August 18, 2026, Wells County Budget Talks

Attendance: Stutlein, Boone and Buxa This is not a meeting so, no minutes will be taken. It is a budget talk for the meeting. Tate Attorney Bromke is currently shared with McHenery county; however, McHenery county is not sharing 50/50 Cost.

(A reminder, in the hiring process, the Commissioners stressed how he needed to be at every meeting. He agreed. Today, Bromke misses most of the meeting and he working in three other counties while Wells County is carrying his Benefits and salary)

Discussion on everyone moves up one step with a 1% or 3% increase, health care and more. These are the automatic steps on increases.

August 18, 2026, Wells County Budget Talks

Attendance: Stutlein, Boone and Buxa This is not a meeting so, no minutes will be taken. It is a budget talk for the meeting. Tate Attorney Bromke is currently shared with McHenery county; however, McHenery county is not sharing 50/50 Cost.

(A reminder, in the hiring process, the Commissioners stressed how he needed to be at every meeting. He agreed. Today, Bromke misses most of the meeting and he working in three other counties while Wells County is carrying his Benefits and salary)

Discussion on everyone moves up one step with a 1% or 3% increase, health care and more. These are the automatic steps on increases.

School Board Meeting August 12, 2026

Borad Minutes approved for all of July 2026 meetings

Reports:

Aaron

• Exhaust fan in grade school elementary kitchen
• Grade school window broken unknown how
• 19, 2026, School Starts
• meeting at 6pm

Hase

• Math Teacher: Two maybe interested: Algebra – CPE online teacher; zoom chat back & forth; Algebra 2 & upper level Hase teaching
• Collete seems to know a lot more then the rest of board about Hase’s phone calls.
• Hase reaching out Golf & football started
• Two Days inservice
• Infinite campus 1 ½ week to load
• 10 kids didn’t register. Five may have left (moved or homeschool) Last year 184 now 140 as of today. 
• High School 34 Football
• Grade School Football 29
• Girls golf 10
• Will have a Cross Country this year
• Bid on Roof by Travis Muscha. Grade School $4,291, High School $4,323. $8,426 Total roof repairs both schools
• Coal Bid : Center coal Comp $58.50/ton Thompson Transport $45/ton; fuel oil gas: Harvey Oil is .20 off current price. P & F repair transportation $123/hr labor and $143 After hors or out of town; Snow removal two bids- Kevin Landscaping total $33,200 and Harvey Ready Mix with cat loader $200, Skid steer $150. (Motion Passed on Harvey Ready mix)
• Sept 16th at 6 pm budget hearing and 7pm School board meeting

8-4-2026

Minutes for July Approved; Bills Approved

• Talked about radios; building towers at Gunderson’s will take 8 towners before activation is done.

Balance Sheet:  Capitol Projects – funds for North bridge by Fessenden

CD & Money Market ( See Slides for details): Road Dept. is crawling out of the negative;

Note:  They want Tax Payers to flip the bill for Soil Conservation Officer – County Agent.  NDSU pays part of the salary determined by who?  If Tax Payers keep picking up additional cost of service, then funding they received will be available for continue raises as determined by Commissioners.  Think about that!  You are already paying for county’s portion of Soil Conservation Officer wages.  Commissioners need to budget accordingly.

Portfolios: See video

Sheriff Office: 2020 Tahoe $7000.00 Repair on Transmission; Approved

(Prime Example of increasing salaries on Tax Payers)

Soil Committee Meeting Compensation; Raise from $35 to $50/ meeting plus mileage.

• Two positions still need to be filled

Road Dept:  Brent Keller

-Fair Ground Spurge; Chip Sealing Fairground & Gulf Course; Fairground Milling; Listed current and future gravel projects; State Shed projects; Fairground door project.

• Chaseley Township: Brent reference his comment inappropriate last meeting (talk is just talk), Doug stepped up his blading on Chaseley Road; Farmer’s ditches not mowed discussion.

WARNING:  There has to be give & take on both sides; Public comment by Kyle Hart – Brent came unglued.  (Brent has to remember that the public can bring any and all complaints to the attention of the Commissioner without retaliation or verbal abuse!  This is not the first time and this has to stop!)

Janelle Pepple: 911 Dispatch MOU; Tax will increase on all phone lines, Cell & Land, discussion at 6 county.

Don & Kath Muscha:  West Norway Township; Bridge project and township not aware of it; Jim Albright was notified after the fact that a redirection of project was through pasture; He is requesting someone to speak with him.  When Leon was on the Commissioners, it was Leon’s responsibility to talk with landowners.  (Viewer beware of Commissioner and Brent back lasing afterward in Part 6)

WC District Health:  Caitlyn Roemmich gave a report and budget

Planning & Zoning: Jana Mogren; Approval of building & permit changes-accepting permits for Erfle’s projects; reversed setback changes for Wind Towers for property owner; Comprehensive plan for county in future with assistance from other counties & other impute.

Brent Keller: Road Department handed out text message from Kyle Hart.  (Very inappropriately handled); Discussion started with Brent feeling betrayed by commissioners.  (Keep it professional, you are servants) ( Note: public comments expose possible road operators not getting work done.  What do you think?)

WC Budget 2027: Discussion See Video for Details; Cross Training all Employees changes the ad for County Recorder position.  Be upfront with expectations.

Next meetings:  Budget committee (Boone & Stan) August 18, 2026 at 8am; Special meeting for the budget in August 25th at 8am.

8-4-2026

Minutes for July Approved; Bills Approved

• Talked about radios; building towers at Gunderson’s will take 8 towners before activation is done.

