Board of Supervisor - Regular Meeting

Yeah. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Bill, we can't hear you. Can't hear?

No. My mic Yes, my mic is on. Okay. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. My mic is working? Yeah, I think so. You're going to have to chew it. I'll talk to you about that after a while. Can you hear me now? That's a little better. Thank you so much. I would like to start the day off by opening a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 county budget. All I have been told by George and if you're going if you wish to speak, please raise your hand, come up to the microphone, announce your name and address, and if please try not to interrupt each other. Okay? All righty. Mr. Fergen. Hey, good morning. My name is Mike Fergen. Well, I'm here just to speak on behalf of taxpayers today.

Page one. Just want to highlight a couple of the comments that our governor highlighted at her last state of the state meeting on January 13th. So, this year we need to go after the real driver of the problem, which is spending. Spending is what drives taxes, always has and always will. The most reliable way to protect the taxpayer is to limit the growth of government itself. Next page. I don't know if I'm allowed to draw on here. The last 10-year snapshot shows that our six departments have increased from 32 to 72% over that past 10 years. Re-budgeting is the heart and soul of sound financial fiscal policies. So, if you look on the bottom, it shows the 10% or the 10-year increase for each of the departments. And then on the far, far right is the total operating budget. 2016, 2011, 2025, and the current proposed budget for 2026-2027. Next page. Dickens County has divided debts and budgets for basically the last four years. And I apologize. So, a budget is revenue minus expenditures equals yours. This is the proposed budgets that we submitted to the Iowa Department of Management. State of Iowa, when they submit a budget, has to to have one that reconciles.

So, it has to come in at at least zero. So, at the far, far right, our proposed 2026-2027 budget is total revenue a little 30 million, total expenditures 37, it comes in with a negative budget of a little over 7 million. Next page. This year's budget grew three to 11 times greater than inflation. I'll say that again. This year's budget grew between three and 11 times the rate of inflation. Look at the bottom. We range from 9% up to 34% with a total budget increase for this year of 18%. Pretty significant. It is pretty significant. So, our actual for 2024-2025 was a little over 21 million. Our re-estimated that we look at in March of this year, try to close out this year, is coming in at 26 million. And the proposed budget for next year is 31 million. Next page. Excessive surplus. As of March 31st, 2026, our fund balance surplus is now over 114%. That far exceeds the 35% unreserved. It's just amazing. The only way you get The only way you get excesses is if you take in more revenue

than you actually need. The only way you get excesses is when you take in more revenue than what you need. The 431, it was at 100%. 331, new tax money coming in, is at 114. Pretty substantial. Next page. With the help of Earth, our really impressive auditor, I I follow up with her each quarter to get the actual spend to the budget for every line item in the budget. So, it's hundreds of pages. Then what I did is I went through and found how much was unspent as we're going in these last 3 months. Our unspent amount going into the the final stretch of this race is right at 47%. Over 13 million dollars. What happens then when you have carryovers, it moves to the next year. And that also creates a compound on the excess of surplus. Think about that. Take in a lot of tax revenue. You have unspent money, and that moves in and then oh, by the way, we got a new budget of money coming in. So, we have three things. Excess of surplus, unspent carryover, and then a new budget with new money going in. Why is this occurring? The citizens are overtaxed. It grows excessive, you have surplus. Next page.

So, what would be a good budget? It's a good question. What did they come up with? Our re-estimate that the department heads and the supervisors put together was right at 25.7 million dollars. That's what you're anticipating and you're going to close out this year. 25.7. I recommend a budget of 26. When you factor in the surplus, cash fund reserves, and the unused carryover fund. Currently, she's going in at 31 million to the Department of Management. Next page. So, I've got a three-step plan here. And I know I know on your agenda today, you've got number three and number four that you can just sail right through. And you certainly can. I would ask that you have some discussion because you've got till April 30th to decide what the final numbers are. I think for a long time, the people of this city, this county, feel they have no voice, no voice. And so you can you can lead, sail it through. Sail it through. You got the power, I got that. I respect you. I got that. I'll tell you what, there's a point in time where the people are saying stop this. Stop this. So your call. I would recommend you have

discussion on three areas. Take your discretionary budget down 10%. Reduce the other budgets. And leverage cash fund balances for those two departments. Secretary Rhodes is cooking at about 8 million right now. And the trails uh couple million. Both very noble areas of our budget. Just asking you to leverage the cash fund versus uh the spend. And the last page TV outlets various various social media and our local newspaper have a highlighted the audit findings. Mr. Leopolds our chairman. Mr. Clark is our vice chairman. I'm a budget leader. The two of you are responsible for creating an action plan for the audit. Taxpayers don't feel that a hands-off approach to managing the taxpayer money is appropriate. Taxpayers don't feel that each department should have their own budget and spend the money as they like. Taxpayers believe that all financial matters involving department budgets, spending, and oversight should and must have transparency and accountability. As a taxpayer, I request that you address the 11 issues out of your conversations,

put that together, move that up to the person behind the Brian who conducted your audit. And then step two have public hearing and share with the public the 11 actions that you take to correct those deficiencies. Again, I thank you today. I respect you. I ask that you give serious consideration to things to what I shared. Thank you, Mr. Pilgrim. Anyone else who wish to speak, Yeah, Patrick Kelly, Okoboji. Respectfully, I'd like to see some itemization of the 11 points that you're referring to. What specifically are those 11 points? I mean, I I'm looking at it, but I'm not seeing them ID. This is sort of a complicated area where we have elected people that are responsible, you know, to make sure that this is done right. But some significant change on this board. There's going to be more changes because we've got two people that are very experienced that are stepping down. So we're really going into, you know, a new area. And I I think it's I appreciate, you know, what you're doing and raising the issue, but a lot of this stuff is is is pretty complicated. Like I for one, I don't know exactly which sectors, you know, of this budget are really out of whack. You know, and I'm speaking in a layman's terms. Like in other words, like let's say the sheriff's department. I don't know if the sheriff's still here, but okay, he has a budget. It costs a certain amount. It's projected that there's a certain amount of revenue that's earmarked into there. But there's also probably

