Supervisors discuss who speaks for the board

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A mild tiff developed at the Floyd County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning as the three members discussed when they were representing the views of the board and when they were speaking for themselves.

Linda Tjaden, currently board chairwoman, addressed Supervisor Mark Kuhn regarding a letter he had sent to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.

The letter followed up an appearance Kuhn made recently before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate that was discussing regulations for animal emissions, where he had talked about a Floyd County family and problems they say they are having because of nearby concentrated animal feeding operations.

Kuhn’s letter invited Ernst to come to Floyd County to talk with the family in person. It was sent on county board letterhead and signed by Kuhn as a member of the board.

Tjaden said her concern is that the letter may be interpreted as coming from the board, when other members of the board had not known about it.

“I’m not saying that we disagree or agree with what’s being said, because it’s never been something that we’ve discussed as a board,” she said. “I just want to make sure that we’re not miscommunicating or giving an impression out to our citizens that we’re taking a stance on certain issues.”

Tjaden said there have been other times as well, including letters or guest columns in the Press, when Kuhn has identified himself as a Floyd County supervisor.

“Those discussions have never come in front of us as a board. We’ve never really approved them,” she said.

Supervisor Doug Kamm agreed, saying, “I talked to Mark about that once before. If it’s going out on our letterhead with a signature on it, I think the three of us out to talk about it.”

Kuhn asked the other members if they disagreed with the invitation to Ernst, and if they would participate if she agrees to a visit, which he said looks possible.

“I’m not disagreeing that this isn’t the right thing to,” Tjaden said. “What I’m saying is I would like to see that ahead of time before these are being sent out, so there’s an agreement that we’re going forward with it.”

Kuhn asked, “So, if Senator Ernst decided to come, would you attend with her? Would you go with her?”

Tjaden said, “Absolutely. It isn’t the issue of what’s being said as it’s saying that we as a board have agreed with what you’re saying, and we haven’t had a chance to agree.”

Kuhn said, “Hopefully, both of you decide, when that time comes, that you would like to participate in hosting a United States senator here in Floyd County. Just for the record, hopefully by that time you will have decided you’re going to participate in something like this or not.

“And secondly, as far as the letters to the editor or guest views or columns that I put in the Charles City Press, I don’t give up my First Amendment rights because I’m a member of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors,” Kuhn said.

Kamm said, “You know, you’re twisting this around, Mark. This is called transparency and apparently you feel that transparency works for everybody but you. … It would have just been common courtesy to tell us that you’ve going to use this letterhead with our name on it.”

Kuhn said, “Just so you know, I’m not giving up my First Amendment rights as a member of the Board of Supervisors. I’ll feel free to express my opinions. … Feel free to write your own, if you like. That’s fine with me.”

“If I did, I would not use that letterhead unless I asked,” Kamm said.

Kuhn ran for office as a Democrat and Tjaden and Kamm both ran as Republicans, although usually party politics does not appear to play a role in the decisions the county board makes. The vast majority of decisions made by the board are approved 3-0.

Also at the meeting Tuesday, the supervisors:

• Approved the five-year secondary road construction program for Floyd County presented by County Engineer Dusten Rolando. The program includes road reconstruction and maintenance, bridge replacements and maintenance and more.

The plan proposes spending $3.9 million in the 2018-19 fiscal year and a total of $14.9 million in the five-year plan, from a combination of local, state and federal funds.

• Passed a routine annual notice that requires Floyd County residents to destroy noxious weeds on their property, including but not limited to Canada thistle, musk thistle, teasel, leafy spurge, annual sunflower, sour dock, palmer amaranth and wild mustard.
• Approved increasing the inspection and documentation fee for permits for new septic systems in the county from $200 to $300.