County budget meeting derailed by dispute
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Two Marshall County Supervisors argued with the sheriff during a budget meeting about their apparent inability to manage a vehicle order.
In September, Sheriff Steve Hoffman ordered four vehicles from the Stew Hansen dealership in Urbandale. Hoffman said some of the department's existing vehicles had logged more than 150,000 miles and needed to be replaced at a cost of roughly $125,000.
In previous budget discussions, supervisors questioned whether purchasing the vehicles could be delayed. The Marshall County Jail has a $1.3 million revenue shortfall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supervisor Bill Patten said he traveled to Stew Hansen twice to inquire about the vehicles, but could not get information.
"They just flat out would not talk to me," Patten said. "I wasn't real happy with that. I was not trying to stop anything. I was just trying to get some ideas. I don't know why they wouldn't want to talk to me, Steve."
Supervisor Dave Thompson said it was not just Patten who had problems.
"Bill had gone down there two times and was going to head down for the third trip and I said 'This is nonsense that you're not getting information given to you. Absolutely unacceptable,'" Thompson said.
Thompson called the Stew Hansen dealership, explaining he was a Marshall County Supervisor. He said he received a "smart mouth" on the other end of the phone. Thompson asked for an email to send questions to -- specifically, "Have these units been ordered?" and "Is it possible to change them?" He said he received answers within 32 minutes, but what bothered Thompson was the person allegedly said he was instructed by the Marshall County Sheriff not to provide any information on the vehicles to anyone.
"We were very frustrated that impediments had been put in the way of the board of supervisors in looking at the information on these vehicles," Thompson said.
Hoffman said that was not entirely accurate, saying he was told by another Stew Hansen employee that Thompson allegedly made threats on the phone and said, "Screw the sheriff."
Thompson denied saying that and admonished Hoffman for speaking about a conversation he was not involved in. Thompson added the impediments put in front of Marshall County Supervisors were unacceptable.
Hoffman told the supervisors the impediments were not placed by him and asked what was not being understood. He said he had never talked to the Stew Hansen employee they were discussing.
"So he just dreamt this up?" Thompson asked. "Do you understand me?"
"You're apparently not understanding me," Hoffman said. "I have never talked to the man."
Hoffman said not providing information to another person could be a Stew Hansen practice, because ultimately, he was their customer.
Thompson replied Marshall County is their customer.
"Right, and I represent Marshall County," Hoffman said.
"As do we. Don't forget that," Thompson said.
The disagreement ended with Supervisor Steve Salasek suggesting the attention return to the county budget.
Patten then asked how many miles a sheriff's vehicle acquires before it is traded in for a newer one. He was under the impression the county was trading them in at 90,000 to 100,000 but was assured by Sgt. Ben Veren vehicles are traded in with 120,000 to 140,000 miles.
After the meeting, Hoffman said he has always handled vehicle purchases for his department and had received no instruction from supervisors to make contact with the dealership for inquiries about possible changes.
Marshall County Attorney Jennifer Miller said several attorney general opinions have established supervisors may not disapprove claims submitted by elected county officers as long as they are within the appropriated budget amounts.
Besides the argument, the supervisors reviewed comparison reports, proposed levies, discussed ending fund balance estimates and more.
Two proposals were increasing a property tax levy by 22 cents, which would bring the general supplemental up to a 20 percent ending fund balance, or by 7 cents and end up with 18 percent general supplemental fund balance. The supervisors wanted to see how increasing the levy by 12 cents would impact the ending fund balances, which is where the concerns are, according to Thompson.
He said an explanation for the raises would have to be the county is making up for ending fund balances, plus the additional debt that was accrued.
Economic development projects were also discussed, particularly a proposed Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce new housing incentive. The county was asked in December to contribute $250,000 for the incentive. Instead, the supervisors are considering a contribution to 10 homes at $1,500 each.
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.