Adel, September 15, 2025
News Summary
The Dallas County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting to review the revised design and budget for the EMS Station in Adel. A public hearing for redistricting is also scheduled to define five new districts, following voter approval to expand the board from three to five members. Citizens are invited to participate in both discussions.
Adel, Iowa — The Dallas County Board of Supervisors will meet in regular session Tuesday at 9 a.m. inside the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at 800 Court Street in Adel. The meeting will include a workshop focused on the county’s space needs, with a specific review of a revised design and budget for renovating the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station in Adel. No items on the agenda seek immediate action during this session, and the meeting is open to the public.
Meeting focus and immediate details
The board’s workshop will concentrate on the proposed renovations to the EMS Station in Adel. Officials will review a revised design and related budget numbers but do not plan to take votes or approve contracts at this meeting. The board may also receive a general update on other county capital projects. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Dallas County courthouse meeting room.
Redistricting progress and public hearing schedule
A temporary redistricting commission is nearing approval of a plan to divide Dallas County into five new districts. The commission has scheduled a public hearing for the proposed map on July 22 at 7 p.m. in the Dallas County Administrative Building. That meeting will include a vote by the commission on the plan. After the commission votes, the plan will require approval by the Board of Supervisors and the state before it becomes final.
The redistricting follows voter approval in November 2024 to expand the Board of Supervisors from three members to five. In that election, 67% of voters supported the expansion. The plan is intended to create districts that more closely match the county’s population distribution and to accommodate the addition of two elected supervisors.
Commission makeup and mapping details
The temporary redistricting commission consists of three members: Supervisor Julia Helm (Republican), Bridget Carberry Montgomery (Urbandale City Council member), and county resident Monte Button. The commission’s proposal outlines five districts, each representing more than 21,000 people based on current estimates. By comparison, the county’s three current supervisors each represent more than 38,000 people, using estimated population figures as of July 1, 2024.
An interactive map that allows residents to see their proposed new district will be made available on the county’s redistricting page at dallascountyiowa.gov/668/Redistricting-Information. Online feedback options will also be provided for residents who cannot attend the July 22 hearing in person. Written comments on the proposal may be submitted via email to Supervisor Julia Helm at julia.helm@dallascountyiowa.gov.
Next steps, elections and safeguards
If the commission approves the plan on July 22, the Board of Supervisors and the state must still approve it. The first elections under the new structure are scheduled for 2026, and newly elected supervisors will take office in January 2027. Although the five supervisors will represent specific districts once the plan is implemented, the initial elections will be conducted at-large.
The redistricting process included outreach and feedback from representatives of both political parties and includes provisions intended to prevent gerrymandering or political interference in how district lines are drawn. A notable update to the plan incorporated results from a special census in Waukee, which added approximately 7,000 people to the county population used for mapping.
Public participation and how to submit feedback
Residents can attend the county board meeting on Tuesday to hear the EMS station workshop and any capital project updates. For redistricting comments, residents may attend the July 22 public hearing or submit written feedback by email to julia.helm@dallascountyiowa.gov. The county will also provide an online feedback method for those unable to attend the hearing in person. The interactive map on the county website will allow residents to check their proposed district assignment under the commission’s plan.
Why this matters
Expanding the Board of Supervisors from three to five members changes how representation is distributed across Dallas County. The proposed five-district plan aims to reduce the number of residents represented by a single supervisor, improve local representation, and reflect population changes, including new data from Waukee’s special census. Renovating the EMS Station in Adel is part of broader county capital planning and could affect emergency services operations and budget planning in the near term.
Meeting and hearing summary
– Board meeting: Tuesday at 9 a.m., Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 800 Court Street, Adel.
– Focus: Workshop on county space needs with review of EMS Station design and budget. No immediate action items scheduled.
– Public hearing on redistricting: July 22 at 7 p.m., Dallas County Administrative Building. Commission vote on proposed plan expected at this hearing.
– Redistricting outcome: Proposal for five districts (each >21,000 people). Requires Board and state approval. First elections under new plan in 2026; new supervisors take office January 2027.
– Where to view map: dallascountyiowa.gov/668/Redistricting-Information (interactive map and online feedback).
– Comments: Written comments via email to julia.helm@dallascountyiowa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening at the Dallas County Board of Supervisors meeting?
The board will hold a regular session Tuesday at 9 a.m. The meeting includes a workshop on the county’s space needs and a review of a revised design and budget for the Emergency Medical Services Station in Adel. No votes or immediate actions are expected at this meeting.
Where and when is the public hearing on redistricting?
The temporary redistricting commission has scheduled a public hearing on July 22 at 7 p.m. in the Dallas County Administrative Building. The commission plans to vote on the proposed five-district plan during that hearing.
Why is Dallas County changing from three to five supervisors?
Voters approved expanding the Board of Supervisors in November 2024, with 67% voting in favor. The change aims to improve representation by creating smaller, population-balanced districts.
Who is on the temporary redistricting commission?
The commission includes Supervisor Julia Helm, Bridget Carberry Montgomery of the Urbandale City Council, and county resident Monte Button.
How will the new districts affect elections?
The commission’s plan proposes five districts, each with more than 21,000 people. If approved by the Board of Supervisors and the state, the first elections for the expanded board will be held in 2026 and winners will take office in January 2027. Initial elections will be conducted at-large even though the supervisors will represent specific districts.
How can I see which district I will be in?
An interactive map showing proposed district boundaries will be available at dallascountyiowa.gov/668/Redistricting-Information. Residents can also submit feedback online or attend the July 22 public hearing.
How can I send comments about the redistricting plan?
Written comments can be sent to Supervisor Julia Helm at julia.helm@dallascountyiowa.gov. Online comment options will be available for those who cannot attend the hearing in person.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Board meeting | Tuesday, 9 a.m., Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 800 Court Street, Adel |
| Primary workshop topic | Revised design and budget for the Emergency Medical Services Station in Adel |
| Action items at meeting | No items requiring immediate approval; workshop and updates only |
| Redistricting public hearing | July 22, 7 p.m., Dallas County Administrative Building (commission to vote) |
| Commission members | Supervisor Julia Helm; Bridget Carberry Montgomery; Monte Button |
| Proposed districts | Five districts, each representing more than 21,000 people |
| Current representation | Three supervisors currently each represent more than 38,000 people (estimate as of July 1, 2024) |
| Voter-approved change | November 2024: 67% approved expanding board from three to five members |
| Next elections and start date | Elections in 2026; new supervisors take office January 2027; initial elections at-large |
| How to view map | Interactive map at dallascountyiowa.gov/668/Redistricting-Information |
| How to comment | Email written comments to julia.helm@dallascountyiowa.gov or use online feedback options |
| Population update | Waukee special census added approximately 7,000 people to mapping data |
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Additional Resources
- Raccoon Valley Radio: Discussion on Dallas County Space Needs
- Des Moines Register: New Board of Supervisors Districts
- KCCI: Dallas County Sets Public Hearing for New Voting Districts
- Des Moines Register: New Courthouse on Ballot
- KCCI: Dallas County Supervisors Redistricting Investigation
- Wikipedia: Dallas County, Iowa
- Google Search: Dallas County Iowa Board of Supervisors
- Google Scholar: Dallas County Iowa Redistricting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Dallas County
- Google News: Dallas County Supervisors
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