money being spent, with all due respect to the sheriff, you know, that hasn't been exactly ID'd. I don't know what it is. He He sure could speak about it. But I'm sure there's X amount of money projected to be spent. There's Y amount of money coming in. What's the differentiation? What's the quantification on those things? This is a a pretty broad statement, but I'm not seeing the metrics real specifically. I hear what you're saying. There's 11 areas, you know, that you want to look at, but you know, some education of those of us that that aren't that familiar with it. So we can come in here, we can ask it a specific question and get a specific answer. And I I think it's worth doing. I I want to thank you for bringing it up. I know that the taxpayers association is doing a good job. I'm happy to belong to it and to support it. And I'm I'm glad Curtis is running. And I think he's going to make it. And I think he's going to be a strong addition, you know, to this panel here. But I just think there's got to be more detail in in terms of digging down to the metrics so we understand exactly what is being stated here. And I want to thank everybody for coming here today. Some of us come pretty frequently and some of us don't come at all. But at least because we have strong leadership and we have some new leadership here, we have transparency here in this county. We have a hell of a lot more transparency than the rest of the counties in this state. And because of that, if I'm a farmer or I'm a truck driver, I can look on my phone and I can watch this. We couldn't do that several years ago. And in most of the state, they can't do

it. So we have a lot of things to be proud of here and I think things are going forward, you know, in a positive way. I want to thank the two men that are stepping down for their service. I know Bill, I I don't know how long you've been here, 16, 20 years? A long time. And you know, appreciate that. You know, you you certainly haven't been paid for all your time, neither have you. And but I think we have a strong board and I think we're going to continue to have a strong board. And but I do think that that we got to dig down into the specifics here so we know exactly what we're talking about. And with that, thank you and hope everybody has a good day. Thank you, Mr. Pilgrim.

[clears throat]

Who's audit been settled selected here and uh the sheriff office was brought up. I've been around a long time. And I'm as transparent as you get. And I believe this last report is politically motivated. Rob Sand saying, "Oh, I protect whistleblowers." No, he didn't. The first time I found out there was an issue, first person I went to was Lori. I said, "This is my fault. What do I do?" I called the state auditor's office. So if he's hiding behind the whistleblowers, I'm the whistleblower. And Bill, you were misquoted on that squad car. That was for flipping two squad cars and installing all our new radios, 9,100 bucks. The last squad car we had flipped, one, 17 grand. Okay? So I felt over the 30 plus years I've been sheriff, I've watched out for the best interest of the county. I didn't I've always have. I've given money back. I've never been over budget. And if anyone has any question on my budget, feel free to come talk to me. Um I made it quite clear, this is my last term. And I'm not going to go down being bullied by political motivation. So I guess if anyone has any questions on my budget, I'd be more than happy to ask answer them. Huh? No? No? Can I follow up on that, Greg? Because if you would have gone to the end of that report on the audit,

it says that the conclusion of these items you're talking about, conclusion response is accepted. Whether it's the assets or the overtime pay, response is accepted. Conclusion, response is accepted. And at the very end, instances of non-compliance. That's what's really important here. No matters were reported. That's from the report. No, I'm done. No questions. I'm done. Thank you, Sheriff. Anyone? Yeah, ask Barb.

Everybody but Clayton Orleans. Um, so we have we have surpluses and you guys know I've been concerned about the surpluses for quite a few years. Um what what we are doing by carrying the large surpluses we carry is we are taking money out of our community. We are taking economic growth. We are taking local spending. We are taking money out of our community. We are taking investment. We're confiscating money, which is what taxes are. We have to pay or we lose our houses, right? We are confiscating money and we are stockpiling it in the county as opposed to leaving as much as we can in the hands of our taxpayers, our citizens and our people that belong to our economic community. I know we have a lot of people that don't live in Dickinson County that pay taxes, but we have a lot of people that do. And we have a lot of people that are struggling at at all age groups. We have new new home buyers. We have renters. Um, we have senior citizens. We have people that are trying to raise their family on a budget. So, we need to take into account that our surpluses are taking money out and we need to spend those down. We should be somewhere between 25 and 35% in surplus rather than over 100. So, please consider working towards spending those down rather than building them up. Thank you. Thank you, Barb. Anyone else?

Very well, then I will close the public hearing. And move on. Item number three approval of resolu- resolution 2026-6, compensation for elected officials. Whereas the Dickinson County Compensation Board meets annually to recommend a compensation schedule for elected officials for the fiscal year immediately following in accordance with Iowa Code chapters 331.905 and 331.907. And whereas the Dickinson County Compensation Board met on December 1st, 2025 and made the following salary recommendations for the following elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026. Auditor Current salary $89,995, recommendation 5%, recommended salary $94,495. County Attorney, current salary $153,984 with a recommendation of zero. Recorder, current salary $88,619, 5.72% recommendation with a recommended salary of $93,688. Sheriff, $133,409, recommendation 5% to $140,079. Supervisors, $46,387 at 5% recommendation to recommended salary of $48,706. Same for the chair with a $1,000 uh uh stipend. Treasurer, $88,619, recommendation 5%, recommended salary $93,050. Therefore, be it resolved that the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors approves the following salary adjustments for the following elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026. Auditor, approved salary with a 3.5%

