By BARBARA PROFFITT | May 24, 2023

The May 22 meeting of the Linn County Commissioners began with the approval of the minutes of last week’s meeting followed by the approval of claims in the amount of $414,681.39.

County Clerk David Lamb noted a need to reschedule the regular meeting on May 29 to Tuesday, May 30 due to the Memorial Day holiday and commissioners voted to approve the reschedule on a 3-0 vote.

Commissioners approved a cereal malt beverage license 2023-04 for Power Stop #5 on the La Cygne corner.

Linn County Economic Development Administrator Jessica Hightower requested the commissioners add Becky Hegwald to the Economic Development Committee as replacement for Teresa Whitaker and they approved the request.

Linn County Public Works Administrator Shaun West requested and commissioners approved three burial permits for the same company at several locations. 

West reported that right-of-way easements for Hell’s Bend are done and commissioners voted to allow Commissioner Danny McCullough to sign those easements.

Linn County Attorney Burton Harding reported to commissioners on an incident that took place at Tanglewood Lakes on Thursday, May 18, and stated he had filed several criminal cases in conjunction with that incident. (See related articles in this edition.)

Commissioners then entered into two separate executive sessions ; one for 15 minutes for legal matters with county counselor Gary Thompson and one for 10 minutes for personnel matters with with Janet Kleweno. Upon resuming the regular meeting McCullough noted no action had been taken. 

At that point commissioner McCullough opened the floor to public comment and several members of the Tanglewood Lakes community and the Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association spoke to commissioners regarding the incident on May 18 in which a group of people gathered at the gates and cut them down, including the card reader units. (See related articles in this edition.) 

Following public Comment Sheriff Kevin Friend then reported on the incident at Tanglewood, noting that at the point deputies arrived the gates were already down and their job then became de-escalation and information gathering. (See related articles in this edition.)

Commissioners then recessed to do a walk-through of county buildings and discuss possible plans for each building.