Cerro Gordo supervisors approve $414,233 in claims, review three hog manure plans and discuss real estate behind closed doors

MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved $414,232.66 in county claims, reviewed manure management plans involving three Northern Iowa livestock operations and held a closed-door discussion concerning real estate during its regular meeting Monday, November 9, 2026.

The claims register included substantial expenditures for insurance-related services, mechanical repairs, freight, equipment and consulting, with the three largest entries alone accounting for more than $201,000.

Chairman Casey Callanan convened the meeting at 10 a.m., with Vice Chairman Carl Ginapp and Supervisor Chris Watts also present. All recorded votes passed unanimously.

Nearly $414,233 in county claims approved

Supervisors unanimously authorized claims totaling $414,232.66, according to the county’s accompanying expenditure report.

The largest individual claim was $84,000 to Wellmark Blue Cross, categorized as purchased services.

Another $73,650.97 was listed for North Central Mechan under repairs, representing two grouped items. The county’s published claims register does not explain what equipment or facilities were involved in those repairs.

Over Board Construct received a $44,030 claim categorized as freight, while Axon Enterprise Inc. was listed for $18,773.70 in equipment.

Other notable expenditures included $17,695 for consulting from B-Three Solutions, $12,716.60 in fuel-related claims to WEX Bank, and $12,550 to Tell Construction for freight.

The county also listed $15,000 to the Cerro Gordo County Treasurer for Early Childhood Iowa administration and another $10,000 for equipment. These entries appear separately in the register.

Among other expenses were $8,103 to Butler County Public for Early Childhood Iowa program carryforward, $7,307.53 to Central Iowa Detenti for program carryforward, and $7,026.30 to Summit Food Service for food and provisions.

The complete claims report, containing 161 separate vendor-and-expense entries representing 188 grouped items, appears at the end of this story.

The board also approved the payroll register for the period ending October 31, 2026. The meeting minutes do not specify the payroll amount, which is not included in the $414,232.66 claims total.

For comparison, Cerro Gordo supervisors approved $358,840.73 in claims at their November 2 meeting, including major construction, insurance and county operating expenses.

Three livestock manure management plans sent to Iowa DNR

The supervisors also approved reports prepared by the county Environmental Health Service Manager concerning updated manure management plans for three livestock operations.

The facilities were identified in the meeting minutes as Braun Farms, site No. 59583; Amaracon LLC’s The Gray Barn Facility, site No. 64413; and Elk Run Farms’ Paul Finisher Farm, site No. 64027.

The board voted unanimously to forward the reports to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The action followed a broader review of livestock manure management issues in Northern Iowa.

As NorthIowaToday.com previously reported, Cerro Gordo County public health officials examined plans involving nearly 2.9 million gallons of annual hog manure production, with concerns involving application sites near communities, waterways and other environmentally sensitive locations.

The three operations reviewed in that report have a combined capacity of 9,890 hogs, according to the underlying county public health documents.

Those documents describe issues that county officials believe warrant state review, including the potential environmental implications of manure application on agricultural land.

The November 9 supervisors’ minutes confirm that the board approved forwarding the reports to state environmental regulators. They do not record a separate enforcement action or finding that any of the operations violated state environmental law.

The county has previously forwarded similar manure management reports to the DNR. In September, supervisors reviewed a manure management update while approving more than $565,000 in county claims.

Supervisors enter closed session to discuss real estate

Another significant action came near the end of the meeting, when supervisors voted to enter a closed session at 10:11 a.m.

The board cited Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(j), which allows a governmental body to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate in closed session when premature disclosure could reasonably be expected to increase the price the government would pay or reduce the price it would receive.

Ginapp moved to enter closed session, Watts seconded the motion, and all three supervisors voted in favor.

The board returned to open session at 10:25 a.m.

The published minutes do not identify the property involved, disclose the substance of the discussion or record any subsequent action approving a purchase or sale.

The supervisors adjourned immediately afterward, at 10:25 a.m.

Regional appointment and other county business

The board unanimously appointed Melissa Evans to the North Iowa Area Council of Governments Board of Directors.

NIACOG is a regional organization involved in planning, economic development and services benefiting communities across North Iowa.

County Engineer Brandon Billings also provided an update, although the official minutes do not summarize his presentation or identify any specific road project discussed during the meeting.

Supervisors approved the Sheriff’s and Clerk’s Monthly Report of Fees, along with the meeting agenda and minutes from the November 2 regular session.

A public comment period was held. The minutes do not identify speakers or describe the comments presented.

The November 9 meeting lasted approximately 25 minutes, including the 14-minute closed session.

County meeting recordings and accompanying documents are available through the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors meeting records.

Complete Cerro Gordo County claims approved November 9, 2026

The following is the complete list of 161 entries from the county’s November 9 claims report, totaling $414,232.66. Vendor names and expense descriptions are retained as abbreviated in the official document. Entries for the same vendor are listed separately when the county assigned different expense categories or amounts. The item count indicates the number of individual items grouped within each entry.

Payroll for the period ending October 31 was approved separately and is not included in the claims total.