The Wright County Board of Supervisors met Monday with Chairman Rick Rasmussen and Supervisor Karl Helgevold present onsite and Supervisor Dean Kluss present via Zoom.
The bulk of discussion revolved around Secondary Roads. The first item was a report by Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons and Road Superintendent Nathan McVey regarding the 200th Street road rehabilitation project. The road was damaged during utility work, and the project to rehabilitate it has been extensive. McVey and Clemons outlined the process of the project, giving an overview of innovative methods employed by crews to utilize materials already available before adding new. Both men indicated the project has been efficient due to the utility permitting and work order process in place, which facilitates communication, outlines processes, and identifies responsibility for payment of associated costs. In this case, the project, which will likely total approximately $40,000, will be paid fully by the utility company. Clemons summed up the presentation by adding, “We may not have even been aware of the damages to that road had the permitting and work order process not been in place. Because of the permit, especially the contact name provided, we are able to communicate with the utility company, and get the work done while working with the correct person. The process and partnership are both important to making sure the repairs are done right and paid for responsibly.”
Clemons also gave the weekly Secondary Roads update, and presented an overview of items discussed at the Wright County Courthouse Safety Committee meeting, including an upcoming change to add insurance requirements for farmers to the already existing requirements for utilities during work done related to Secondary Roads and county assets, changing production of county staff IDs from the Treasurer’s office to the Sheriff’s office, and installing key fobs to doors with keypads to ensure they remain locked while still being accessible to county staff. Wright County Auditor Betty Ellis also added that safety class records for county staff have been lost in a technology update, but are most likely recoverable.
The group then turned its attention to approving a contribution of $1,500 to the Belmond Antique Power Show for dust control. The only update to this annual process, which is also done for entities in other county communities, is that payment will now be made to the Belmond Area Arts Council instead of the Belmond Fire Department. Chairman Rasmussen agreed to double check on details of this payment the Auditor’s office will need in order to issue the check.
In the final order of business for the day, the group heard from Wright County Economic Development Director Darrel Steven Carlyle regarding three items related to changes to publicly funded housing solutions. The Supervisors approved Resolution 2022-34 to merge into Heart of Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund, appoint Reverend Dana Wendal to sit on the board of the Heart of Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund, and provide financial support of $5,000 to the Heart of Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund. The full Wright County portion to the latter will be $7,000, which must be both public and private money. Wright County Economic Development will work with partners to collect the remaining $2,000. Auditor Ellis added the county’s $5,000 portion of the money will come from a miscellaneous county contribution fund and, thus, will require a 28E Agreement in place in order to issue that payment. Carlyle also reminded the group that Bryan Russell has agreed to serve as the county’s housing inspector.
Chairman Rasmussen shared a letter sent by Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO) thanking the county for its continued support. The board members agreed that the approximately $14,000 the county contributes to UDMO allows the county to receive about $300k in assistance from other entities in return, and is on several levels a worthwhile expenditure.
Supervisor Kluss added he’s monitoring the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project as it progresses in Iowa and the company is beginning to file their “Exhibit H” documents in other counties, naming landowners who have not yet signed their voluntary easements on their land. Kluss added the next step after Exhibit H is typically to start eminent domain process, but at this time there have not yet been any hearings scheduled with the Iowa Utility Board for permits in Wright County.
Before the meeting adjourned, the board members gave their meeting updates, and Chairman Rasmussen presented certificates of congratulations to Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer for two staff members commemorating 10 years of service to that office.
