There are three basic forms of county government: Traditional Plural Executive Form (the current form in Cerro Gordo County); the Elected Executive Plan; and the County Manager Form. Under the County Charter Government Bill passed in 1988 by the Iowa General Assembly, counties are allowed to study and change that form.
Elected Officials include the Board of Supervisors, Recorder, Treasurer, Auditor, Sheriff and County Attorney. Terms of office are 4 years.
Name |
Title |
Term Expires |
Jay Urdahl (D) |
Supervisor |
2008 |
Robert Amosson (R) |
Supervisor |
2010 |
Phillip Dougherty (D) |
Supervisor |
2008 |
Paul Martin (R) |
Attorney |
2010 |
Ken Kline (R) |
Auditor |
2008 |
Michael Grandon (D) |
Treasurer |
2010 |
Kevin Pals (R) |
Sheriff |
2008 |
Colleen Pearce (D) |
Recorder |
2010 |
Appointed Officials are appointed, or hired, by the Board of Supervisors to manage administrative departments. The following department heads serve under the direction of the Board of Supervisors:
NAME |
POSITION |
DEPARTMENT |
Mary Kelly |
Engineer |
Engineer |
Scott Tepner |
Director |
Management Information Services |
Donna Van Note |
Director |
Dispute Resolution |
Mary Beth Nelson |
Director |
Case Management |
Tom Drzycimski |
Director |
Personnel/Planning & Zoning/Safety |
Bob Lincoln |
Director |
Central Point of Coordination |
Appointments for some officials are handled differently, such as the Health Department, Conservation and Veterans' Affairs. The Health Department and Conservation are their own "Employer of Record"; because of this they are not part of the county bargaining units. The director of the Health Department is appointed by the Board of Health, whose five members are appointed to three year terms by the Board of Supervisors.
NAME |
POSITION |
DEPARTMENT |
Ron Osterholm |
Director |
Public Health |
The executive director for Conservation is appointed by the Conservation Board. Appointments to the five member board are made by the Board of Supervisors and serve five year terms.
NAME |
POSITION |
DEPARTMENT |
Fred Heinz |
Director |
Conservation |
The director for Veterans Affairs is appointed by the Veterans' Commission. Appointments to the five member commission are made by the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners serve three year staggered terms.
NAME |
POSITION |
DEPARTMENT |
Rosetta Waychus |
Director |
Veteran Affairs |
The county assessor is appointed by a Conference Board that consists of members of the Board of Supervisors, a representative from each of the school districts, and the mayor from each of the cities in the county. Term of appointment is six years. Unlike other departments, the assessor's budget is appropriated by its own tax levy.
NAME |
TITLE |
TERM EXPIRES |
John Boedeker |
County Assessor |
N/A |