Bremer County HR director outlines staffing counts and plans to enroll in E-Verify after new state law
June 30, 2026 | Bremer County, Iowa
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Bremer County's human resources director presented current workforce numbers and a compliance plan after the governor signed Senate File 2218, which requires public employers in Iowa to begin using the E-Verify system for verifying new employees.
Barb Maker, the county's human resources director, told the board the county currently has 175 employees, of whom 140 are full-time, and reviewed enrollment levels for health and other benefit programs. She said the law "is requiring public entities in Iowa to start using the Everify system for verifying new employees," and described operational steps: the county must designate a program administrator (the day-to-day user) and a signatory (who accepts terms and conditions), and may set backups for continuity.
Maker said she scheduled a one-hour training to begin enrollment and asked the board to authorize staff to serve as administrator and signatory as appropriate. She also noted the county will need an updated laptop for the system because current equipment is slow and may impede E-Verify use.
Board members discussed who should be designated as backups and agreed to name internal backups (including Steven Jordan in the auditor's office) to support rural trustees and clerks when they come in for oath-of-office processing.
The HR briefing also included a broader workforce update and a preview of a planned wage-comparison effort across peer counties; Maker said she had contacted 14 counties for comparative wage data and will follow up as responses arrive.
The board did not oppose proceeding with E-Verify enrollment and asked staff to return with implementation steps and designated account holders.
Barb Maker, the county's human resources director, told the board the county currently has 175 employees, of whom 140 are full-time, and reviewed enrollment levels for health and other benefit programs. She said the law "is requiring public entities in Iowa to start using the Everify system for verifying new employees," and described operational steps: the county must designate a program administrator (the day-to-day user) and a signatory (who accepts terms and conditions), and may set backups for continuity.
Maker said she scheduled a one-hour training to begin enrollment and asked the board to authorize staff to serve as administrator and signatory as appropriate. She also noted the county will need an updated laptop for the system because current equipment is slow and may impede E-Verify use.
Board members discussed who should be designated as backups and agreed to name internal backups (including Steven Jordan in the auditor's office) to support rural trustees and clerks when they come in for oath-of-office processing.
The HR briefing also included a broader workforce update and a preview of a planned wage-comparison effort across peer counties; Maker said she had contacted 14 counties for comparative wage data and will follow up as responses arrive.
The board did not oppose proceeding with E-Verify enrollment and asked staff to return with implementation steps and designated account holders.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
