Feldman, Loutsch officially take on county duties

Newest Plymouth County Supervisor Mark Loutsch was sworn into office Friday by Judge Robert Dull. Loutsch won his seat from former supervisor John Schneider. Friday was Loutsch's first official meeting. [Click to enlarge]

Two newly elected officials were sworn in Friday at the Plymouth County Supervisors first meeting of 2009.

Stacey Feldman, county auditor, and Mark Loutsch, supervisor, took their oath of office from Judge Robert Dull, both agreeing to perform their duties as elected officials.

Loutsch won the seat from former supervisor John Schneider and Feldman ran unopposed following the retirement of K. Kae Meyer for the auditor's position.

Auditor Stacey Feldman was sworn into office Friday by Judge Robert Dull. Feldman was elected auditor in the general election when she ran unopposed. Feldman follows in the footsteps of former auditor K. Kae Meyer who retired in 2008. [Click to enlarge]

Loutsch said becoming a supervisor was a way for him to stay involved with serving people.

"I was asked to maybe run for the job," Loutsch said. "That's why I did it, for the people of the county."

He said serving was something he always thought he would do, but thought it would probably happen when he was older.

"The opportunity came now so I took it," Loutsch said. "I think we can get it in a good direction."

The supervisors also voted Supervisor Jim Henrich as chairman and Supervisor C. Gordon Greene as vice chairman, and decided which committee meetings each supervisor will attend.

The supervisors tabled a decision as to whether one of them should sit on the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation (LBIC) Board.

Supervisor Loutsch and Don Kass thought perhaps sitting on that board could cause legal backlash while Greene felt the county has money involved in the LBIC Board and should be represented.

The supervisors will revisit that decision in two weeks.

After reorganization of the board was complete, the supervisors approved the Le Mars Daily Sentinel, the Akron Hometowner, the Remsen Bell and the Kingsley News Times as its official county newspapers.

The supervisors also appointed members to the following county boards:

*Don Kolker, Veteran Affairs Commission, three-year term

*Dr. R.E. Severson and Kathy Frus, Board of Health, three-year term

*Dave Klingensmith, Conservation Board, three-year term

*Darrel Schroeder, Zoning Commission Board, five-year term

*Blain Donaldson, Board of Adjustment, five-year term

With Feldman's recommendation the supervisors approved Cheri Nietzsche as election deputy auditor and Jan Beck as human resources deputy auditor.

After receiving letters of application, the supervisors also appointed two members to the Local Option Sales Tax Board. Tom Letsche will represent District 3 and Mary Lucken will represent District 5. Each will hold a three-year term.

Two seats remain open on the board for a one-year term in District 2 and a three-year term in District 1.

Applications and letters of intent will be sought for those seats until 5 p.m. Jan. 19. They can either be mailed to the board of supervisors at, 215 Fourth Ave. S.E., Le Mars, or dropped off in a a sealed envelope to the county auditor's office at the courthouse.

The supervisors will review the applications at their Jan. 20 meeting.