Emmetsburg, Iowa - County Offices

The primary responsibility of the Assessor is to have all real property within their jurisdiction assessed, except as otherwise provided by law, and administer tax exemptions. This includes residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural classes of property. (Real property is revalued every two years. The effective date of the assessment is January 1 of the current year.)

Name:	Peter Hart
Other employees:	Fred Blake Perkins--Assistant County Attorney Sheree Huberty--Office Manager Dawn Jensen--Assistant Secretary Becky Goeders--Community Service Coord.
Office Location:	2105 Main Street , Emmetsburg, Iowa
Office Addr:	2105 Main Street , P.O. Box 74 Emmetsburg,
Office Hours:	8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Phone:	712-852-3267
Fax:	712-852-2023
e-mail:	sh74atty@ncn.net
Appointed/elected	Elected

The County Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer, chief prosecuting attorney, and the legal advisor and lawyer for Palo Alto County government. The County Attorney works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations, and plays a central role in the criminal justice system.

Name:	Gary Leonard
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg, IA
Office Hours:	8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone:	712-852-2924
Fax:	712-852-4671
e-mail:	gleonard@co.palo-alto.ia.us
Appointed/elected	Elected

The County Auditor acts as clerk to the Board of Supervisors, is Commissioner of Elections, and official keeper of the Courthouse. The Auditor keeps records of real estate transfers and ownership of parcels of land for assessment purposes. The Auditor also prepares the county’s final budget package for approval by the Board of Supervisors.

Name:	Ron Graettinger (Ch)
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	PO Box 95, Emmetsburg, IA
Phone:	712-852-2924 (Auditor’s Office)
Fax:	712-852-4671
Appointed/elected	Elected 4 year term
Supervisors:
Lannie Miller	West Bend
Ron Graettinger	Graettinger
Leo Geoders	Emmetsburg
Phil Currans	Ruthven
Steve Nelson	Emmetsburg
Gary Leonard, Auditor

The Board of Supervisors is the executive and legislative branch of the County government. The Supervisors make policy for the county, administer the various county programs, and have final authority over the county budget. The County may exercise any power and perform any function it deems appropriate to protect and preserve the rights, privileges, and property of the County or of its residents. It can preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of its residents.

Name:	Mary Ellen Munn
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg, IA
Office Hours:	8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone:	712-852-3603
Fax:
e-mail:
Appointed/elected	Appointed

The Clerk of the District Court is a state employee and has charge of all court records in law, equity and probate matters. It handles Small Claims Court, Magistrate Court, and Juvenile Court, issues marriage licenses, and approves appearance bonds.

Name:	Steve Pitt, Director
Office Addr:	3259 355th Avenue, Ruthven, IA 51358
Phone:	712-837-4866
Fax:	712 837-4831
e-mail:	info@paccb.org
Appointed/elected	Appointed

The Conservation Director provides environmental education and takes care of public museums, parks, preserves, recreational centers, county forests, wildlife, and other conservation areas for the county. The Director works with the County Conservation Board. The Palo Alto County Conservation Board manages over 2,200 acres of public forests, parks, marshes and prairies. Habitat management includes tree planting, prairie and wetland restoration and management, wildlife food plots, fish stocking and the maintenance of nesting structures for ducks, geese, and songbirds.

Name:	Mark Hunefeld
Office Location:	Police Station
Office Address:	1907 11th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Office Hours:	24/7 through Communications Center
Phone:	911 Emergency 712-852-4997 Non-emergency
Fax:	712-852-3244
e-mail:	paema@iowatelecom.net
Appointed/elected	Appointed

The Emergency Management Director’s job is to coordinate county disaster services and emergency planning for such events as floods, fire, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, epidemics, electrical or computer outages, and terrorist attacks. They also provide emergency preparedness plans and coordinate the 911 rural addressing system.
The primary goal is to prevent injuries, save lives, and reduce property damage in the community during emergency situations.

Name:	Joel D. Fantz, P.E.
Office Addr:	1001½ Broadway Emmetsburg IA
Office Hours:	7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Phone:	712-852-3001
Fax:	712-852-3601
e-mail:	paloaltoengineer@yahoo.com
Appointed:	1 year appointment

The County Engineer is responsible for the supervision and inspection of the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges. The Engineer is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and works under their direction.

Name:	Bob Behnkendorf - County Director Julie Naig - Youth Director Denise Flaherty - Office Manager
Office Location:	Heritage Center
Office Addr:	2008 10th St., Emmetsburg, IA
Office Hours:	8 – 4:30 Monday - Friday
Phone:	712-852-2865
Fax:	712-852-3175
e-mail:	denise@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu/paloalto.htm

The Palo Alto County Extension Service is a branch of the Iowa State University Extension office. Its mission is to provide unbiased, researched-based information and education to help the public make better decisions. The Extension Service works with all peoples and communities to address local issues.

