(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting today (Tuesday, Jan. 28th). During their session, the Board received a weekly update from Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert.

The Board also received a report from Becca Laughlin, with the Southwest Iowa Art Tour. The organization held its 11th Annual Tour September 20th through the 22nd, 2024, at gathering places in Red Oak, Essex and 18 other locations. One of the gathering places, where all the artists come together, was at Five One 8, in Red Oak.

She said the tour usually draws around 200 people that sign-in from many zip codes. Becca Laughlin said “Red Oak…is I would say, our ‘Poster child for the Southwest Iowa Art Tour,” because of its success in drawing artists and attendees at the tour locations. She thanked the Board of Supervisors for their support last year, which amounted to $1,000. The same amount was requested in the next budgeting year.

MC BOS mtg 1-28-25 (Zoom screenshot)

The Montgomery County Supervisors discussed and then approved a payment to the Central Cost Allocation Plan. Auditor Jill Ozuna….

The payment they approved for FY2025 was $4,450. The Board then approved a Resolution abating the taxes on multiple parcels in the City of Villisca. The entire resolution and a list of the respective parcels can be seen in the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office. They passed also, a Resolution Transferring the Capital Funds Balance to Debt Service.

Ozuna said it will essentially not require as much from the taxpayers. The Supervisors then went into a Closed Session as allowed under the Code of Iowa, for the purpose of reviewing and discussing confidential records related to the election security assessment by CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), requiring confidentiality under state or federal law.