Penny Freestone (pictured above)

The Dallas County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday.

The board honored 12 individuals with certificates of appreciation for their years of service in different departments, including the Sheriff’s Office with Holly Smith for five years and Ryan Bowers for 25 years; the Veteran’s Affairs Office celebrated Alan Horn for five years and Nick Praska for 10 years; the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) recognized Joel Steenhoek for 10 years; the Secondary Roads Department had Steve Hick and Jeff Kruse for 10 years, then Steve Gomke for 15 years; the Attorney’s Office honored Audra Ledbetter for 10 years; the Auditor’s Office celebrated Penny Freestone for 15 years; and the Treasurer’s Office honored Walter Juarez for 25 years of service.

Next, the board held a public hearing for a resolution to rezone land on three separate properties located six miles south of Perry. Planning and Development Interim Director Samuel Larson said that three property owners of William Bucholz, Nick Leerhoff, and Bryan Wehrle would use a portion of land for livestock. Larson detailed that two properties would be for five acres and another one would be for seven acres. 

Supervisor Julia Helm had an issue with the request as she pointed out that multiple employees within the Planning and Development Department questioned the resolution as it contradicted an already established agreement that at least 10 acres were required to maintain livestock. She feared that if this resolution was approved, then it set an inconsistent precedent for future property owners. 

County Attorney Matt Schultz advised the board that they could seek a conditional use permit to keep the public hearing open, but come back to it another time. After discussion, Supervisor Brad Golightly made the motion to take that option and the board tabled the hearing with the conditional use permit to come back at a later date.

Next, the board approved resolutions to transfer $321,921 from the Rural Services Basic Fund to the Secondary Roads Fund and $10,526 from the General Basic Fund to the Secondary Roads Fund, a resolution to accept $2,635,942 in assigned funds for operating transfers, and a Sheriff’s Office vehicle purchase request for a 2025 Ford Interceptor in the amount of $33,900.

Additional approved items featured several resolutions for appointments, including Larson as the Planning and Development Interim Director, Cliff Gibson as the Information Services Interim Director, and Chuck Thompson to serve a three year term ending on June 30th, 2028 in the Veteran’s Affairs Commission, and a billing contract between the Dallas County Emergency Medical Services and Physicians Claims Company Incorporated as presented.

Nick Praska

Jeff Kruse