Name:	Maureen Sandberg, CPC Administrator
Office Location:	Court House Basement
Office Addr:	1010 Broadway/Box 403, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Office Hours:	8-12 and 1-4 Monday through Friday
Phone:	712-852-2832
Fax:	712-852-2404
e-mail:	msandberg@co.palo-alto.ia.us
Appointed/elected	Appointed

Palo Alto County General Assistance/Mental Health Office is designed to handle relief for poor people who are ineligible for state or federal assistance or whose needs cannot be immediately or fully met by state and federal assistance. It also handles the administration of the County's MH/DD Case Management program.

Office Location:	For scheduled appointments only: 2105 Main, Emmetsburg
Office Addr:	220 South First St., Estherville, IA 51334
Office Hours:	8-12 and 1-4 Monday through Friday
Phone:	800-449-6540 (Estherville) or 800-840-6525 (Algona)
Fax:	712-362-7239
e-mail:	cemmet01@dhs.state.ia.us

The mission of the Iowa Department of Human Services is to help individuals and families achieve safe, stable, self-sufficient, and healthy lives, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the state. The major divisions served are Children and Family Services, Financial Support, Medical Assistance, and Mental Health & Disability Services.
The Human Services offices that serve Palo Alto County are located in Estherville (Emmet County) and Algona (Kossuth County).

Name:	Dr. Patricia Banwart
Office Location:	Palo Alto County Hospital
Office Addr:	3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA
Phone:	712-852-5500
Appointed/elected	Appointed 2 years

The County Medical Examiner is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and is responsible for holding inquests and authorizing post mortem examinations.

Name:	Bonnie Whitney
Other employees:	Sue Ruppert, Deputy Carol Campbell, Part-time Clerk
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	1010 Broadway; P.O. Box 248 Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Office Hours:	8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone:	712-852-3701
Fax:	712-852-3704
e-mail:	bwhitney@co.palo-alto.ia.us
Appointed/elected	Elected - 4 years

The Recorder is custodian of all recorded documents. He/She maintains official records of documents affecting title to real estate, boats, snowmobiles, and ATVs, birth, death, marriage, etc. The Recorder also issues a number of permits and licenses.

Name:	Joe Neary
Office Location:	Brink’s Building
Office Addr:	Suite 108/Box 271, Emmetsburg, IA
Office Hours:	8-4 on M-F
Phone:	712-852-3058
e-mail:	pacosani@ncn.net
Appointed/elected	Appointed

This office encompasses three areas: Zoning (oversees zoning and unincorporated areas of the county), Environmental Health (provides information to handle wells, septic systems, water testing, molds, radon air & water quality), and Solid Waste Management (administers the Transfer Station and coordinates recycling education). The County Planning and Zoning Commission and County Board of Adjustments are in this office. Palo Alto County was zoned in 1995.

Name:	Dennis Goeders
Other employees:	10 full time 9 part time
Office Location:	Sheriff's Office-Communications Center & Jail
Office Address:	2001 11th/PO Box 126 Emmetsburg, Iowa 50536
Office Hours:	Operate 24 Hours
Phone:	712-852-3535
Fax:	712-852-3914
e-mail:	dgoeders@iowatelecom.net
Appointed/elected	Elected 2004

The Sheriff is the principal peace officer of the county. The mission of the County Sheriff's Office is to protect and serve all citizens in a professional and compassionate manner and to provide efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community. He is the custodian of the county jail and is responsible for all prisoners. He executes writs and legal processes.

Name:	Contact Auditor’s Office for name of Clerk in each of 16 Townships
Phone:	712-852-2924 (Auditor’s Office)
Appointed/elected	Appointed or Elected

The purpose of the Board of Township Trustees is to control and maintain services related to the 16 townships. There is one Clerk and three Trustees per township in Palo Alto County. (The Board of Supervisors divides the county into townships.) The Township Trustees in each township consists of three persons and can be filled either by election or by appointment. . They act as fence viewers and perform other duties as assigned. The County Attorney serves as counsel. The following are some of the duties:

Name:	Mary Hilfiker
Other Employees	Tax Deputy - Debra Quamme Tax Deputy - Robin Thomsen Auto Deputy - Ruthann Haywood MV Clerk - Jeanelle Stokes
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	1010 Broadway Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Office Hours:	8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Mon-Fri
Phone:	712-852-3844
Fax:	712-852-3643
e-mail:	kthompson@co.palo-alto.ia.us
Appointed/elected	Elected - 4 years

The County Treasurer is custodian of all county funds and keeps records accordingly. The Treasurer oversees all county monies, collects taxes, makes distributions, handles investment functions, prepares and delivers tax statements to taxpayers. The Treasurer issues license plates on all motor vehicles, collects license fees, and processes vehicle registrations.

Name:	Ron Hersom
Office Location:	Court House
Office Addr:	P.O. Box 95, Emmetsburg, IA
Office Hours:	8:00 – 12:00 Mon. thru Fri.
Phone:	712-852-2066
Fax:	712-852-2404
e-mail:	rhersom@co.palo-alto.ia.us
Appointed/elected	Appointed

The Office of Veteran Affairs provides assistance to all veterans and their dependents in applying for federal benefits and other related programs or matters, such as, VA Medical Care, compensation, pensions, etc.