Vander Molen Sworn in as Supervisor

Mike Vander Molen is sworn in by Judge Randy DeGeest Wednesday morning.

by Amy Langdon

Mike Vander Molen took his seat as a Mahaska County Supervisor Wednesday, following a swearing-in ceremony by Judge Randy DeGeest.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Sue Brown was sworn in as auditor and Paul DeGeest was sworn in as sheriff.

It was Ken Rozenboom’s last meeting as a supervisor; his last day is January 11th. He will soon begin his term as an Iowa State Senator. A special election will be held on January 29th to fill Rozenboom’s seat on the board of supervisors. Mahaska’s Republican and Democratic parties will meet this week to nominate candidates for the position.

In other county business:

– Supervisor Greg Gordy was re-appointed as chairperson of the Mahaska Board of Supervisors. Vander Molen will serve as vice-chairperson.

– The board formally approved the Mahaska County Emergency Management moving forward with the creation of a local hazmat team. The vote is not a guarantee the team will be formed, just a public record of the board’s support of the project, which will cost the county approximately $85,000 for equipment and training. The approval is contingent on further research regarding the county’s insurance liability.

– The board approved the recommendation of the Compensation Board of giving county employees a 1.7 percent raise.