increase to $93,145. County Attorney, 3.5% increase to $159,379. Recorder, 3.5% increase to $91,721. Sheriff with a 3.5% increase to $138,078. Supervisors, a 0% increase to stay at $46,387. Supervisor chair with a $1,000 stipend to $47,387. And the Treasurer with a 3.5% increase to $91,721. Motion to approve. And that's moved. Do I hear a second? I'll second. Any other seconds? Further discussion? Hearing none. Kim? Aye. Levi? Aye. Steve? Aye. Mr. Clark? Aye. And Bill is also aye. Item number four is the approval of resolution 2026-10, approval of the fiscal year 2027 Dickinson County budget. Be it resolved by the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors that the proposed Dickinson County budget for fiscal year 2027 as published in the county's official newspaper on April 2nd, 2026 and official public hearing being held April 14th, 2026 be approved and adopted as published. The Dickinson County fiscal year 2026 budget will hereby be certified. Sorry, the Dickinson County fiscal year 2027 budget will hereby be certified and filed with the Iowa Department of Management. Motion to approve. And that's moved. I'll second it.

Mr. Clark has seconded. Further discussion? Hearing none. Kim? Aye. Mr. Clark?

Aye. Levi? Aye. Mr. Dollard? Aye. And Bill is aye. Number five approval of the April 7th, 2026 board meeting minutes. Make a motion to accept. Mr. Dollard moves. I'll second. Levi seconds. Further discussion? As there is none. Mr. Dollard? Aye. Levi? Aye. Mr. Clark? Aye. Kim? Aye. And Bill is aye. Item number six is the approval of claims as listed on April 14th claims register. Did anyone find anything suspicious? Make a motion to approve the claims as listed on April April 14th claims register. Levi moves. I'll second. Kim seconds. Further discussion? Levi? Aye. Kim?

Aye. Mr. Clark? Aye. Mr. Dollard? Aye. And Bill is aye. Item number seven is the approval of Drainage District number five annexation report and set time and date for public hearing. To be held on June 9th, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Do I hear a motion on that? Motion to approve. Mr. Clark moves. I'll second. Levi seconds. Further discussion? Hearing none. Mr. Clark?

Aye. Levi? Aye. Mr. Dollard? Aye. Kim? Aye. And Bill is aye. Item eight, approval of Drainage District number five branch 126 reclassification report and set time and date for public hearing. To be held on June 9th, 2026 at 9:10 a.m. Motion to approve. Thank you, Mr. Clark. I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Dollard. It's been moved and seconded. Uh they'll be a public hearing on on June 9th at um um am was it? It was 9:10. 9:10 a.m.

[clears throat]

Mr. Clark? Aye. Mr. Dollard? Aye. Levi? Aye. Kim? Aye. And Bill is aye. Item number nine is the award of contract for Drainage District six main open ditch improvement I'm going to invite the weed staff. Kim, do you have that? I do. Um Colin was not able to be here today, um but they they had five total bids. The engineer's estimate was $46,000. bids ranged from $35,462.80 to $58,946. The low quote the low quote was submitted by Joshua's excavation of Estherville, Iowa. He's not done ditch work in Dickinson County but has done quite a bit in Emmet County. And to be transparent, Colin said you need to be aware he is my brother in law. And so I called Colin and I said did you have any information from you that would give him an advantage to get the low bid and he said no. So then I called Jeff Kosta, supervisor in Emmet County and he highly recommended this gentleman, Joshua's excavation, to do the project. So I got good reports from both. So in knowing that, the low bid at $35,462.80 for Joshua's excavation for drainage district number six, I'll make a motion to approve that. I'll take it. Okay, [clears throat] and motion Mr. Clark seconds. Discussion. What was the engineer's estimate on? $46,000. So it's

under that by 11,000 roughly 11,000. Right. But if you if you remember last week we approved a bid to redo some, you know, four drainage districts in the western part of the county. 20%.

it came in way low and I think hope maybe we're starting to see some of these uh contractors that do excavating work and stuff. I hope to see them bring their prices down maybe, you know, it's hard with price of diesel fuel now it's hard to tell but I know that there are dirt contractors out there that are looking for work. They've got people people lined up to work for them. They've got the equipment and they don't have the jobs this year lined up ahead of time that they have the last couple so prices are starting to come down. Excellent. Okay, if there is no further discussion, Kim?

Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Levi? Hi. Mr. Dollard?

Hi. And Bill is all right. Hey Bill, with the amended for the drainage claims that was item number seven. So we'll need to do drainage claims. That was amended on Monday. Okay, so I think I can find them. Yes, yes. Here we go. Okay, we have one, two, three, four, five, six different claims. The first one is Beck Engineering stamp warrant D19. Uh Beck is $1,658.75. That was for flood evaluation. And then we also have on stamp warrant D19 ISG's for $7,646.93. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Dollard seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Kim?

Hi. Mr. Dollard? Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Levi? Hi. And Bill is all right. [clears throat]

The second one is stamp warrant drainage district joint 61 branch 399 west. All the land is in Dickinson County. The Dickinson County treasurer has a bill for $99.16. Jacobson Westergard for $1,788.25 and the Goodell Law Office has one for $725. Motion to approve. Mr. Clark moves. Second. Levi seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Mr. Clark?

Hi. Levi? Hi. Mr. Dollard? Hi. Kim? Hi. And Bill is all right. Our second our third one is stamp warrant drainage district 92. Uh the B&D Farm Drainage for $1,800. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Dollard seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Kim? Hi. Mr. Dollard?

Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Levi? Hi. And Bill is all Okay. The next one is joint one Dickinson and Osceola County with Osceola being the lead. Beck Engineering for $1,561.25 flood evaluation. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Clark seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Kim?

Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Mr. Dollard? Hi. Levi? Hi. And Bill is all The next is joint two. D and O Osceola is the lead. The Beck Engineering for $1,643.75 for flood evaluation. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Clark seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Kim? Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Mr. Dollard? Hi. Levi? Hi. And Bill is all right.

[clears throat] And finally, joint three Dickinson and Osceola with Osceola the lead. The Beck Engineering for $1,600 flood evaluation. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Dollard seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none, Kim? Hi. Mr. Dollard? Hi. Mr. Clark? Hi. Levi?

Hi. And Bill is all right. Okay. Uh item number 10, county engineer, Jeff. Good morning, board. Good morning, Jeff. I got three items this morning. The first is discussion with Ivan Simpson regarding out outlet pipe for DD45 across the west of the board of supervisors. Can you pass out your sheets? Good morning, board of supervisors. Can you pass out your sheets? We have them. We got a bunch of pictures to distribute to the board. [clears throat]

Ivan?

Yeah. Okay. Good morning with Bolton & Menk. Appreciate it. I'm sorry. Ivan passing out information here because I forgot. Um basically it kind of shows what's going on with kind of a restriction drainage there. Uh running across drainage district 45 and then under highway 86 by the harbor. Um the state when they did highway 86 put in a 52 by 72 inch concrete box culvert. Um going on the highway towards towards the canals. And then there's a 72 inch corrugated pipe culvert that runs under Trade Wind Drive which accesses those house houses there to the harbor. And then once you kind of get down a little closer to the harbor in between a couple houses there, that pipe is deteriorated. It had actually collapsed in on itself and it's causing a pinch point and restrictions in that water flow. So from what the state has going on under the highway, they've got a an area of 25 and a half square feet with that box culvert going through. Um once it gets to that 72 inch corrugated metal pipe, that increases to to an area of 28 square feet going through the pipe. But when it gets crushed down where where deteriorated, that gets brought all the way down to it's a little bit over 16 square feet. So it really really narrows down. Um once it gets to that portion of that pipe that's that's been damaged. Um further going down towards the harbor where they redid the boardwalk, um when they redid that boardwalk they took out kind of climbed over top of the culvert

itself and they've actually blocked off about the upper half of that 72 inch culvert pipe. Basically cutting down the the area where it's running into the harbor down to about 14 square feet. So we're basically we've got an outflow of half the surface area of the pipe going in. So it's really creating a pinch point. It's pushing water back into the ditch. It's pushing water back into kind of the the highway ditches as well and then back into pasture area to the west up through drainage district 45. Um currently they are doing some maintenance the harbor is on on some of the pipes. they've done some spin casting to the pipe that is damaged to keep the water from getting outside the pipe and eroding on the outside. However, it still is pinched down. It's not really going to allow any extra water to go out through there. They're also replacing a section of that 72 inch corrugated metal pipe with a new one, same size, 72 inches. But again, it gets that pinch point. And and it's going to restrict that water flow. So there's no intentions of fixing the pipe between the houses. So when we get to the restriction from the houses going east, they spin casted that pipe and you'll see that picture on that sample. I think it's the southern end. I'm not sure. Might be. It'll be east. That's the pipe they repaired. Spin casted. To leave it with no intentions of ever

replacing it because they don't want to have to excavate between the two houses. That's not acceptable. I mean, that's only what do you say? 15 square feet? Uh 16.

16 square feet of usage when they got 30 I've only got 25 square feet coming in. So you know, the idea is well, maybe we need a water study. Water study has already been done. State of Iowa did a water study when they sized the culvert to go under highway 86. The state of Iowa was good enough when the harbor was developed to extend that box culvert to the property line of the harbor. They actually at the time that was done left [clears throat] all the the rebar and everything in that with the intentions the harbor would have been pouring the other all the sediment at the time to put a concrete box culvert in. I don't We all know that things don't always go as planned. Augie put a used tube that it came out of a railroad right away that was a used galvanized pipe. It's amazing it lasted this long. Pushed it up against the box culvert, buried it and said, "It looks good." Well, it's failed. It's failed to the point now. It's collapsed and so the tiled water for the drainage districts really really affected by this because we have ponding water. So water ponds sitting everywhere waiting to go down that tile because the surface water can't go through. The other thing that we haven't even talked about is the bike trail. It's always flooded because that water's not going through. We've seen water in the last 8 years that just been going on. It's been a 8 year program. We could kick this can for 8 years. The water's been within 8 to 10 inches of going over highway 86 twice. And that The last time was on a 4 and 1/2 inch rain. What happens if we get a 10 inch rain? 9 inch rain? We put a car in the ditch in 9 foot of water and just drowned everybody. Somebody needs to fix this. You know, we did the lawsuit. You guys got sued by the harbor. You guys won. The drainage district paid the legal fees for that, by the way. So what do we get? About $34,000 and nothing. We need this fixed. Somebody needs to

put the pressure on the harbor to actually complete the project. When they spin casted that pipe that's already collapsing, absolutely no intentions of going in and fixing it. So now we got two homeowners sitting there where their houses totally in jeopardy and have been for 8 years with no intentions of ever fixing that problem. We got one of them joining us today. I think he would very likely like to see this resolved and fixed. Everybody would. They've done They've spent more money trying not to fix it than it would have cost to fix it in the beginning. But you know, that's not our problem to decide how they do their business, but our problem here is to make sure that this is resolved. So you know, Iowa code specifies you cannot block water. And we need to go with that. They're blocking the flow of this water drastically into our drainage district. This is a safety item for everybody involved. So what's our next step? We can't hold them in contempt of court because the judge didn't rule that they're responsible. But we can probably push with maybe some letters or some threats or whatever we need to do to convince them that they need to go along with fixing this problem. You guys got any input to this? Well, like you said, the state law says you can't block water, correct? Who is responsible for seeing the water isn't blocked? Is that DNR? Who Who would oversee that law? I've talked to DNR about this and I've even showed them last picture. You look at the water quality of nothing but mud flowing into West Lake Okoboji. That's primarily because of the water

