by Amanda Rink, Editor
The Wright County Board of Supervisors gathered for their regular meeting Monday morning to discuss various county matters. Those in attendance were Dean Kluss, Ashley Bosch, and Lynn Loux with Rick Rasmussen and Betty Ellis joining through Zoom.
The board heard updates on secondary roads, budget amendments, and wage increases for county employees.
Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons provided an update on secondary road maintenance, sharing the completion of brush cutting and ongoing work orders.
“We’ve pretty much got all that done this year,” Clemons shared, referring to the brush-cutting work.
He also discussed recent and upcoming winter weather events.
“We are slated to have some winter events this week, so we’re going to keep on top of that.”
He noted that the county monitors the National Weather Service briefings and may hold an emergency meeting with the sheriff’s office and emergency management to discuss a potential courthouse closure if the weather worsens.
“We’ve seen in the past that it does help us in secondary roads, the sheriff’s office, and emergency management when the courthouse closes,” he said.
The board reviewed and accepted the January monthly revenue report from the Wright County Sheriff’s Office. This included county car service fees and mileage, new and renewed weapons permits, and copy fees totaling $2,776.07.
The board also received budget amendment documents for the current fiscal year, outlining an increase in revenues of $252,370 and a reduction in expenses of $533,518. The resulting increase in carryover totaled $785,888.
Supervisors also discussed specific departmental budget adjustments with consideration from county department heads, including:
- Treasurer: Reduction of $24,100
- Auditor: Reduction of $20,636
- Engineer: Reduction of $396,270
- Conservation: Reduction of $186,954
- Public Health: Reduction of $66,700
- Sanitarian: Increase of $66,857
The public hearing for the budget amendment is set for March 3, 2025, at 9:30 AM.
Wage Increases for County Employees
Supervisors also reviewed and approved wage increases for county employees, including:
- Treasurer’s Department: $1,000 increase
- Recorder’s Office: $1,500 increase
- Sheriff’s Office: $2,600 increase
“This is just for one employee in my office, my office manager,” clarified Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer.
The board also heard an update from Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons about the ongoing bridge project south of Eagle Grove. An equipment malfunction occurred while installing pilings.
“They got down to about 16 feet, and then the sound changed,” Supervisor Bosch said, who was visiting the site when the malfunction occurred. “They hit bedrock, and the piston shot out of the top of the hammer. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.”
Supervisor Kluss also shared an ongoing legal dispute from another Iowa county involving drainage issues and railroad regulations. The case is likely to progress to higher courts. This is relevant to Wright County, considering the non-responsiveness of the railroad company regarding various problems in the county.
In other updates, the board:
- Approved a liquor license renewal for Goldfield’s Oak Ridge Golf Course
- Passed Resolution 2025-08, which updated the depository limits for county funds. The change increased the Green Belt Bank and Trust limit from $3 million to $3.5 million
- Will attend the Farm Bureau board meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
The next Supervisors meeting will be held on Monday, February 17, at 9:00 AM. This meeting and others can be watched online at YouTube.com/@WrightCountyIowaOfficial8312.
