HAMPTON — The Franklin County Board of Supervisors approved utility permits, adopted a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment, discussed employee handbook questions involving FMLA and maternity leave, and approved courthouse statue repairs during its regular meeting on May 26, 2026.
The board met at 8:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse, with Supervisors Gary McVicker, Jeff Lukensmeyer and Chris Vanness present.
Supervisors approved the agenda and the minutes from the May 19 regular session.
During board committee updates and public comment, Holly McCoy-Nelson of Alliant Energy asked questions regarding scheduled Planning and Zoning and Board of Adjustment meetings. Lukensmeyer reported attending D-CAT. McVicker reported attending Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center. Vanness reported attending Franklin County Development Association and North Iowa Community Action Organization meetings.
The board approved a Franklin County utility permit application for Aureon Network Services to install fiber across the intersection of Mallard Avenue and Hardin Road.
Supervisors also approved an application to work within Franklin County highway right of way for Alliant Energy, through Monson & Sons Inc., to temporarily widen the southwest radius of the intersection of 210th Street and Dogwood Avenue near Tower T484.
The board also approved a Franklin County utility permit application for Franklin REC to install new underground electric service at 2440 Nettle Avenue.
Supervisors opened a public hearing on a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment. No members of the public were present, and no comments had been received before the meeting. The auditor briefly reviewed the amendment, and the public hearing closed at 9:19 a.m.
The board then approved Resolution No. 2026-45, adopting the budget amendment. The amendment listed expenditure increases for public safety and legal services, roads and transportation, government services to residents, and administration. It also listed revenue increases from environmental health grants and a donation to conservation.
According to the resolution, public safety and legal services increased by $67,100 for repair of hail-damaged vehicles and salary and benefit expenses. Roads and transportation increased for phone expense increases, a bridge study, snow and ice control, increased prices, a motor grader purchase and brush clearing. Government services to residents increased by $7,280 for election supplies, ballot printing and election publication costs. Administration increased by $42,345 for supervisor mileage reimbursement, legal fees and GAR Memorial Hall roof replacement.
The resolution also listed revenue increases of $5,000 in intergovernmental funds for environmental health grants and $69,464 in miscellaneous revenue from a donation to conservation.
County Attorney Andrea Miller provided supervisors with an update on her department.
Supervisors recessed at 9:45 a.m. for a drainage meeting and reconvened at 10:20 a.m.
Stephen and Lindsay Bardole and Jody Hepler addressed supervisors regarding the county employee handbook. The discussion focused on FMLA and maternity leave. According to the minutes, the Bardoles presented information and said they felt the issue had not been resolved.
After discussion, supervisors requested answers to several questions, including whether Lindsay Bardole could do training at home without affecting FMLA, what “leave structure” refers to, and whether FMLA is different depending on whether an employee has leave time available or is taking unpaid leave.
Supervisors recessed again at 10:40 a.m. for a drainage meeting and reconvened at 10:45 a.m.
Facilities Director Ryan Peterson discussed the food pantry and general maintenance and repairs with supervisors. Some repairs were tied to damage from the April 2025 hail and windstorm, while other repairs were attributed to the age of the building. Supervisors asked Peterson to get a rough estimate of the needed repairs, with more discussion expected after those estimates are available.
Conservation Director Ned Parker and the auditor discussed the Conservation Department’s ending fund balance for fiscal year 2026. Due to a budgeting error, the department is expected to finish the fiscal year with less fund balance than set forth in Franklin County’s general policies and procedures manual. Supervisors agreed to a one-time exception, noting that the shortfall was caused by a budgeting error and not department overspending.
Supervisors also discussed battery storage facilities. Vanness clarified that after the previous week’s meeting, Alliant had originally stated that at the time of its building permit and conditional use permit, it did not have plans for expansion. McVicker said there is concern in communities about fire support at battery storage facilities, noting that Franklin County fire departments are staffed by volunteer firefighters.
The board approved claims as submitted, except for a Veterans Affairs claim to John Rusinack, which was held until further documentation is submitted.
Supervisors approved a project proposal from the Midwest Art Conservation Center, also known as MACC, for repair of the courthouse top statues.
The board also discussed the county mileage reimbursement rate for the remainder of 2026. Supervisors voted to set the mileage reimbursement rate at 72.5 cents effective May 26, 2026. McVicker and Vanness voted in favor, while Lukensmeyer voted no.
Supervisors approved a nonprofit agreement with Access Inc. for fiscal year 2027 funding.
