Louie Zumbach has been appointed to chair the Linn County Board of Supervisors for the 2023 calendar year, board members decided Jan. 3.
Mr. Zumbach, a Republican who represents Linn County’s largely rural District 3, is beginning the third year of his four-year term on the board. He served as the board’s vice chair in 2022, and is serving his first term on the board after having previously served two years in the Iowa Legislature.
Supervisors Ben Rogers and Kristen Running-Marquardt also began their new terms on the board. Mr. Rogers, a Democrat, was elected to his fifth term on the board in November 2022 and will serve as this year’s vice-chair. Ms. Running-Marquardt, also a Democrat, is beginning her first term on the board after serving in the Iowa Legislature since 2009.
The board also discussed a suggestion from county auditor Joel Miller regarding standardization of meeting times for the board’s weekly work sessions and formal meetings. Mr. Miller told the board that meetings beginning at 11 a.m. make it difficult for his employees, who keep the board’s official minutes, to attend meetings that span lunch breaks.
Currently, work sessions are held at 11 a.m. on Mondays and formal meetings begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays.
“I would like to see some consistency,” Mr. Miller said.
After discussion, board members informally agreed on a plan that would start both weekly meetings at 10 a.m. The plan will be formally considered at the board’s formal meeting Jan. 4.
Mr. Miller also proposed that some board meetings could be held in communities around the county to improve outreach. Mr. Zumbach said he supported the idea, but wanted more information as to whether remote meetings would present logistical challenges.
