Des Moines County Board of Supervisors Meeting Summary
August 11, 2026
Public Body: Des Moines County Board of Supervisors
Meeting Type: Regular Session
Meeting Date: August 11, 2026
Location: Boardroom, Des Moines County Courthouse, 513 N. Main St., Burlington, IA 52601
Overview
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors met for its regular session on August 11, 2026. The meeting included personnel actions, approval of meeting minutes, department-related updates, discussion of fairground operations, and discussion of a proposed data center/cryptocurrency-related regulatory framework.
Personnel Actions
The board considered several personnel-related items.
Sheriff’s Office Personnel Action
The board considered an annual step increase for an employee in the Sheriff’s Office.
- Previous rate of pay: $39,935.32.
- New rate of pay: $42,400.87.
- Effective date: August 24, 2026.
A motion was made and seconded, and the motion passed with affirmative votes from the supervisors.
Correctional Center Personnel Actions
The board considered three Correctional Center personnel items together.
Items discussed included:
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Emma King
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Full-time correctional officer.
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Reported personnel action involving 25 hours of unpaid time.
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Effective date discussed as August 3, 2026.
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Rian Anderson
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Full-time correctional officer.
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Anniversary step increase.
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Reported previous rate of pay: $55,869.15.
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Reported new rate of pay: $57,105.12.
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Effective date: September 5, 2026.
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Vincent Robbins
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Full-time correctional officer.
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Anniversary step increase.
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Reported previous rate of pay: $54,492.19.
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Reported new rate of pay: $55,869.15.
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Effective date: September 10, 2026.
The board approved the three Correctional Center items.
Recorder’s Office Personnel Action
The board considered an item involving:
- Renee Kuller, Second Deputy.
- Reported personnel action involving 40.67 hours of unpaid leave.
- Dates discussed: July 20, 2026 through July 31, 2026.
The board approved the item.
Conservation Department Personnel Actions
The board considered three seasonal intern items.
The discussion included:
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Grants Lawson
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Conservation intern.
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Seasonal internship ending at the end of summer.
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Kendall Coulter
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Conservation intern.
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Seasonal internship ending at the end of summer.
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Carissa Mackie
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Naturalist intern.
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Seasonal internship ending at the end of summer.
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Effective date discussed as July 31, 2026.
The board approved the three items and expressed appreciation for the interns’ summer work.
Reports
The board received the following reports:
- Clerk’s Report of Fees Collected — July 2026.
- Recorder’s Report of Fees Collected — July 2026.
The reports were placed on file in the Auditor’s Office.
Meeting Minutes
The board approved the minutes from the regular meeting held on August 4, 2026.
Fair and Fairgrounds Discussion
The board discussed updates related to fair activities and a proposed arrangement involving the Snow Bowl event.
Discussion included:
- A group associated with Snow Bowl expressed interest in operating the event at the fairgrounds.
- The board discussed allowing a one-year trial arrangement.
- The discussion indicated the trial would begin the following year.
- The board discussed timing changes, including whether the event would occur in March or May.
- Board members expressed support for giving the arrangement an opportunity and wished both parties success.
The board discussed a proposed framework involving data centers and cryptocurrency-related facilities.
Discussion focused on:
- The difference between creating a broader county regulatory framework and addressing a specific project.
- The need to gather additional information before establishing regulations.
- The possibility of creating a moratorium while the board reviews issues and develops a regulatory approach.
- Potential future legislative changes that could affect regulation.
The board discussed gathering additional information regarding infrastructure needs, including:
- Water availability.
- Electrical capacity.
- Whether local utilities could support a potential project scale.
The discussion included a desire to follow up with relevant utility providers regarding whether the infrastructure would be feasible.
The board opened the floor for public input and noted that community members may also contact the board through available communication channels.
Closing
The meeting concluded after discussion of agenda items and additional comments from the board.
