Cournoyer is relatively new to the role, having been appointed to replace former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg in December 2024. On Thursday, she made her first official visit to Fort Dodge as the state’s No. 2 executive.

The current fuel testing lab on A Street West opened early this year. It is the outgrowth of a test of biodiesel that the college assisted Decker Truck Line Inc with about 20 years ago.

Don Heck, the lab’s director, showed Cournoyer around the facility, explaining how various samples of fuel are tested for quality. The lab is the only independent fuel testing lab in the nation. It is also the official lab of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which is responsible for ensuring the quality of fuels sold in the state .

“It’s an incredible facility,” Cournoyer said after the tour.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, center, looks over some equipment in the Iowa Central Fuel testing Laboratory Thursday accompanied by college President Jesse Ulrich, left, and Don Heck, director of the lab.

“It really positions the college and Iowa to lead in the fuels industry in the future,” she added.

Iowa, she said, needs to be ready to lead the way when new developments in renewable fuels emerge.

“We’re trying to set up the infrastructure and put it in place for when the time comes,” she said. “This is a key part of the puzzle.”

Cournoyer’s next stop was another Iowa Central facility, the Triton Cafe,where she was a member of the panel during the Meet and Eat lunch held by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

Other panel members were Astra Ferris, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance; Webster County Supervisor Niki Conrad; and Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke.

During that session, Cournoyer reported that Reynolds is conducting a series of meetings across the state with local officials and business leaders regarding the property tax system. Property tax reform, she said, is a priority Reynolds wants to address before leaving office in early January 2027.

Reynolds has also received a set of recommendations from the government efficiency panel she appointed.

“They are just recommendations at this point,” Cournoyer said.

She added that one of those recommendations is already off the table.

“There will be no discussion about changing IPERS,” she said, referring to the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System.

Fort Dodge Councilman Dave Flattery, who is the city’s mayor-elect, asked Cournoyer if the state has any collaborative efforts to help local communities deal with homelessness.

She replied by talking about a new program between the Department of Health and Human Services and churches.

“I know HHS has started an initiative with the Church Ambassador Network to address foster homes and support for families across the state,” she said. “They’ll be going around with an initiative called Breaking Bondage. It is a collaboration with social workers from HHS and Ministry Connect through the Church Ambassadors Network.”

“I think that’s very powerful,” she added.

Regarding the homeless population, Cournoyer said “You can’t just clear them out. There’s got to be support services.”