Boards & Commissions - Buena Vista County

Administrative Board of Directors of the 3rd Judicial District – Department Of Correctional Services

Kelly Snyder – Representative

Buena Vista Community Foundation

Justin Yarosevich – President
Don Peterson – Vice President
Linda Baier (Rural BV County) – Treasurer
Mike Katchman (Sioux Rapids)
Cheryl Anderson (Linn Grove)
Dave Rydstrom (Rural BV County)
Doug Rebhuhn (Rembrandt)
Kelly Snyder (Marathon)
Julie Sievers (Newell)
Russ Chrischilles (Lakeside)
Marlowe Feldman (Albert City)

Buena Vista County Bar Association

Ryan A Mohr – President

Members
Gary Armstrong, Willis J Hamilton, Dave Patton, Alan Bridge, Henry Hardt, Hugh Perry, James W Gailey, W Ted Brown, Phil Havens, Phil Redenbaugh, Dan Connell, Dave Jennett, Steven T Roth, Katie F Morgan, Mark T Cornish, Nola Jensen, James A Schall, Mary Ann Diehl, Ryan A Mohr, Andrew J Smith, Mary Hamilson, Edean Murray, Steven D Hamilton, John Murray, Willis J Hamilton, Norris G Onley Jr, Joshua Walsh

Buena Vista County Board of Review

The County Board of Review is appointed by the County Conference Board for 6-year terms. The Board of Review meets on May 1st at the office of the County Assessor and will meet until its duties are completed, which shall be no later than the 1st day of June. This is an independent board to which property owners may appeal if they feel their assessment is excessive or inequitable. The Board of Review has broad powers including the right to increase or decrease any assessment. If a property owner is not satisfied with the Board’s decision, they can file an appeal with the Property Assessment Appeal Board or in district court.

The Board shall adjust the assessment, by raising or lowering, of any person, partnership, corporation or associations as to any of the items of their assessment in such a manner as to secure the listing of property at market value. It shall also add to the assessment rolls any taxable property not included therein, assessing the same in the name of the owner. All meetings of the board shall be public and it shall keep minutes of its proceedings. The County Board of Review shall have all the power of local boards of review now prescribed by Section 441.31, 2009 Code of Iowa, and appeal may be taken from any Acts as provided by Section 441.37.

Buena Vista County Board of Review

Shane Caraway – Contractor

Margie Robinson – Real Estate Broker

Dan Robinson – Appraiser

Mitch Stille – Farmer

Melinda Cords – Sales Representative

The links below provide information regarding the appeal and some of the requirements or suggestions you may utilize as you consider the appeal of your value to the Board of Review. Please follow this link for the Buena Vista County Procedural Rules and Petition to the Board of Review to be used when filing an appeal to the Board of Review.

Buena Vista County Board Of Supervisors

District 1: Kathy Croker
District 2: Kelly Snyder
District 3: Paul Merten
District 4: Rhonda Ringgenberg
District 5: Dan Hartman

Buena Vista County Civil Service Commission [341A.2]

Term, 6 years (by appointment). [341A.2] The Civil Service Commission is composed of 3 members, 1 appointed by each: Board of Supervisors, Presiding District Court Judge, and County Attorney.

Member	Appointed By	Term Expires
Don Diehl	Board Of Supervisors	12/31/2023
Paul Allen	County Attorney	12/31/2025
Tom Ryherd	Judges	12/31/2023

Buena Vista County Compensation Board [331.905]

Term, 4 years (by appointment). Chapter 331.905, 1999 Code of Iowa creates a County Compensation Board composed of 7 members. Each elected official (Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer) appoints a member, with the Board of Supervisors appointing 2 members. The Board shall annually review the compensation paid to comparable offices in other Iowa counties, other states, private enterprise, and the federal government. It shall prepare a recommended compensation schedule. This schedule shall be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for approval or amendment to become effective on the 1st day of July next following its adoption by the Board of Supervisors.

Lisa Best: Attorney’s Representative Thru 6/30/2026
Kyle Cjeka: Recorder’s Representative Thru 6/30/2024
Leigh Madsen & Mike Sandhoff: Supervisor’s Representative Thru 6/30/2026
Mona Mason: Treasurer’s Representative Thru 6/30/2026
Wendy Rice-Larson: Auditor’s Representative Thru 6/30/2024
Jeff Stewart: Sheriff’s Representative Thru 6/30/2024

Buena Vista County Coop/COG Planning Committee

Merten – Representative

Buena Vista County Conference Board

The conference board serves as the governing board for the office of the assessor. The conference board has the responsibility of appointing members of the examining board, members of the board of review, and the assessor. The conference board shall annually review, propose changes if necessary, and adopt the assessor’s budget. The conference board approves the position of deputy assessor, the number of deputy assessors and reappointment of the assessor. The conference board shall have power to employ appraisers and other technical help to assist in the valuation of property. It is important that the members are knowledgeable of their responsibilities outlined in chapter 441 of the Code of Iowa. This guide was created to give the conference board membership an overview of those responsibilities.

