, LLC confinement feeding operation. The agenda identifies the permit hearing but provides no additional project specifications, recommendation, or proposed decision.
Joint Drainage Matters with Webster County
At 9:30 AM, the Board is scheduled for a joint teleconference with Webster County concerning two joint drainage matters:
- Joint Drainage District 12 Webster / 38 Calhoun: Agrivia PLLC invoice.
- Joint Drainage District 70 Webster / 95 Calhoun: drainage repair request.
The agenda does not provide an invoice amount, repair cost, or further description of the requested work.
Department and County Business
County Engineer and EMS Updates
County Engineer Nick Buse is scheduled to provide department updates and address permits. EMS Director Bruce Musgrave is also scheduled to provide department updates.
The EMS portion of the agenda includes a personnel matter for which the Board may consider entering closed session under Iowa Code §21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose employment is being considered. The agenda states that the individual has requested a closed session and that a roll-call vote would be required to convene it.
Anticipated closed-session attendees include Board members, the county attorney, human resources director, and EMS director. The Board would reconvene in open session and could then consider action, if any.
Two related items are also listed:
- Staff payout, which may be taken up in closed session if the Board convenes one for the personnel matter.
- New hire, which likewise may be taken up during that closed session.
The agenda expressly states that any final action on these matters would be taken in open session.
Zoning and Governance
Proposed Zoning Enforcement and Penalty Changes
The Board is scheduled to discuss and possibly act on a proposed amendment to Calhoun County Zoning Ordinance No. 2026-01. The proposal would amend provisions concerning violations, penalties, enforcement, and fees.
Among the proposed changes:
- Zoning violations could alternatively be enforced as county infractions under Iowa Code §331.307.
- The proposed civil penalty is $750 for a first offense and $1,000 for each repeat offense.
- Each day a violation continues could constitute a separate offense.
- The ordinance would provide a process for nuisance abatement under Iowa Code §331.384, including written notice to the property owner and an opportunity for a hearing before the Board.
- If an owner does not act, the county could undertake abatement and assess its abatement costs against the property.
Possible Board action includes referring the amendment to the Calhoun County Planning and Zoning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation and considering a resolution memorializing any action taken.
Data Centers, Anhydrous Ammonia Production and Rezoning
A separate zoning item concerns potential amendments addressing data centers, anhydrous ammonia production, and related provisions.
The agenda contemplates possible direction to the county attorney to prepare amendments to Zoning Ordinance No. 2026-01 along with a companion rezoning ordinance. It also lists possible referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a hearing and recommendation, authorization for a survey, notices and related work, and consideration of a resolution documenting the Board's direction and related actions.
The packet does not provide the text of the contemplated amendments or specify the zoning standards that could ultimately be proposed.
Iowa Attorney General's Criminal Appeals Section
The Board is scheduled to consider a resolution recognizing and commending the Iowa Criminal Appeals Section of the Iowa Attorney General's Office for its work defending criminal convictions, supporting victims, and strengthening the criminal justice system.
The proposed action also calls for a copy of the resolution to be forwarded to the Iowa Attorney General's Office.
Other County Business
The agenda lists several additional items for possible action but provides little or no supporting detail:
- Claims.
- Community & Family Resources MOU FY26.27.
- Community & Family Resources Lease FY26.27.
- Family Crisis Centers Agreement FY26.27.
No dollar amounts or substantive terms for these agreements are included in the packet text.
What to Watch at the Meeting
Several agenda items leave significant decisions for the meeting itself. The Board's approach to filling the county attorney vacancy is not specified in advance, and the packet does not state an anticipated outcome for the MLT, LLC permit hearing.
The zoning items could also shape subsequent public processes. The Board may decide whether to advance the proposed enforcement and penalty amendment to the Planning and Zoning Commission and may give direction on developing separate provisions involving data centers, anhydrous ammonia production, and rezoning.
The agenda also allows for a possible closed session concerning the EMS personnel matter. Any final action arising from that matter, including related staff payout or new-hire action, is to occur in open session.
Meeting Participation Notes
The agenda cautions that business will be addressed on a rolling basis. The Board is not required to take items in the listed order or at their estimated times, so residents wishing to observe or comment on a particular item are advised to attend from the meeting's scheduled start.
The agenda also provides that people requiring disability-related assistance, auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations may contact the county's ADA Coordinator at (712) 297-8083.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials from the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors.