The board also approved Resolution No. 2026-44, authorizing operating transfers for Franklin County Conservation and Veterans Affairs. The resolution authorizes a $58,259 transfer from the General Basic Fund to Conservation and a $17,000 transfer from the General Basic Fund to Veterans Affairs.
Supervisors approved a fireworks permit for Garland Koch.
The meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.m. The board was scheduled to meet again June 3, 2026, at the Franklin County Courthouse.
COUNTY CLAIMS AND EXPENSES
Ackley Vet Center, services: $34.50
Ahlers & Cooney PC, services: $1,402.00
AireSpring File 1422, services: $584.18
Adam Akers, reimbursement: $106.51
City of Alexander, farm to market: $234.00
All Flags LLC, supplies: $90.87
All Iowa Roofing, services: $36,750.00
Alliant Energy, utilities: $430.71
Amazon Capital Services, supplies: $787.47
ArcaSearch LLC, services: $3,497.00
Auxiant, PSF TPA: $37,772.64
Ronald Becker, work apparel: $224.69
Terry Bents, storage: $1,950.00
Boyer Ridge Manufacturing Inc., equipment: $2,725.32
Brents Ag & Auto Repair, repairs/parts: $38.49
Bruening Rock, rock/sand: $2,187.65
Central Iowa Distributing, supplies: $150.00
CenturyLink, services: $385.98
Cerro Gordo County Treasurer, medical examiner: $55.00
Certified Laboratories, services: $366.95
Cintas Corporation, service/supplies: $46.69
City Laundering, supplies: $81.73
Column Software PBC, services: $395.14
City of Coulter, farm to market: $368.44
CTI Ready Mix, blank record: $1,150.50
D&L Sanitation, services: $230.50
Department of Inspections, Appeals, services: $175.00
Dogs for Law Enforcement, services: $650.00
Dorsey & Whitney LLP, legal fees: $18,500.00
Dumont Telephone, services: $210.37
Fareway, supplies: $39.90
Katy Flint, reimbursement: $125.34
Franklin County Secondary Roads, services: $863.95
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, services: $116.90
Franklin County Treasurer, taxes: $176.00
Franklin General Hospital, rent/services: $664.97
Franklin Grassland Seeds Inc., seed: $3,915.00
Franklin REC, utilities: $1,409.67
City of Geneva, farm to market: $300.07
GeoComm Inc., maintenance: $1,220.00
Global Hydraulics, parts: $711.73
Global Public Safety, services: $9,035.40
Gordon Flesch Co. Inc., services: $96.00
Hampton Hardware, supplies: $246.55
Hampton Kiwanis, flags: $205.00
City of Hampton, water: $48.43
Hansell Ag Repair, repairs/parts: $148.29
City of Hansell, farm to market: $277.74
Hardin County Sheriff, prisoners: $10,500.00
Hawkeye West Pest Control, services: $170.02
ICCS, dues/training: $2,000.00
Iowa Falls Glass, services: $830.96
Iowa State University, training: $125.00
Lance Studer Custom Auto, services: $5,356.00
City of Latimer, utilities: $1,900.24
Martin Marietta, road stone: $47,253.06
McDowell & Sons, services: $220.00
Medicap Pharmacy #8095, meds: $168.73
Virginia Meinberg, reimbursement: $50.00
MidAmerican Energy, utilities: $2,406.46
Mid Country Machinery, repairs/parts: $1,435.01
Midland Power, utilities: $15.09
Midwest Art Conservation Center, services: $61,545.00
Midwest Underground, parts: $280.24
Midwest Wheel, repairs/parts: $695.82
Millers Alignment, repairs/parts: $150.00
Murphy’s Heating & Plumbing, services: $130.93
North American Rescue LLC, supplies: $1,987.00
OnTheGo Media, services: $71.10
OnTrack, services: $2,542.98
City of Popejoy, farm to market: $166.52
Pralle’s Wash City, vehicle cleaning: $25.23
Professional Office Services, services: $497.41
Reliable 1, services: $2,616.60
Revize LLC, maintenance: $1,900.00
Rockmount Research & Alloys, repairs/parts: $848.88
Sigmeth Roberts Law PLC, services: $4,237.86
Soil & Septic LLC, reimbursement: $670.00
State Hygienic Lab, supplies: $476.00
Streichers, supplies: $368.00
Superior Welding, supplies: $49.91
Dan Tilkes, reimbursement: $232.47
U.S. Cellular, services: $131.66
USPS, postage: $368.00
VEIT LLC, maintenance/services: $496.77
Visa, training/supplies: $14.55
Wellmark Blue Cross-BlueShield, premium: $192,647.53
Troy Wood, services: $37.00
Grand total: $477,301.30