running around outside of their culvert, eroding dirt, massively cutting because it couldn't go through. So that blockage Even when we look at the force of this water, it'll back up 1,000 feet. Uh one of the buildings in my lower pasture had 5 foot of water standing in it from the back up of this. It'll go over 160th Street into the Voss property. It'll back up curve up towards Mike Whitrock. There were family trust land that water will back up into all that land. Um I don't know how many millions of gallons it is that's pushing on that side of the road, but when you look at the restriction, at some point I think it would probably blow. They could you know, maybe that's the repair. Maybe that's the fix. But uh it's I don't know. It's um It's you know, it's been going on for so long. It just seems ridiculous that we've been fighting this problem for 8 years. Bill. Yes. I'll read from Iowa code. It says any person who willingly damages, obstructs a ditch, drain, levee, or drainage area is liable for twice the cost of damages caused. And any subsequent similar offenses is cause for triple damages. Repair costs shall be assessed to the person causing the damage damages. And are deemed misdemeanors. Obstructions are declared a nuisance and can be removed upon board action. So in saying we have Jeff go in there with a hand loader and take it out. As trustees for the drainage district, we have that right. But this is not drainage district territory. But it's it's blocking the flow of the water from the drainage

district down the natural pathway where it always has drained. Can I just give you a little history on this lawsuit that Augie's been talking about? Augie and Jeff and I met yesterday about this in anticipation of this meeting today. Um On November 17th of 2022, there was a hearing. The West Okoboji Harbor Lot Owners Association, I think the August before that had filed a petition for a writ of mandamus. And that they were alleging that the drainage district had uh the responsibility to fix the problem that we're still talking about today. The court ruled that um the county drainage district actually does have an easement across that property that was established in 1917, I think it was. Um but once that property was developed, it was it was it was significantly altered so that the court found that the easement did not cover that that change. And so that the county and the drainage district were not responsible for repairing that. So that went back onto the West Okoboji Harbor's Association as their responsibility to fix their own problems, but it doesn't necessarily solve and as we're talking about today, may not have necessarily solved the problems of the drainage district because the water may not be adequately flowing through there. Um I was kind of late to this party because I think you emailed me two weeks ago. Two weeks ago was the first I'd ever heard of this. So it took me a little catching up to figure out what was going on. Um I've heard that there might be a lawsuit now between the property owners in the that you've talked about in the Harbor's Association and the association. Does

anyone know if that's true or not? Is that lawsuit still active, Mr. Chairman?

Uh boy. Uh it's active till it's done. I mean, till they get finished with their uh [clears throat] construction. And uh So there's one pending, but it's not finished. Is that correct? Correct. So um one thing I would like to do is to contact our drainage attorney, Mr. Goodwin, who was involved in this lawsuit, who would have way more information about it than I've so far been able to put together. Find out what's going on with that lawsuit and maybe we can figure out a way to do this without suing somebody. Um

[snorts]

And I think at some point I might suggest, and and Jeff and I talked about this, this is that the board would want to do some sort of an engineering study to figure out is this what they're doing adequate, and what could it be what could be done better, and then decide if we can work it out with the parties, or if we need to bring a suit to clear that out because we do have an easement there for this drainage that went across there that was established not by record, but we weren't given it, but it was established because we'd been using it that way so long. Called a prescriptive easement. So, um it I think that the drainage districts does still have some responsibility to figure out how to make this work adequately. And if you would give me some time to figure out um what the facts actually are, and maybe give us some direction on what we should do. Please look also into cuz when I see this picture, they're they're obviously blocking flow. Yeah, that can't happen. And if if we go according to Iowa law and code, we can go in there and rip that out of there. But before we do that, I'd like to know that we're okay doing that. And then we do if we've done the right thing. Correct. Right. Right. But it's been the harbor board for this whole time that's been dragging their feet, and we're attempting to push that, but this is obviously being blocked. That cannot happen. And I I certainly would love to have you check with Mr. Goodwin and find out all you can, and then I think we need to take action of some sort once we get that information. And let's get this fixed. This has just been We've talked about this for a while. Years we've talked Yeah. We have. And it's not the way I've ever pushed it onto them. We're not getting the response that should happen. Harbor has no intentions of fixing that part portion. They have no intentions of changing that blockage at the end.

Uh they're going to fight that to the end cuz they don't want to have the steps put back in. They want it more and I understand they want it kind of handicap accessible. I understand that. But there's ways of getting around that. They can widen that tube out and go 12 ft by 3 ft under and flare it. Go under their boardwalk. There's ways of fixing that. Still give us the flow we need. Uh I understand the proximity is kind of a problem, but doing it with the specialized equipment is going to take a crane to get that tube in there, and probably some mini excavators to clean that out, but it can be done. I mean, we all know there's a way of doing it. They seem to have fought very hard not wanting to do it or wanting to pay for it. They've always thought it was somebody else's problem. And the original writer to me was my problem, then it becomes your problem, and then it becomes the DNR's problem, or it becomes always somebody else's problems, not theirs. Well, I certainly think between Iowa code and we need to get DNR more involved as well in a response, John. And and give us thinking power. But I've called DNR uh several times and tried to get them out there, you know, watch that flow of water, and look at it, and so far I've never seen them show up. I've asked DOT to be here today, but they didn't make it. They got a new right-of-way guy and now they're taking taking places that speak well, but I think uh DOT should stand pretty hard because this water's going to it's going to impede the right-of-way of the highway at some point in time. It's going to put water over it. We all know what happens when that happens is people drive through it, and end up in the water. It's a problem that's not going away. Same thing for the bike trail. Yeah. Many, many times that bike trail's blocked because that water's, you know, not flowing. They've tried to cope that. So, they had Beck Engineering do some work on the approach of that tube