Balance Sheet:  Capitol Projects – funds for North bridge by Fessenden

CD & Money Market ( See Slides for details): Road Dept. is crawling out of the negative;

Note:  They want Tax Payers to flip the bill for Soil Conservation Officer – County Agent.  NDSU pays part of the salary determined by who?  If Tax Payers keep picking up additional cost of service, then funding they received will be available for continue raises as determined by Commissioners.  Think about that!  You are already paying for county’s portion of Soil Conservation Officer wages.  Commissioners need to budget accordingly.

Portfolios: See video

Sheriff Office: 2020 Tahoe $7000.00 Repair on Transmission; Approved

(Prime Example of increasing salaries on Tax Payers)

Soil Committee Meeting Compensation; Raise from $35 to $50/ meeting plus mileage.

• Two positions still need to be filled

Road Dept:  Brent Keller

-Fair Ground Spurge; Chip Sealing Fairground & Gulf Course; Fairground Milling; Listed current and future gravel projects; State Shed projects; Fairground door project.

• Chaseley Township: Brent reference his comment inappropriate last meeting (talk is just talk), Doug stepped up his blading on Chaseley Road; Farmer’s ditches not mowed discussion.

WARNING:  There has to be give & take on both sides; Public comment by Kyle Hart – Brent came unglued.  (Brent has to remember that the public can bring any and all complaints to the attention of the Commissioner without retaliation or verbal abuse!  This is not the first time and this has to stop!)

Janelle Pepple: 911 Dispatch MOU; Tax will increase on all phone lines, Cell & Land, discussion at 6 county.

Don & Kath Muscha:  West Norway Township; Bridge project and township not aware of it; Jim Albright was notified after the fact that a redirection of project was through pasture; He is requesting someone to speak with him.  When Leon was on the Commissioners, it was Leon’s responsibility to talk with landowners.  (Viewer beware of Commissioner and Brent back lasing afterward in Part 6)

WC District Health:  Caitlyn Roemmich gave a report and budget

Planning & Zoning: Jana Mogren; Approval of building & permit changes-accepting permits for Erfle’s projects; reversed setback changes for Wind Towers for property owner; Comprehensive plan for county in future with assistance from other counties & other impute.

Brent Keller: Road Department handed out text message from Kyle Hart.  (Very inappropriately handled); Discussion started with Brent feeling betrayed by commissioners.  (Keep it professional, you are servants) ( Note: public comments expose possible road operators not getting work done.  What do you think?)

WC Budget 2027: Discussion See Video for Details; Cross Training all Employees changes the ad for County Recorder position.  Be upfront with expectations.

Next meetings:  Budget committee (Boone & Stan) August 18, 2026 at 8am; Special meeting for the budget in August 25th at 8am.

8-4-2026

Minutes for July Approved; Bills Approved

• Talked about radios; building towers at Gunderson’s will take 8 towners before activation is done.

Balance Sheet:  Capitol Projects – funds for North bridge by Fessenden

CD & Money Market ( See Slides for details): Road Dept. is crawling out of the negative;

Note:  They want Tax Payers to flip the bill for Soil Conservation Officer – County Agent.  NDSU pays part of the salary determined by who?  If Tax Payers keep picking up additional cost of service, then funding they received will be available for continue raises as determined by Commissioners.  Think about that!  You are already paying for county’s portion of Soil Conservation Officer wages.  Commissioners need to budget accordingly.

Portfolios: See video

Sheriff Office: 2020 Tahoe $7000.00 Repair on Transmission; Approved

(Prime Example of increasing salaries on Tax Payers)

Soil Committee Meeting Compensation; Raise from $35 to $50/ meeting plus mileage.

• Two positions still need to be filled

Road Dept:  Brent Keller

-Fair Ground Spurge; Chip Sealing Fairground & Gulf Course; Fairground Milling; Listed current and future gravel projects; State Shed projects; Fairground door project.

• Chaseley Township: Brent reference his comment inappropriate last meeting (talk is just talk), Doug stepped up his blading on Chaseley Road; Farmer’s ditches not mowed discussion.

WARNING:  There has to be give & take on both sides; Public comment by Kyle Hart – Brent came unglued.  (Brent has to remember that the public can bring any and all complaints to the attention of the Commissioner without retaliation or verbal abuse!  This is not the first time and this has to stop!)

Janelle Pepple: 911 Dispatch MOU; Tax will increase on all phone lines, Cell & Land, discussion at 6 county.

Don & Kath Muscha:  West Norway Township; Bridge project and township not aware of it; Jim Albright was notified after the fact that a redirection of project was through pasture; He is requesting someone to speak with him.  When Leon was on the Commissioners, it was Leon’s responsibility to talk with landowners.  (Viewer beware of Commissioner and Brent back lasing afterward in Part 6)

WC District Health:  Caitlyn Roemmich gave a report and budget

Planning & Zoning: Jana Mogren; Approval of building & permit changes-accepting permits for Erfle’s projects; reversed setback changes for Wind Towers for property owner; Comprehensive plan for county in future with assistance from other counties & other impute.

Brent Keller: Road Department handed out text message from Kyle Hart.  (Very inappropriately handled); Discussion started with Brent feeling betrayed by commissioners.  (Keep it professional, you are servants) ( Note: public comments expose possible road operators not getting work done.  What do you think?)

WC Budget 2027: Discussion See Video for Details; Cross Training all Employees changes the ad for County Recorder position.  Be upfront with expectations.

Next meetings:  Budget committee (Boone & Stan) August 18, 2026 at 8am; Special meeting for the budget in August 25th at 8am.