Conference Board Membership In each county and each city having an assessor, there shall be a conference board. County and city boards shall consist of three units. County Conference Board The county conference board shall consist of the mayors of all incorporated cities whose property is assessed by the county assessor, one representative from the board of directors of each high school district who is a resident of the county, and members of the county board of supervisors. Each school district shall, at their organizational meeting, appoint a director to serve a one-year term on the conference board. Each high school district within the county, regardless if they have a school located in the county, is entitled to a member on the county conference board. Again, that member must be a resident of the county. The clerk of the conference board shall be notified of the appointee. There are no provisions in the Code of Iowa for alternates or substitutes to serve for members of the conference board except the mayor pro-tem may serve in the absence of the mayor. A mayor pro-tem must be a council member who was previously designated. The chairperson of the county board of supervisors shall act as the chairperson of the county conference board and the county assessor as clerk.

Conference Board

Voting Unit	Representing	First Name	Last Name
Board of Supervisors	District #1	Kathy	Croker
Board of Supervisors	District #2	Kelly	Snyder
Board of Supervisors	District #3	Paul	Merten
Board of Supervisors	District #5	Don	Altena
Board of Supervisors	District #4	Rhonda	Ringgenberg
Mayor	Albert City	Dale	Skog
Mayor	Alta	Kevin	Walsh
Mayor	Lakeside	Roger	Pomrenke
Mayor	Linn Grove	Aaron	Anderson
Mayor	Marathon	Dana	Snow
Mayor	Newell-Fonda	Justin	Melohn
Mayor	Rembrandt	Doyle	Engebretson
Mayor	Sioux Rapids	James	Wise
Mayor	Storm Lake	Mike	Porsch
Mayor	Truesdale	Danny	Russell
School Board	Albert City-Truesdale	Kyle	Swenson
School Board	Alta-Aurelia	Angelique	Anderson
School Board	Newell- Fonda	Gary	Morenz
School Board	Sioux Central
School Board	Storm Lake	David	Skibsted

Buena Vista County Conservation Board [350.2]

Term, 5 years (by appointment). Chapter 350 of the 1999 Code of Iowa authorizes the Board of Supervisors to appoint a 5-member Conservation Board to plan, develop, preserve, administer and maintain all parks and playgrounds of the county. By this authority, the Conservation Board authorizes the Board of Supervisors to levy a tax on all real estate of the county. The funds raised are to be used to cultivate good citizenship by providing adequate programs of public recreation.

DIRECTOR – Greg Johnson

DIST 1: Jeff Kestel, Storm Lake thru 12/31/2024

DIST 2: Sarah Vanderhoff, Newell thru 12/31/2027

DIST 3: Vacant Position thru 12/31/2028

DIST 4: Rick Meyer, Alta thru 12/31/2026

DIST 5: Erica Larsen, Storm Lake thru 12/31/2025

Buena Vista County Eminent Domain Compensation Commission [6B.4]

Term, 1 year (by appointment). The Board of Supervisors shall appoint annually not less than 28 residents of the county to serve as members of a Compensation Commission. One-fourth each, of those appointed, shall be owner-operators of agricultural property, owners of city property, licensed real estate salespersons or brokers, and persons having knowledge of property values in the county by reason of their occupation, such as bankers, auctioneers, appraisers, etc. The Chief Judge of the Judicial District shall select 6 people from the list to assess the damages to the property concerned according to Sec. 6B of the 1999 Code of Iowa. The appraisal of damages shall be final unless appealed.