trying to get the water off of that concrete cuz it'll be on a lot of times water will be in that area wet for two or three weeks at a time after a rain event. It just keeps seeping through cuz the tiles can't take it. Yeah. Drainage district There's a great big intake just in the fence line on the west side of that culvert. So, that's into that same tube that displays into the into the culvert that is in the other road ditch. So, when you look at the water that's there, it can't even that can't even take it cuz it's submitted by surface water. And the surface water doesn't go away. So, we got to push it or nothing's ever going to happen. Maybe even some kind of advancement of the board knowing the position that they could take might push the harbor cuz they're in construction phase right now. The equipment's already there. Might push them to take the action that maybe we need to probably do this. I I some Are there any pressure can happen? Probably could be in our our benefit. The way I see it. Do we need a motion for John to pursue that, or you got something for Well, I was just going to ask Jeff if if he could give us a report on really how much flow is needed through there, you know, so it's not restricted. No, uh Cole Bullock did some calculations, so I can go back and look and see what he what he found out. Sure. Yeah. I think, you know, all the information we can gather will Agreed. will be better for the whole situation, so. Can we request the DOT's water analysis cuz they didn't put that tube in this by or is that right? Or concrete box culvert? They had to have done a water study when they put that tube in to size it. So, that information should be available to what they've already determined. They determined the size of that box

culvert. It's pretty obvious it needs to continue to have that same amount of flow. I mean, that's like this is kind of like obvious. True. And that study's already been done. And it goes back a long time. That's probably 54 [clears throat] 53 is when that box culvert was put in. So, you know, it's history kind of sometimes is hard to find when it's that old, isn't it? [laughter]

Look at me. Me. You're a lot younger than I am. Yeah. I know. Needs to be resolved. We got to put the pressure on it or nothing's going to happen. What would you like to do, board? I don't know. I'm sorry. No, I was just going to say that law that you read started out with the word willingly. And they don't think anyone at the harbor willingly collapsed that pipe. They'd probably say that's an act of God cuz God doesn't have anything better to do than collapse culverts. Well, I'd say they willingly blocked that. They have Yeah.

[laughter] If everything that was done when they did the harbors was done willingly, you know, when the when the when that used culvert was installed at the end of the of the tube that goes under the road, you know, that was all done willingly. And did it perform what it was supposed to? Well, it may have at the time, but it's not now, but uh you know, I think with all this information now, I think if we get John and Jeff both pursuing this Correct. right now, and bring it back to the board so we can address make a motion to to address it,

Mhm. then we have something to stand by. I personally would love to see the DNR involved or DOT too involved in this because the more that we can get behind our our push, I would hope would have more power, but over the last number of years, I thought we had this resolved through the court case, and it has not. So, but I think we all would agree. I don't know if you need a motion for John to do that, but I think we all agree we're all going to need to have that done to to to start this and get it going. And and and to use the Iowa law as it states. Well, I I would posit if possibly you could say that they have willingly blocked it as they have maintained that collapsed pipe by spin casting it and trying to maintain that that restriction. If that's not blocking it, I don't know what is. And the spin cast process is a process of blocking it itself because it's reducing the diameter of the tube. Correct. Well, there's two ways of looking at that. You know, a corrugated pipe, you know, once they spin cast the inside of it, I believe the flow rate increases, you know, the volume, you know, that's pretty precise calculation. So, they'll flow through there smoother. It has a faster flow rate, but if you reduce reduce the size of the pipe but maybe only a quarter, half an inch, that has I don't have the figures to figure that out, but I know it's that when I've seen presentations on spin casting, they say that it improves the flow in corrugated pipe. And in this case, we looked at the instructions on the bag. Bag says it's got to be a dry, rust-free, Mhm. [clears throat] clean tube. And when they spin casted it, the whole bottom was out of this tube. It was corrugation sticking up the size 5 to 6 in as you walk through it you just feel it

teeter-totter under your feet. So when they attempted to try to pump the water out they poured spin casting in the bottom. I watched them do it to about 3 in deep trying to cover the rotten bottom of the tube. I mean it's kind of like putting a band-aid on your wound and you're taking a shower and it's off in 5 minutes. No, it's just stopping all of it but Yeah, man. I understand your comment about the sloughing of the tube. Yeah. You know what? I would like a motion. So moved. [clears throat]

I'll second. What are we doing? I'll make a motion that John and Jeff pursue what needs to be done legally for the drainage district to put pressure on the harbor to get this fixed. They cannot obstruct the flow of water. And then you want to work with Bob Woodman and all of that? Correct. If needed, yeah. There's things they can do that to mitigate their boardwalk. Apparently not unless we force it. Yeah, that's if it takes if it takes force then it takes force. Then I'll take it.

this point also be beneficial if the board addressed a letter to the Army Commission or the Harbor Board stating what your position is, stating what your intentions are? That might give them the incentive to go ahead and do it while the construction while their crews still there. Maybe a little pressure could help. Might solve the problem. John, you'd be willing to do that, I'm sure. Yeah, I see no reason why not. I don't know if that's within the result of that. discussion Yeah. I. Mr. Dollars. I. Mr. Clark. I. Mr. Vibe. I. And Mr. Olson I. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Getting into our agenda. Item number two. Presenting to approve the fiscal year 27 Iowa DOT budget. I'll make a motion to approve the fiscal year 27 Iowa DOT budget as presented. Mr. Clark moves. I'll second. Mr. Seconds. discussion Just as a pass aside, those numbers should be taken by a thousand. Yes. Subject. Culverts don't cost 320. Yeah, if there's no further discussion, Mr. Clark. I. Kim. I.

