The Wright County Board of Supervisors discussed family farm tax credits and boot reimbursement during their regular meeting on Monday, November 15.
At the meeting, Public Health Administrator Sandy McGrath updated the council about the latest developments in COVID-19 activity and vaccination progress.
Thirty-three new cases have been confirmed since last week, bringing the total number of positive cases to 2,614. The number of active cases is continuing to cause strain on the hospital system.
For vaccinations, another .3% of the county has been vaccinated, bringing the total percentage to 52.5%. Public Health is still working on distributing booster shots around the area, but has gotten their allocation of pediatric Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds. Children's clinics will be held in Clarion and at the Eagle Grove and Belmond schools.
County Auditor Betty Ellis met with the supervisors to review the second round of vote canvassing. Last week the auditor went over the canvassed results collected in Wright County. This week, those results have been combined with the results from neighboring counties where a race may involve a district that crosses county lines, such as Dows or the various school districts.
County Assessor Shari Plagge met with the supervisors to present them with applications to the Family Farm tax credit program.
The program provides tax credits to farm operations that are family owned and operated. These farms must meet strict requirements, including a minimum of 10 acres and the operator of the farm must be within three degrees of family separation from the owner to qualify.
"We have a chart to figure that out," said Plagge.
Roughly 200 parcels of land filed for the tax credit this year. Qualifying farms are eligible for a tax credit on the school portion of their levy-rate, capping it at $5.40.
In other business, the supervisors reviewed the monthly revenue report from the Wright County Sheriff and an audited financial statement from Iowa Specialty Hospital.
County Engineer Adam Clemons also met with the supervisors to update them on secondary road work and propose changes to the county's reimbursement policy for work boots.
Currently, county employees purchase their own boots every two years and are reimbursed up to $150 from the county for the cost.
To meet today's rising prices and to get up to OSHA recommended standards, Clemons has asked that the county to allow up to $200 for boots annually.
To reduce paperwork and cut costs, Clemons suggested that the county work with Boot Barn in Des Moines, which will bring a trailer of boots to Clarion for workers to try on and purchase. Rather than having county workers purchase their own boots and go through the reimbursement process, boots bought at the trailer will be billed directly to the county's tax exempt account at a discounted price. Clemons says that the Sheriff's Department, County Conservation, and City of Clarion have also expressed interest in taking advantage of the Boot Barn visit.
