The property and casualty insurance bill for Wright County will increase by 14.5 percent next year. The report of the insurance committee was presented at the June 24 meeting of the Wright County Supervisors.
Jay LeFevre reported that the committee looked at higher deductibles as a way to offset the increase. The committee also recommended the supervisors have a professional estimate of the cost of replacing the courthouse in case of a disaster.
Supervisor Dean Kluss commented on the difficulty of paying such a hefty increase. “It’s tough to budget when the legislature is limiting us to 2 to 3 percent increases (in tax levies) each year,” he said.
In other business related to the upcoming fiscal year, the board approved a list of certified salaries. Most employees will be receiving a 3 percent increase. The board also approved Andy Yackle’s request to move $85,000 from the general basic fund to the capitol projects fund for courthouse improvements.
The supervisors approved a funding agreement for federal reimbursement on a bridge project near Rowan. A bridge on Victor Avenue will be replaced by a culvert. The cost is an estimated $500,000.
County Engineer Adam Clemons said the west end of the Woolstock bridge is completed, with work started on the east end.
In other business the Supervisors..
—heard that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife attorney is requesting that federal property be excluded from drainage districts and the resulting tax assessments;
–– added the Williams ambulance service to the 28E emergency services agreement passed last week;
—and appointed Karl Helgevold and Rick Rasmussen to count the end-of-year cash in each county office.