Farmers: Stan Peters, Mike Pedersen, Rich Langner, Phil Driver, Don Peterson, Don Diehl, (1 Vacancy)
Realtors: Clark Fort, Margie Robinson, Rob Smith, Marv Munden, Steve Jimmerson, Mark Williams, (1 vacancy)
For Cities: (7 vacancies)
For Their Occupation: Mark Rehnstrom, Ben Nesheim, Randy Johnson, Kevin Cone, (2 Vacancies)

Buena Vista County Engineer

Bret Wilkinson

Buena Vista County Examining Board (441.3)

The Examining Board is composed of 3 persons, 1 selected by each voting unit of the Conference Board, with a 6-year term (by appointment). When a vacancy in the office of County Assessor occurs, the Examining Board requests a list of individuals eligible for appointment from the Iowa Dept of Revenue and Finance. The Examining Board prepares a written report on said list for the Director of Revenue and Finance. The Conference Board makes the selection from the list on said report. [441.8]

Member Appointed by Term Expires:

Keri Navratil – Mayors Representative 12/31/2027

Jeff Dicks – School Board Representative 12/31/2027

Sandy Krummen – Board of Supervisors Representative 12/31/2027

Buena Vista County Fair Board

Membership is attained by buying a share of stock, with application for membership to be submitted prior to the annual meeting in November, and with acceptance determined by vote of the members. Annually, the Fair Board conducts a county fair in July. The Raceway Association is a committee of the Fair Board. Races are currently held through the summer months.

Website: https://www.bvcountyfair.com/

Mason Troendle – President
Brent Meyer – Vice President
Jake Schable – Secretary/manager
Jennifer Launderville -Treasurer

Board Of Directors

Randy Robbins, Brent Meyer, Jake Heuton, Sierra Phipps, Arlo Hogrefe, Cody Ann Demers, Jim Peterson, Jake Schable, Robbie Carlson, Elissa Goebel, Jeff Demers

Buena Vista County Local Emergency Management Commission [29c.9]

The Emergency Management Commission, formerly known as the Disaster Services Board, shall be composed of the county board of Supervisors, and the Mayors (or their representatives) of the cities within the county, and the Sheriff of the county. The Board shall appoint a coordinator who shall be responsible for the administration and coordination of all civil defense and emergency planning matters throughout the county, both man-made and natural disasters.

Coordinator:
Aimee Barritt

Supervisors:
Kelly Snyder – delegate

All remaining Supervisors – alternate

Buena Vista County Planning & Zoning Commission

Eight members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with the Zoning Director serving as administrative secretary. Members may be removed by vote of the Board of Supervisors after investigating a need for this action. Any matter coming before the commission requires a majority vote to pass, and the chairman, elected by the members may also cast a vote. Duties include development of county a zoning ordinance, and sub-division ordinances, in concurrence with the Board of Supervisors and the County Engineer. Also, the commission has enforcement responsibilities for the ordinances with regard to any changes within the county’s zoning and recommendations of subdivisions within these ordinances. All recommendations made by the commission are then presented the Board of Supervisors for final disposition.

Administrator – Ben Mueggenberg

Kyle Hansen

Gary Sundblad

Steve Gustafson

Melanie Anderson

Richard Mashall

Marvin Engel

Buena Vista E-911 Service Board [34A.3]

The purpose of the Buena Vista County E-911 Service Board is to plan and develop E-911 emergency telephone service for people living within the confines of the Buena Vista County E-911 Service area. The Board shall provide management and oversight of the system and set forth and define standards, policies, and rules of operation for the E-911 Service System.

Representative Supervisor Storm Lake
Kelly Snyder- Representative

All remaining Supervisors- alternate

Secretary & E911 Coordinator
Mark Van Hooser

Buena Vista Solid Waste Commission [28e.2]

Dan Hartman – Supervisor
Kathy Croker – Alternate
Abe Falkena – Albert City
Megan Peterson – Alta
Gary Wallburg – Lakeside
Starr Abbas – Marathon
Dave Wiley – Newell
Eric Mosbo – Rembrandt
David Althaus – Sioux Rapids
Mike Wilson – Storm Lake
Barry Meyer – Truesdale

Buena Vista Local De-Cat Board

Rhonda Ringgenberg – Representative

Buena Vista County Judges

Magistrate – Andrew Smith
Juvenile – Mary Timko

Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center

Paul Merten – Representative

Randy Robbins, Brent Meyer, Jake Heuton, Sierra Phipps, Arlo Hogrefe, Cody Ann Demers, Jim Peterson, Jake Schable, Robbie Carlson, Elissa Goebel, Jeff Demers

Buena Vista County Medical Examiner And Deputies [331.801]

Dr. Garrett Feddersen, County Medical Examiner
Tim Speers, Chief Medical Examiner
Greg Ebersole, Deputy Medical Examiner
Dave Patton, Deputy Medical Examiner
Kaylynn Smit, Deputy Medical Examiner
Jennifer Hustedt, Medical Examiner Investigator (MEI)

Cherokee MHI Advisory Council

Dawn Mentzer

Compass Point (Northwest Iowa Alcohol And Drug Treatment Unit)

