During the Wright County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday morning, the group welcomed a robust group of representatives from various area Electrical Utility Companies led by Attorney Colin Smith. The polite and constructive group asked the Supervisors to consider changing or repealing the Wright County Utility Permit put in place April 25th, 2022. The permit, implemented by the county to protect the county from complications resulting from right-of-way disturbances caused by utility repairs, has, according to Smith speaking on behalf of the utilities, caused complications to “GuideStar” services of “safety, reliability, community, and service.” Smith continued to explain that the costs of the permits and the delays of service brought on waiting periods is disrupting processes put in place and could eventually lead to increased rates of utility service for Wright County residents. The Supervisors, as well as Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons, received the group’s request to put a pause on enforcing the permitting process favorably. All parties agreed that communication to this point had been positive, and in the spirit of mutual effectiveness that would continue to be the case. Supervisor Karl Helgevold made a motion to pause the permitting process for 30 days to give the utility representatives, the Wright County Engineer, and attorneys from both parties a chance to discuss the permits and with the goal of coming to an agreement more satisfactory to all involved. Supervisor Dean Kluss and Chairman Rick Rasmussen agreed, and the motion passed with all ayes.
The group held a brief budget amendment hearing to discuss the 2022 fiscal year budget. Wright County Auditor Betty Ellis explained that there was no change to the budget, and the amendment hearing was due to the budget initially not publishing in a timely manner when originally approved. The amendment, such as it was, passed.
Auditor Ellis also led the Supervisors in the Canvas of Votes for the 2022 Primary Election held on June 7, 2022. Ellis reported that a paper jam in the ballot machine rejected ballots out of the box after voters submitted them. The act of re-feeding the ballots into the box double-counted votes from the communities of Belmond, Dows, and Clarion. The Auditor’s office held an administrative recount last Thursday, and all counts were correct after the process. Ellis also reported that her office conducted a randomly chosen post-election audit of the United States Senate seat votes cast in Eagle Grove Ward 1, during which votes were hand counted and deemed accurate.
