CHICKASAW COUNTY, Iowa — The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 2 temporarily designated two newspapers as the county’s official publications and directed the county auditor to request verified subscriber lists from three applicants, while staff warned the board that a state reorganization of behavioral‑health services could transfer significant costs to county budgets.

The board unanimously approved the temporary newspaper designations and a separate motion directing the auditor to request county‑distribution details from the New Hampton applicant, the National Reporter and Vanguard Publishing Co. The board voted on routine organizational items including committee appointments, several departmental appointments and increases to per‑diem and mileage reimbursement rates.

Why it matters: County newspapers are the legally required venues for publishing official notices. State law requires the board to select the two newspapers with the largest number of bona fide yearly subscribers living in the county; when multiple applicants claim lead circulation, the board may request verified subscriber lists to resolve a contest. The board’s temporary designations let the county publish minutes and notices while staff gathers the evidence it will use to decide the contest. At the same meeting county staff reported uncertainty over which entity will pay for certain mental‑health and disability services after a statewide reorganization, flagging a potential budget pressure for sheriff and county offices.

The newspaper item grew out of three applications for official status. County legal counsel explained the selection process under the county‑newspaper statutes (transcript cited sections addressing contests and verified statements) and told supervisors they could temporarily name two newspapers but must withhold payment until the contest is resolved. The board voted to temporarily designate two applicants and to have the auditor send a notice to all three applicants asking them to submit documentation of bona fide yearly subscribers living in Chickasaw County by the deadline set in the auditor’s letter.

On budgeting and services, Chris, business manager for the county’s CSS region, told supervisors the state is reorganizing behavioral health and disability services and that Iowa Health and Human Services recently awarded statewide behavioral‑health responsibility to another contractor. "The state has not made it clear yet as far as who will be responsible for the cost of some mental‑health services that the current regions provide reimbursement for," Chris said; he advised supervisors to be prepared for the possibility that some costs — for jail medications, transports and legal representation related to committals — could become county expenses.

Board action and routine approvals

The board approved a set of annual organizational items and appointments, including:
- Election of a chairperson and vice chairperson for 2025 (nominations and voice votes carried);
- Designation of custodians for county buildings as presented;
- Authorization for the chairperson to sign Farm Service Agency documents on behalf of the board (motion approved);
- Approval of the sheriff’s civil‑process fee schedule and a new mileage rate consistent with the federal/IRS rate (motion approved);
- Adoption of Resolution No. 12‑25‑1 authorizing the county auditor to issue warrants for certain payments when the board is not in session (motion and roll‑call carried);
- Temporary designation of two official county newspapers and direction to the auditor to request verified circulation data from all three applicants (motion approved);
- Setting the board’s regular meeting day at 9 a.m. on Mondays (except when Monday is a holiday);
- Increasing outside‑of‑county meal reimbursement to $50 per day and adopting the 2025 IRS mileage rate of $0.70 per mile for county travel;
- Raising precinct election officers’ pay to $15 per hour and adopting the $0.70 mileage rate for election officials; and
- Multiple statutory appointments, including county engineer (Roman Lensing), Veterans Affairs administrator (Keith Ailes) and others listed in the auditor’s packet.

During approval of the auditor’s prior‑payments resolution, the motion was moved and seconded and carried on roll call with supervisors indicating assent; the board also discussed that bills paid under the resolution must be reviewed at the first regular meeting following such payments.

What the board did not decide: The newspaper contest remains unresolved pending verified subscriber lists; the board’s temporary designations allow publication but preclude payment to publishers until the contest is resolved. On mental‑health funding, staff presented documents and recommended supervisors budget conservatively; the board did not take a binding budget action at the Jan. 2 meeting.

Looking ahead: Supervisors discussed budget deadlines and January meeting dates for departmental budget presentations. County staff asked supervisors to be prepared to consider wage and budget items at the Jan. 6 meeting and noted the state will release further information about behavioral‑health contracts and disability access points later in January and February.

Ending: The board adjourned at 9:52 a.m.