There are three basic forms of county government: Traditional Plural Executive Form (the current form in Black Hawk County); the Elected Executive Plan; and the County Manager Form. Under the County Charter Government Bill passed in 1988 by the Iowa General Assembly, counties are allowed to study and change that form.
Elected Officials Elected Officials are the board of supervisors, recorder, treasurer, auditor, sheriff and county attorney. Each official is elected to a four-year term.
<span><span>NAMETITLE<span><span>TERM </span> EXPIRES</span></span><span>John Miller (D)Supervisor2016</span><span>Linda Laylin (D)Supervisor.Chair Protem2016</span><span>Tom Little (D)Supervisor, Chair2016</span><span>Craig White (D)Supervisor2018</span><span>Frank Magsamen (D)Supervisor2018</span><span><span><span>Linda Fangman </span>(R)</span>Attorney2018</span><span>Rita Schmidt (R)Treasurer2018</span><span>Tony Thompson (D)Sheriff2016</span><span>Sandie Smith (D)Recorder2018</span><span>Grant Veeder (D)Auditor2016</span></span>
Appointed Officials Appointed Officials are appointed, or hired, by the Board of Supervisors to manage administrative departments. The following department heads serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.
Appointments for some officials are handled differently, such as the Health Department, Conservation and Veterans' Affairs. The Health Department and Conservation are their own "Employer of Record" so are not part of county bargaining units. The director of the Health Department is appointed by the Board of Health, whose five members are appointed to three year terms by the Board of Supervisors.
<span><span>NAMEPOSITIONDEPARTMENT</span><span>Bruce MeisingerHealth Department DirectorHealth Department</span></span>
The executive director for Conservation is appointed by the Conservation Board. Appointments to the five member board are made by the Board of Supervisors and serve five year terms.
The director for Veterans Affairs is appointed by the Veterans' Commission. Appointments to the five member commission are made by the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners serve three year staggered terms.
Associate Official <span>Associate Official refers to the assessor. The county assessor is appointed by a Conference Board that consists of members of the Board of Supervisors, a representative from each of the school districts and the mayor from each of the cities in the county. Term of appointment is six years. The assessor's budget is appropriated by its own tax levy, unlike other departments. </span>
The post-war boom led to led to economic wealth and freedom
during this period where opportunities were plentiful and people were now more
adventurous. This led to new changes in
attitudes and ideas. Women were now
striving to be more independent and minorities clamored for more equality. As time went by more people started to come
with their own views on society where they wanted to have more freedom to do what
they want and be what they want.