The Wright County Supervisors approved a settlement with Riley Construction during their regular meeting on Monday, November 22.
Starting off with this week's COVID-19 update, Public Health Administrator Sandy McGrath reported that the county is up 43 more cases this week, bringing the pandemic total case count up to 2,657.
52.7% of the county is now fully vaccinated, crawling up another .2% from last week.
"We still need to work on getting those first primary doses out there," said McGrath, who strongly encouraged anybody not yet vaccinated to arrange for a shot. "There is a difference if you get COVID and if you've got the vaccine for how you get through it and how the body reacts."
Pediatric vaccinations have begun for children age 5-11. Pfizer clinics started in Belmond last week and Eagle Grove this week. McGrath also noted that anybody can now get a booster shot.
"The less people the virus can infect, the slower it will go around," said McGrath.
In other business, the supervisors approved a settlement with Riley Construction, bringing a legal conflict to a close. The county has been holding onto a $91,686.65 retainer for work done installing infrastructure at the agribusiness park due to the job not meeting the timeline requirements. After negotiations between the parties, the county has agreed to pay $49,186.65 of the retainer, with Riley Construction surrendering $42,500 for the overdue completion.
For the engineer's report, County Engineer Adam Clemons asked the council to approve an amendment to the employee handbook, reflecting the previous week's request to change the county's boot allowance policy.
Starting next year, the county will increase the boot allowance to $200 per year, rather than $150 every two years, in order to allow county employees to keep in line with OSHA recommendations.
Rather than having each worker purchase their own boots to be reimbursed later, the county will instead work with Boot Barn in Des Moines to have a trailer brought to the city. Boots purchased at the trailer can be billed directly to the county with a tax exempt account.
Clemons also reported that rural mailbox inspections have started, identifying mailboxes that aren't up to code before the plowing season starts. Mailboxes that are not up to standards will not be eligible for reimbursement in the event they are clipped by a passing plow.