Mr. Dollars. I. Mr. Vibe. I. And Mr. Olson I. Thank you for being my last item of the day is to approve the fiscal year 27 31500 which is the budget program. That would be submitted to the DOT. Motion to approve. Kim moves. I'll second. Mr. Seconds. Further discussion. Is your bridge in there, Kim? It'll get there. If there's no discussion Kim I. Mr. Vibe. I. Mr. Clark. I. Mr. Dollars. I. And Mr. Olson Yes, uh Ferris Rouse here. I was just wondering if we could get see what the fiber construction program is the details of that. Is that Other than what's in the um once it's approved by this board then we can we can have it ready for the public. You want to give us our email your email and then we can get a suggestion and get that to you. Okay. Okay. Item number one. discussion action on the resolution 2016-8 establishing temporary moratoriums and set public hearing time and date. Do you want to read it aloud first? Yes. There was an updated copy that was created so I will read the updated resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of applications or issuing of permits for approval of building, planning or use permits for data collection storage

facilities, Bitcoin mining centers, solar collection generation facilities and battery storage installations. Whereas Iowa Code Chapter 335 grants counties the ability to regulate land use within its jurisdictional boundaries. And whereas on February 3rd, 2026 the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors contracted with an architectural firm to engage in a study and complete an updated comprehensive land use master development plan for the unincorporated lands within the county's boundaries. And whereas facilities used for storage, management, processing and transmission of digital data which house computing hardware, servers, storage drives and network equipment used to store, process and distribute digital information including but not limited limited to high density computing facilities or data centers have the potential to create an excessive burden on energy and water resources and potential to create noise pollution affecting nearby property owners as well as all residents who rely on the local power distribution grid for electricity or subterranean aquifers for portable water. portable water. And whereas Bitcoin mining facilities being industrial data centers housing numbers of computers that solve complex algorithms to secure the network and earn Bitcoin have the potential to create an excessive burden on energy and water resources and potential to create noise pollution affecting nearby property owners as well as all residents who rely on the local power distribution grid for electricity or subterranean aquifers for portable water. And whereas solar collection and storage facilities being systems converting sunlight into electricity or heat and storing excess energy for use during non-sunny hours have the potential to create significant environmental and land use effects including but not limited to habitat fragmentation, soil compaction, biodiversity loss and negatively impact nearby residents. Further solar panels can contain hazardous materials that require proper recycling and disposal at the end of their lifespan. And whereas battery energy storage systems facilities being an installation used to store electrical energy

typically from lithium-ion batteries have the potential to create fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish and release harmful gases that pose health risks to residents and first responders and require specialized procedures for cleanup and disposal. And whereas from time to time it is necessary for them to review and study county ordinances for necessary updates to ensure proper regulation and the county and its partners understand the necessity to employ best planning principles and intend to complete the comprehensive planning process. And whereas the Board of Supervisors will require time to further study, consult experts and conduct a revision process to complete multiple amendments to the county zoning ordinance and or the Dickenson County Code of Ordinances consistent with the comprehensive land use master development plan. And now therefore be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Dickenson County, Iowa institution of moratorium upon the effective date of this resolution no application for a building permit, use permit, zoning or rezoning permit shall be accepted by Dickenson County or its offices specifically for data centers, Bitcoin mining facilities, solar collection and storage facilities or battery energy storage system facilities nor shall any permit be issued for the same. However, applications and permitting may continue for any other legally permitted uses including any other public utility structures which this resolution does not specifically resolution shall be effective for a period of 15 consecutive months from the date it becomes effective unless extended by further action of the board to allow the above reference changes to the Dickenson County zoning ordinance and or code of ordinances to be duly considered by the Dickenson County Planning and Zoning Commission where applicable and the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors. Effective date, this resolution shall be in effect from and after its passage and approval. Okay, thank you, Jordan. I brought this to the in front of the board. I've been reading a lot about the problems Central Iowa's been having with the the data centers and

and and battery storage and things like this that and the battery storage is more for in the future but uh it's caused some water problems for the the communities in in uh Central Iowa where they have these I in fact I just read a uh uh a study that said that uh communities of Altoona and Bondurant and and so on down there may be subject to water restrictions starting early this spring because of the amount of water they're taking from the water supply. Uh there was also a study just done on the amount of heat generated and put into the atmosphere and uh I believe it was only like within uh quarter mile of the facilities that the the ground temperature had raised by 6/10 of a degree, but that's only in a couple of years. So, I think it's prudent since we're changing and updating the county land use plan, put anything like this on hold until our zoning board and our supervisors can decide, you know, if this is something we want to allow in our area. Uh I think it's a it's protective of the water quality and protective of the citizens to do so. Anybody else? I'm going to respond to that, obviously. I I I want you all to know I'm very concerned about all these facilities as well. I am. But at last week's meeting, I asked you all because I was approached if you were interested in learning more about solar energy for the county buildings, and you all said yes. Well, now you're proposing a moratorium

that includes solar. A day ago, this moratorium included wind. And here's where I get caught up in this because we've appointed a planning and zoning commission. They've not been involved in this at all. I don't believe the director of planning and zoning was talked about what went into this moratorium at all. What I would recommend because we meet on our annual meeting with planning and zoning next Monday that we take all these concerns there. If you want to set up a public hearing for this today, go for it. But I think we need to have their input. They need to hear our input so that we're all on the same page of where this is headed. And I think 15 months is pretty excessive. Because I I don't think Megan would have take that long to set up ordinances for this. It would not, especially because the board and I started this before he had left. So, there is a draft ordinance that you all received last May. I went back in my email to find that. And it it addressed um solar um utility scale solar energy, excuse me. And requirements for battery energy storage systems, not necessarily data and Bitcoin, but that can be incorporated. But I too respectfully feel that 15 months is excessive. Um and doing some research, it looks like 6 to 12 is more adequate with an extension at that point in time. And then we did update a wind ordinance within about 4 months. So, I guess that's what I'm sharing. So, there have been two ways that different counties have gone. One is through a resolution, which is what Johnson County did. Cerro Gordo County did it through a ordinance. And which automatically puts that through planning and zoning before it comes here. So, you could do that as well.