Kathy Croker
Kelly Snyder

Custodian Of Supervisors Records

Susan K Lloyd

Drainage Attorney

Gary Armstrong

Drainage District Watchman

Brian Blomme

Drainage District #181, #274, #14-42, #22, and #150 Interim Board

Kelly Snyder – Delegate

Gary Atherton Jt. DD# 181 Watchman

Drug and Alcohol Testing Alliance

Bret Wilkinson – Secondary Contact
Karen Crilly- Primary Contact

Equal Employment Opportunity Officer

Paul Merten, Supervisor

Friends Of Little Lake Discovery Center Board

Paul Merten

Inheritance Tax Commission [Code Section 450.24]

W Ted Brown
Ryan Mohr
Mark Cornish

Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation

Kathy Croker – Representative

Region 3 RPA Transportation Alternatives Committee

Paul Merten – Representative
All Other Board Members – Delegates

Region 3 RPA Transportation Technical Committee

Bret Wilkinson – Technical Representative
Justin Anderson- Alternate

Judicial Magistrate Appointing Commission [602.6503]

Term, 6 years (by appointment). [602.6503] The Judicial Magistrate Appointing Commission (Section of the 1999 Code of Iowa) is composed of the following members: a district court judge, (designated by the chief judge of the district), 3 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and 2 attorneys elected by the County Bar. The magistrate shall have jurisdiction over non-indictable misdemeanors, including traffic and ordinance violations, preliminary hearings, search warrant proceedings, forcible entry and detainer actions, and small claims.

Appointed By Board Of Supervisors

Term: 1/1/2021-12/31/2026 Becky Drahota
Term: 1/1/2021-12/31/2026 Don Diehl
Term: 1/1/2021-12/31/2026 Sara Monroy Huddleston

Appointed By BV County Bar Association

Term: 10/11/2015-12/31/2020 Dave Jennett
Term: 10/11/2015-12/31/2020 Mark Cornish

Labor Negotiations

Board Chairman – Representative
All Other Board Members – Delegates

Lake Improvements Commission

Seven Members Total From The Following Entities
Buena Vista County – Paul Merten
Buena Vista County – Kathy Croker
City Of Lakeside – Charlie Larson
City Of Storm Lake – Meg McKeon
City Of Storm Lake – Mike Porsch
Lake Preservation Association – Ryan Mohr
Lake Preservation Association – Steve Roth
Ex-Officio – Don Diehl

Lincoln Benefited Fire District Board Of Trustees (Appointed)

Jim Nelsen appointed clerk 6/30/2025
Mark Herrig Thru 6/2024
Tim Heuton Thru 6/2023

Local Board of Health [137.4] (3 Year Term)

The Board of Health’s basic obligation is to the community, whom it represents, but it also has a responsibility to the people who use the service, and to the programs and staff of Public Health & Home Care and Environmental Health which it governs.

The membership of the Buena Vista County Board of Health shall consist of five (5) persons appointed by the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors, at least one (1) of whom shall be a physician licensed to practice in the state of Iowa.

Board members include:
CHAIRPERSON: Jon McKenna, RPh thru 12/31/2024

VICE CHAIRPERSON: Dr. Robert Whitmore thru 12/31/2025
SECRETARY: Shelly Rock, RN thru 12/31/2023
MEMBER: Julie Sievers thru 12/31/2024
MEMBER: Rhonda Ringgenberg, Board of Supervisor thru 12/31/2023

Ordinances Adopted by the Board of Health

Lead Base Paint

Quarantine and Isolation

Lock – Out / Tag-out Program

Joe Keller

Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority (28e.2)

Lee Dutfield thru 12/31/2028

Northwest Iowa Planning And Development Commission

Kelly Snyder – Delegate
All remaining Supervisors – Delegates
Jim Patrick
Jon Kruse

Dale Arends-Citizen – Representative

Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund

Kathy Croker
Steve Jimmerson

NW IA Juvenile Detention Center (YES)

Kelly Snyder- Representative

All remaining Supervisors – Alternates

Plains Area Mental Health Board

Merten – as a non-voting member

Region III Emergency Planning Council

Kelly Snyder – Delegate

All remaining Supervisors – Alternates

Regional Workforce Investment Board (Formerly Iowa Workforce Development Board – Region 5)

Kelly Snyder – Delegate

Regional Transit Board (RIDES)

Kelly Snyder – Delegate

Rolling Hills Community Services Region Governance Board

Merten – representative

S.H.I.E.L.D. Board

Kelly Snyder – Representative
Paul Merten – Alternate

Sanitary District, Lake Creek CC Trustee [358.9]

