Supervisors getting closer to selecting assessor replacement

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is making strides in finding a replacement for the Montgomery County Assessor's position.
Prior assessor Stacey Von Dielingen left the position to become the assessor in Jasper County in September 2021. The Montgomery County Examining Board, comprised of Jerry Hansen, Don Kearns and Donna Devries have narrowed the applicants to two, and Supervisors Chair Mark Peterson said it was time to take the next step.
“The examining board chose not to pick one over the other. They are handing both applicants over for us to work with. I've asked around, and I would like for us to form a committee of three people, one representing us, the mayors, and the school boards, get together, and look at the two applicants,” Peterson explained. “The school boards are working to pick a representative for this new committee, and I am willing to be our representative on this committee.”
Peterson said following the interview of the final two candidates, the new committee would submit the name to the 16-member Montgomery County Conference Board for final vote and approval.
The conference board would also serve to oversee the new hire for the assessor’s position.
Supervisor Charla Schmid asked for clarification as to why the other committee did not pick one applicant over the other. Peterson explained that the committee did not have to narrow the field down to one applicant.
“In other cases, they might be in a situation where one person was fully qualified, and the other was not. In this case, both applicants were fully qualified, so the committee is saying the two candidates are on a level playing field,” advised Peterson.
Supervisor Donna Robinson suggested having two representatives from the supervisors serve on the proposed committee. Peterson said he specifically chose one representative from each entity to allow for an uneven vote. Robinson agreed and rescinded her suggestion for a second board member to join the three-person committee.
As for a decision, after speaking with County Attorney Drew Swanson, he was advised the best place to share the decision for the position was at a conference board meeting.
The supervisors agreed to appoint Peterson to the new committee. Peterson said Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius had been selected by the group of county mayors to represent them on the committee; the area school boards had yet to make a decision on a representative.
The supervisors also approved setting May 3 as the date of a public hearing classifying a portion of 230th Street east to Vine Street, in East Township, as a Level C road, at the landowner's recommendation.
“This will be a downgrade for the road, and it was at the suggestion of the landowners. They signed and submitted a petition, and the road will be gated off upon approval of the new classification,” said county engineer Karen Albert.
Due to the timing, the earliest the public hearing could take place was May 3, and the time was set at 8:45 a.m., during the regular supervisors meeting.