by Amanda Rink, Editor
The Wright County Supervisors met Monday morning as drainage trustees and in their role as County Supervisors. From discussing unexpected costs in drainage repairs to celebrating community resilience at the county fair, the meeting covered a range of topics.
Drainage District Repairs Exceed Estimate
As discussed in previous meetings, the repair costs of Drainage District 36 Lat C, which has incorrectly been referred to as 36 Lateral 3, have ballooned well beyond the original repair estimate of under $50,000. This can create concerns that have the potential for even more cost if a secondary engineer needs to be hired to review the work.
As of the morning of the meeting, the cost for the repair sits at $83,912.50 with the end estimate being $96,187.50. After meeting with Hennigar Construction & Excavating, Supervisor Rick Rasmussen shared there are still about 30 hours of “dozer work” needing to be done with “lots of sandy pockets where water is just coming through”.
Ultimately, the board decided to press pause on the issue. Landowners will have their say at a January landowners meeting to help determine the best path forward.
Meanwhile, a Wright County landowner flagged issues with culverts along 180th Street east of Highway 69. Wright County Engineer Adam Clemmons and Drainage Administrator Courtney Morris agreed to take a closer look at the issue. An invoice from Maasdam Construction for work done in Drainage District 36 for $582.50 was presented as well.
Juvenile Detention Agreement
Shifting back to regular business as the Board of Supervisors, the board approved an amendment to the 28E agreement with the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center after consideration of the new agreement compared with the old.
Productive Year for Secondary Roads
County Engineer Adam Clemons provided an end-of-year update that highlighted the Secondary Roads Department’s work. Over the year, the crew completed 792 work orders and spread about 80,000 tons of granular material to keep roads in shape. Clemons also touched on recent blading and shoulder cutting.
Celebrating Resilience with the Fair Board
Fair Manager Tricia Rosendahl and a few Fair Board members appealed to the Wright County Supervisors for an unspecified amount of funding. Rosendahl brought a mix of gratitude and reflection in her report on the 2024 fair season.
Flooding
Flooding on the fairgrounds stole the spotlight during the event, as state-televised media coverage drew attention to the problem of the flooding rather than highlighting the resilience shown.
Because of this, the publicity may have worked against the Fair. “All people heard was ‘we’re flooded,’” Rosendahl explained, which, paired with the extreme heat, likely discouraged visitors. Despite this, she praised the board’s determination to press on. Supervisor Dean Kluss and Supervisor Rasmussen echoed her words, while they emphasized the fair’s vital economic role in Wright County.
Youth Participation Grew
Among the challenges, youth involvement was a bright spot according to Rosendahl. This year saw growth, with 148 live exhibits and 83 non-livestock entries. The Fair Board’s “let’s make it work” attitude carried them through so that participants had an event to remember.
Although the fair receives a good amount of sponsorships from across our county and beyond, Rosendahl requested “any type of funding” to be provided to the fair board to continue the event’s growth.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on January 6, 2025, at 9:00 A.M., this meeting and past meetings are available for viewing at youtube.com/@WrightCountyIowaOfficial8312.
