Mills County residents urge supervisors to place three‑to‑five board question on November ballot

A local advocacy group asked the Mills County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to draft a resolution placing a question on the November ballot to expand the board from three supervisors to five.

The Mills County Matters working group representative told the board the group can collect the roughly 850 petition signatures needed to force a ballot question but prefers the county use a home‑rule resolution so the measure appears on the ballot without a citizen petition. “We would like this to be on the ballot,” the presenter said, urging the board to let voters decide after community education.

Why it matters: Supporters argued a five‑member board would generate more ideas, distribute committee work and reduce the practical quorum problems that can leave two members making decisions for the county. The group provided an estimate of fully allocated costs of roughly $75,000–$80,000 per supervisor and said the public should weigh that against governance benefits.

What officials said: Several supervisors acknowledged the request but urged careful public education on tradeoffs. One supervisor noted that studies of other counties showed mixed results, warning of possible recruitment challenges: “The biggest problem was…qualified people,” a board member said, recounting experiences from neighboring counties that moved from three to five and then struggled to fill seats with prepared candidates. Another supervisor noted a local poll showing strong initial support but said voters might change their minds after learning about increased overhead.

Process and timeline: Board members discussed two paths: citizens could petition (the presenter estimated about 850 signatures) or the board could pass a home‑rule resolution under 331.203 to place the question on the ballot with a two‑of‑three vote. The working group asked the board to consider drafting a resolution rapidly so petitioning efforts, if needed, can be halted. If the question passed in November, new supervisors would be elected through regular primaries and general elections in 2028, with staggered term lengths to establish rotation.

Outstanding issues: The board asked for clear pros and cons and for more research from counties that previously switched to five supervisors, including whether districts should be required or supervisors elected at large. Supporters said they would produce balanced educational materials; opponents stressed added costs and the risk of diluting expertise if unprepared candidates win.

Next steps: A supervisor said they would place a discussion or possible decision on next week’s agenda and work with county staff (including the county attorney and election official) to draft a resolution if the board is willing to consider it. If the board declines, the group indicated it will proceed with petition signatures.