July 2, 2026 Meeting Minutes

OFFICAL PROCEEDINGS FOR
TAYLOR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The Taylor County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday,
July 2, 2026. Supervisor Jack Beggs called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Supervisor call: Wall, Fitzgerald and Beggs present. Also present, Auditor Judy Henry, IT, Amanda Biddenback, Corey Eberling APEX and Christy Saylor.

Fitzgerald motioned to approve the agenda for today and minutes from June 25, 2026. Wall seconded, MC 3-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
None

COMMITTEE REPORT:
Wall attended the Southern Iowa Trolly meeting, they worked on financial balances.

SECONDARY ROADS:
No Report
NEW BUSINESS:
Auditor Henry reported other offices requested being added to the current generator to provide partial services on days the power is out. Currently part of the Auditor’s office and the server room are the only areas of the Courthouse hooked on the generator. The Board will check to see if the current generator will support adding more offices.
Sheriff Weed joined the meeting providing a quote for the dispatch console for $185,560.72 from RACOM. Fitzgerald motioned to approve the purchase of the RACOM console, Wall seconded. MC 3-0.
Henry presented the AFSCME Local 61 Union Agreement for the Sheriff’s Office. The County and Union agreed on January 16, 2026 to a tentative 3-year agreement starting July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029. Raises include Fiscal Year 2027 a 2%, 2028 a 3% and 4% in 2029. Also included in the agreement is the use of the same longevity table and acquisition of time off as the rest of the County employees. Fitzgerald motioned to approve the agreement for AFSCME Local 61, Wall seconded. MC 3-0.
Employee Insurance Buyouts were approved.
Henry received a credit card application from Ambulance Director Sickles; Sickles needed the Board to approve the application. Wall motioned to approve the credit card application. Fitzgerald seconded, MC 3-0.
Christy Saylor was present to update the Board on improvement at fairgrounds. She was requesting funds for the upcoming fair. The Board has already approved $10,000 during the FY27 budget process for the County. Saylor stated they may need additional funding, the Board stated to return with specifics on what projects they are working on. Saylor thanked the Board for continued support for the fair.
At 10:30 a.m. Fitzgerald motioned to go into recess to hold the public hearing. Wall seconded, MC 3-0.
Beggs called the public hearing to order. Purpose of the public hearing was to receive public comments on the possible ordinance for a Temporary Moratorium on Applications for Data Centers, Solar Energy Systems, Battery Energy Storage and Mineral Rights Development. Beggs, Fitzgerald and Wall present. Also present, Auditor Henry, Amanda Biddenback IT, Jacy Larson, Jolene Cabbage, Stan Mattes, Christy Green, Beth Meek, Henry Lemke, Steve Brown, Rick Cabbage, Jane Stimson, Harlee Stull, Nicki Lock, Teri Larson, Jeff Scott and Corey Eberling. Wall motioned to approve the agenda, Fitzgerald seconded, MC 3-0. Beggs opened the meeting for comments. Stimson commented the Board needs to protect the people and lifestyle of the County. Rick Cabbage stated not to close the door on all data centers. Some centers on the smaller scale are beneficial to City and County development. He relayed there will be a meeting on July 28th put on by FMTC about data centers. Meek stated there is no long-term employment for the centers. She wanted the Board to protect the rural areas for generations down the road from this type of development. Lemke felt there is just not enough information to know exactly what we do need as far as the water and power use. Brown relayed there is a need for an ordinance but wanted to know how it would affect our power structure, more information is needed. The Board relayed the purpose of the ordinance is to stop approval of any applications until the County develops guidelines to protect the citizens and land of Taylor County. Beggs stated all the counties surrounding Taylor County are in the same process we are. We are talking with those counties to compile needed information on what is pertinent to Taylor County. Henry relayed that we need to conduct 3 public hearings to read the temporary ordinance, that this meeting was the first step to approving the ordinance. The temporary ordinance will be in both County papers for viewing and will also be on the County’s website. Wall made a motion to adjourn the public hearing, Fitzgerald seconded. MC 3-0
Beggs stated that recess is over and the regular meeting will come to order at 11:10 a.m.
IT Specialist Amanda Biddenback reported Solutions is ready to migrate to our new server purchased by the County in October 2025. She wanted the Board to be aware there would be a $5,000 migration fee involved. She sent all employees a NOVA 4 training video on security awareness. This training must be done by the end of July by all employees and will need to be taken once a year. Biddenback replaced one of the cameras in the Courthouse and plans to update all cameras over time.
Public Health Administrator Crystal Drake gave an update on her department which included lead testing issues and policy updates.

OLD BUSINESS:
Culp updated the Board on projects within the Courthouse.
The Board discussed items for the next meeting.

Claims against the County were approved.

Fitzgerald made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wall seconded, MC 3-0.
Meeting adjourned.

The Board of Supervisors approve these unofficial minutes to be published in the local newspapers and upon approval in the Taylor County Board of Supervisors Minute Book:

_____________________________
Jack Beggs, Chairman
Taylor County Board of Supervisors

__________________________________
Attest, Judy Henry
Taylor County Auditor