Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-08-31
Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider an actuarial services agreement for employee health-plan reporting, a requested road and right-of-way vacation, final acceptance and payments for work at the Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility, and a Public Health report concerning a manure management plan.
Key Items on the Agenda
Health Plan Actuarial Services Agreement
The board is scheduled to consider approval of a service agreement with HUB International Great Plains for actuarial work required for the county's Other Post-Employment Benefits reporting under GASB 75. Public employers are required to report OPEB liabilities on their financial statements, with an actuarial valuation required every two years.
- HUB would perform a full actuarial valuation of the retiree health plan as of July 1, 2025, for fiscal year 2026.
- The report would provide information for GASB 75 disclosures as of June 30, 2026, and include a static roll-forward valuation normally suitable for fiscal year 2027 disclosures.
- The proposed fee is $4,800 for the fiscal year 2026 valuation and fiscal year 2027 roll-forward results.
- Additional requested actuarial or consulting work would be billed at $325 per hour for a Principal Actuary and $225 per hour for an OPEB Actuarial Analyst, plus applicable direct and travel expenses.
- The agreement would continue through December 31, 2027, unless terminated earlier, and either party could terminate with at least 60 days' written notice.
- The county previously contracted with Robert Hopson for this work. The packet says Hopson has retired and recommended HUB International Great Plains for continued service.
Proposed Swallow Avenue Road and Right-of-Way Vacation
The County Engineer reports receiving a request from Martin Marietta to vacate Swallow Avenue between 250th Street and Thrush Avenue. The Secondary Roads Department supports the request and does not oppose vacation of the road right-of-way.
The supporting request, submitted by owners and a lessee of approximately 112 acres south of Portland, seeks permanent closure of Swallow Avenue from Thrush Avenue to 250th Street and vacation of the associated public right-of-way. The applicants cite several reasons:
- The road carries very little traffic and has experienced illegal dumping.
- Closure would allow the road to be blocked from public access and would relieve the county of ongoing maintenance responsibilities.
- Vacating the right-of-way would provide the Martin Marietta Portland Quarry access to mineral reserves that are currently affected by the required setback from Swallow Avenue.
- The request states that any additional mining would remain subject to the existing Special Use Permit, as amended, and other county regulations.
The County Engineer reports that adjacent owners support moving forward. The applicants also state that the only resident on Swallow Avenue and her son support the proposed closure, citing reduced dust and the potential to curb illegal dumping and other activity near the residence.
Major Financial and Infrastructure Items
Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility Project
The packet includes documents for completion and final financial closeout of the Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility — Soils Correction, Grading & Utilities Project, performed by Cole Excavating, Inc.
Veenstra & Kimm, Inc. certified that the work was substantially completed in accordance with the plans and specifications and established August 19, 2026 as the completion date. The engineer's certificate identifies a final contract amount of $302,034.48.
The financial summary shows:
- Original contract price: $257,985.00
- Change Order No. 1: $33,194.00
- Revised contract price: $291,179.00
- Final contract amount/value of completed work: $302,034.48
- Previously approved pay estimates: $291,518.45
- Amount due on the final estimate: $1,455.00
- Retainage: $9,061.03
The packet recommends payment of the $9,061.03 retainage 31 days after county acceptance of the work, provided all punch-list items are complete.
Proposed Resolution Accepting Completed Work
A proposed Resolution Accepting Work would formally accept the Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility project as fully completed in accordance with the contract, plans, and specifications.
If adopted, the resolution would approve the engineer's certificate and establish the total contract cost payable under the contract at $302,034.48. The resolution form is prepared for action on August 31 but contains blank vote fields and an incomplete resolution number, so the packet does not document an outcome.
Public Health and Environmental Review
Christiansen Family Farms Manure Management Plan
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health submitted a report concerning the annual Manure Management Plan update for Christiansen Family Farms (F-47). The report is provided under Resolution 2003-123, the county's policy for receiving, reviewing, and commenting on manure management plans, and identifies concerns for forwarding to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The existing swine operation is located at 8821 170th Street in Section 32 of Mount Vernon Township and is not expanding. According to the packet:
- The operation consists of 4,160 wean/finish hogs.
- It is expected to produce approximately 1,310,400 gallons of manure annually.
- Manure would be stored in below-building pits.
- Application is planned on three fields totaling 300.57 acres in Sections 30, 32, and 33 of Mount Vernon Township.
- The application fields are unchanged from the previous plan.
Public Health identifies concerns involving the proximity of the application areas to the City of Swaledale, several public-use and wildlife areas, the Mount Vernon Township Cemetery, a tributary of West Branch Beaver Dam Creek, and a waterway beginning within one application field. The report also notes that manure would be applied adjacent to heavily traveled Interstate 35 and says odors could influence travelers' perceptions.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Whether the board approves the $4,800 HUB International Great Plains agreement for the fiscal year 2026 OPEB actuarial valuation and fiscal year 2027 roll-forward.
- How the board proceeds with the requested vacation of Swallow Avenue and its associated public right-of-way between Thrush Avenue and 250th Street.
- Whether the board accepts the completed Rockwell Secondary Roads Maintenance Facility — Soils Correction, Grading & Utilities Project at the proposed final contract cost of $302,034.48.
- Whether the project closeout proceeds with the $1,455.00 final estimate and later payment of $9,061.03 in retainage, subject to the packet's stated conditions.
- How the board handles the Public Health concerns identified in the Christiansen Family Farms (F-47) Manure Management Plan review.
