The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors established committee assignments for 2026 and approved annual authorizations during their regular meeting on Monday, January 5th.
Board Members
The 2026 board consists of Lee Dimmitt, Joe Ledger, and Susie Drish.
Committee Assignments
Supervisors were assigned to dozens of regional boards, committees, and liaison positions for the coming year. The assignments include primary representatives and alternates for each position.
Transportation and Development:
- 10-15 Transit System: Dimmitt (primary), Ledger (1st alternate), Drish (2nd alternate)
- Area XV ISTEA Policy Board (RPA): Dimmitt (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- Area XV REDI Board: Dimmitt
- Area XV Regional Planning (RPC): Dimmitt (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety:
- 8th Judicial Correctional Services Board: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- South Iowa Area Crime Commission (SIACC): Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- South Iowa Area Detention Service Agency (SIADSA): Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Juvenile Court Services: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Courthouse Security Committee: Drish (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
Emergency Services:
- 911 Joint Service Board: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- Ambulance Service Agency: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate), Dimmitt (2nd alternate)
- Emergency Management Agency: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- HAZMAT Ten-County (SIRG): Dimmitt (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- Safety Committee: Drish (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate), Ledger (2nd alternate)
Health and Human Services:
- Board of Health Liaison: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Mental Health Governance Board: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Mental Health Governance Board (SE IA Link): Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Decategorization Board of Jefferson, Keokuk, & Washington Counties: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Early Childhood Board of Jefferson & Keokuk Counties: Dimmitt (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- Substance Abuse Awareness: Ledger (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- Opioid Money: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
Economic Development and Community:
- Chamber of Commerce Liaison: Ledger
- Fairfield Convention & Visitors Bureau: Ledger (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- Grow Fairfield: Ledger (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- SIEDA: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- Pathfinders RC&D: Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Workforce Development Local Elected Official Committee: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
Property and Infrastructure:
- Courthouse & Annex Committee: Drish (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Service Agency – County/City Building Decisions: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- Local Housing Trust Fund/Regional Housing Trust Fund: Ledger (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- Historic Preservation Committee: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- Maasdam Barn Preservation Committee: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
Environmental and Utilities:
- SEMCO Landfill: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- South Iowa Development of Conservation Authority (SIDCA): Ledger (primary), Dimmitt (1st alternate)
- Rural Utility Service Systems (RUSS): Dimmitt (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- REAP: All supervisors
Administrative:
- ARPA: Drish (primary), Ledger (1st alternate)
- HR: Dimmitt (primary), Drish (1st alternate)
- ICAP: Drish
- HIPAA Security Compliance Assistance Team: All supervisors
- Assessor’s Conference Board: All supervisors
Compensation Commission
The board also reviewed the membership of the 2026 Jefferson County Compensation Commission, which is organized into four categories:
Owner-Operators of Agricultural Property: Barbara Hood, Dee Sandquist, Joseph McLarney, Kendra Hellweg, Joan Salts, Jane Adam, and Stephen Burgmeier.
City Property Owners: Dave Dickey, Douglas Bagby, Marshan Roth, Diane Rosenberg, Ray Chambers, and Tim Kuiken. The position formerly held by Judy Ham, who passed away, needs to be replaced.
Licensed Real Estate Salespersons or Real Estate Brokers: Jim Horras, Kandi Diers, Deb Davis, Tammy Dunbar, Ann Clifford, Andrew Edlin, and Tom Terrien.
Bankers, Auctioneers, Property Managers, Property Appraisers, Loan Officers: Shawn Lisk, Bob Hayes, Jack Middlekoop, Greg Lowenberg, Aaron Kness, and Ted Diers. The position formerly held by Kathy Thornton, who retired from her former employer, needs to be replaced.
Annual Authorizations
The supervisors unanimously approved a resolution establishing several standard yearly authorizations for 2026. The resolution outlines authorizations that will remain in effect for the calendar year and are intended to ensure the county can carry out routine operations efficiently.
Under the resolution, county officials and employees are authorized to attend meetings and educational training sessions at county expense. The measure also grants the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors authority to execute leases and deeds of conveyance on behalf of Jefferson County.
Additionally, the resolution authorizes the County Auditor to exercise powers outlined in Chapter 331.506, subsection 2, of the 2026 Code of Iowa, allowing the auditor to issue payment warrants for certain routine or legally required expenses without prior board approval. These payments typically include court-related costs and other required disbursements that must be processed promptly, even when the Board of Supervisors is not in session. The annual authorization ensures essential county payments can continue without delay throughout the year.
The County Engineer was also designated and empowered to execute certificates of completion and final acceptance for all farm-to-market road construction projects in Jefferson County, in accordance with approved plans and specifications.
The committee assignments and annual authorizations establish the framework for county operations and regional collaboration throughout 2026.