6 year term

Neal Kuehl (Term Expires 1/2/2028)
Matt Adams (Term Expires 1/2/2028)
Daniel Jones (Term Expires 1/2/2025)

Sanitary District, Southwest CC Trustee [358.9]

6 year term

Bob Bergendoff (Term Expires 1/2/2023)
Steve Anderson (Term Expires 1/2/2021)
Harry Schaller (Term Expires 1/2/2025)

Storm Lake Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee

Ringgenberg – representative

Storm Lake United Development

Rhonda Ringgenberg – representative

Storm Lake United Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund

Rhonda Ringgenberg – Ex-Officio Member
Dan Hartman – Ex-Officio Member

Storm Lake Water Quality Project Advisory Committee

Rhonda Ringgenberg

Synergy/Jackson Recovery Center

Kathy Croker – Representative

Title VI Coordinator

Bret Wilkinson

3-County Early Childhood Iowa Board Board (Empowerment)

Rhonda Ringgenberg – Representative

Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. Board

Dan Hartman – Delegate

Veterans Affairs Commission [Chapter 35b]

Term, 3 years (by appointment); bond $500 each. As provided for in Chapter 35B.4 of the 1999 Code of Iowa, the Board of Supervisors is required to appoint a 3-member commission to administer the Veteran’s Relief Program. Members of the commission must be citizens of the United States who have been honorably discharged from one of the country’s Armed Forces and who have served in any wars of this country. The membership must be equally divided, as nearly as possible, among veterans of the various wars. They shall prepare a budget annually and submit the same to the Board of Supervisors for approval and appropriation. This commission shall disburse the Veterans Program of the county under the control of the Board of Supervisors. They meet the first Thursday of each month and other times as necessary.

Andrew Kelly, Member (06/30/2026)
Corey Diischer, Member (06/30/2025)
Lee Meth, Member (06/30/2027)
Ron Witham, Member (06/30/2027)
Paul Sennert, Member (06/30/2026)

Western Iowa Tourism Council

Kathy Croker
Breanna Horsey

Whitney Pit Farm And South Hayes Pit Farm

Paul Merten – For Leases
Bret Wilkinson & Paul Merten – For Grain Sales At The South Hayes Pit

Zoning Board Of Adjustment [335.10]

Term, 5 years (by appointment) [335.10] The Board of Adjustment consists of 5 members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

The duties of the Board of Adjustment are to hear and decide on appeals, special exceptions and variances. Members shall appoint a chairman and co-chairman with the zoning director acting as the secretary.

Zoning Administrator:
Ben Mueggenberg

Dist 1: Thru 12/31/2025
Jason Meyer

Dist 2: Thru 12/31/2027
Greg Sundblad

Dist 3: Thru 12/31/2023
Steve Lind

Dist 4: Thru 12/31/2026
Richard Langner

Dist 5: Thru 12/31/2024
Mitch Sievers

County Operations Committees

ADA Coordinator

Susan Lloyd

HIPAA Compliance Committee

Julie Sathers, Dawn Mentzer, Susan Lloyd, Tyler Van Houten, Paul Merten

County Engineer

Bret Wilkinson – authorized to close roads as necessary

Weed Commissioner

Greg Johnson

Brian Jones – Deputy

Buena Vista County Courthouse Committee

Supervisor – volunteer Joe Keller – Grounds

Courthouse/Judicial Security Committee

Sheriff, Bldg/Grouds Supt., IT Director, County Auditor, County Attorney, Clerk of Court, Member of the Board of
Supervisors (Snyder), Associate District Judge Andy Smith

Buena Vista County Facilities Committee

Curt Reis, Susan Lloyd, Joe Keller, Bret Wilkinson, Paul Merten, Tyler Van Houten

Buena Vista County Safety Committee

Dan Hartman, Kory Elston, Bruce McGowan, Ron Reckamp, Justin Anderson, Stephanie Anderson, Joe Keller, Yvonne Sandhoff, Greg Johnson, Aimee Barritt, Tyler VanHouten, Dave Andrews, Jerilyn Sahr, Connie Jesse, and Brian Blomme, with Mike Raner as Safety Coordinator.

Buena Vista County Weather Committee

Bret Wilkinson, Kory Elston, Paul Merten, and Kelly Snyder.

Buena Vista County Personnel Committee

Board of Supervisor’s Chair, Bret Wilkinson, Kory Elston, Danelle Haberman, Susan Lloyd, and Yvonne
Sandhoff as members of the Personnel Committee (includes employee handbook updates).