Mills County supervisors approve licenses, tower amendment, staffing changes and a parade street closure

At its meeting the Mills County Board of Supervisors handled a set of routine administrative items, approving liquor and tobacco permits, signing an amended tower agreement, making salary corrections in the secondary roads department and approving steps to recruit an engineering technician.

Licenses and permits: The board approved a special five‑day retail alcohol license for Hillsdale Lily Farms (July 22–26), Class C retail alcohol licenses for Ron Cherro Rancher and Toby Jackson (terms described in the packet), and resolved a tobacco‑permit filing error for Loves after staff (Amber) said the state corrected the jurisdiction mistake. Amber told the board the permits were originally submitted in May but had gone to the wrong jurisdiction; once corrected, staff moved forward with approval.

Tower lease amendment: A supervisor reported negotiations with Nextlink resulted in the county receiving an additional $50 per month under an amendment to the existing tower agreement to help cover electrical service fees. The board approved a motion to authorize the chair to sign the updated agreement.

Salaries and hiring: Staff corrected errors in a proposed step‑pay system for secondary roads employees tied to anniversary dates; the board approved revised FY27 non‑union compensation for the department while leaving the previously passed wage resolution in place. The board also approved advertising to fill an Engineering Technician position with an entry hourly rate discussed at about $29.87.

Other approvals: The board authorized the chair to sign a proclamation supporting a U.S. anniversary celebration and approved a short street closure and parade route for a Thursday evening community event. A change to union language regarding 10‑hour shifts that would have made the arrangement permanent was instead extended through the current contract period (to June 30, 2027). The transcript records motions and statements of approval but does not provide formal recorded vote tallies for these items (tallies not specified).

Administrative note: Staff highlighted that some permit applications had clerical errors or required state coordination (for tobacco permits and Homebase Iowa signs) and that the County Engineer will coordinate final placement and installation details.