Do we have a time frame to get that back to us? Is that what you're saying? No, I just know which way which way you want to go. Yeah, okay. And this was sort of this was I drafted this and but I didn't wasn't completely original. Some of it's from the Johnson County, some of it's from the Cerro Gordo County language and my own research. Counties have done it gone two different ways with it that the ones that have passed them. I look at 15 months as a starting point. I think that uh it it's a starting point. I could I could support it, but I also think that maybe we should consider extending it until we get an approved land use policy. Okay, county land use proposal that that we're still working on. So, I mean that's I that's just my opinion. I think that it should be extended until after we have a completed plan. But I'm willing to support 15 months because that's a starting point. We can we can always revisit the resolution. That's why I think it's important that we wait until we sit down with the planning and zoning next Monday. We go through all these concerns. They then can take it up and get active with it. And if it can get done as quickly as I think it can be, especially if they have the groundwork on a lot of it that's already done on solar. We might be beating a dead horse, but I'm concerned, too. Don't think I'm not, but let's do it the right way. Let's not just push it through without involving the commission that we appointed or without the director of it. That's all I'm saying. I have

several concerns with this. Um first of all, I'd like to commend you for looking forward, trying to avoid problems for the county. That's good. One of the concerns I've had, we've heard rumblings that the state wants to set state standards. I can see them looking at this and saying, "No, 15 month No, that's too much. You use our standards." As far as the 15 months, I see it's in there where that can be extended. But I don't see anything in there where it can be shortened. For example, you hold your hearings, you say, "Well, yeah, we don't need to keep this on a 15 months. We can end it now." Uh I too am concerned. There was a editorial last Sunday in the Register about data mining where they will come in and say, "This will provide 500 jobs." Well, that's right. The electricians, the cement people, the construction people, 500 would take 500 to do that. But once the building's up, then it's more like 25 to 50. Now, 25 to 50 jobs is nothing to sneeze at, but it's a lot less than 500. Also in that article was the fact that the electric rates went up because they use by the data company. So,

there's nothing in me I kind of worry about solar. It's uh I'm reading more articles like in successful farming where farmers are using sheep to eat underneath the panels. So, they can get both money for the having the panels and money for raising the sheep. [clears throat]

I don't like the fact that we're picking out specific businesses. I'm with Kim in this. It skips over our zoning and planning. It skips over our board of adjustment. And in the end, this board would make the decision.

[snorts]

Um There's another thing that struck me as I read this. This means that people could come and build coal fire plants or a nuclear energy plant. It's not covered in there. Nor should it be as I don't think these should be either. I think they should be taken one at a time on their merit or lack thereof. So, I personally can't support this. Well, I'd have to disagree a little bit, Bill, with you. I'm not asking the board to make a decision on whether or not to allow these facilities. I'm asking for time for the board to consider it and for the planning and zoning commission to consider it and see if according to the new county land use plan that we have commissioned and and paid for, if they change any restrictions on distances and acceptable areas for industrial. What do you say we needed more time on the wind turbines? No. We spent years on that.

yes, on our own Yeah. with no moratorium. Right. We read Lord, I don't know how many things we read or videos we watched. But we came to a conclusion. The zoning board came to a conclusion. And speaking of zoning boards, I see the zoning administrator would like to speak. Please come up.

No, I I wanted to say one thing that I just want to make things clear on what we are doing. We are updating the comprehensive land use plan, land use plan. Ordinances are law. That goes through P&Z, from you are they're putting in here. So, just because we are updating the plan doesn't mean we need to put a pause on updating our ordinances. [snorts]

I just There is a very clear division. There's a tool and a law. And that's where that separation comes into play. Do they need to work together? Absolutely. But us redefining where we may or may not want renewable energies is going to play a different part with our update versus, you know, let's look at the regulations across the state. Let's look at who else is doing this and their regulations to incorporate into ours. So, that's why I'm saying P&Z can get going. We can move forward. Um I'll be more supportive of a less I I do I'm sorry. 15 months I feel is a long time. I do feel it puts a target on us and we get lumped in with those other counties that just don't want anything. So, moving forward, that would be my recommendation or amendment to this moratorium. But I am truly not a fan of moratoriums because I think that we can work together and move forward. Um we do address solar in our current ordinance and I wanted to just make sure that um it's more residential based, of course. Um but that wouldn't be affected if someone wanted to put solar panels on their roof. I just permitted someone on 56. Or if they wanted some further residential uses. So, um just wanted to make sure that that was not being affected if this moves forward. My intent was solely for industrial. Okay. Utility scale.

Yeah. Okay.

Utility scale. Okay. Thank you. For any further discussion? Yes, Barb. So, um the state the state trying to control that's one bill that has come through this year. They dropped it in the house because Mike Klimesh got a friend to do that for him. Um it's you know, it's made it That one bill in the house made it through the Senate or through committee, but it did not make it to the floor. Um and and we expected it's dead this session. That's but basically what we have is one senator threat threatening counties. So, I don't think we should take what one senator has been trying to do and he is he's vowed that he will drop a bill every session until the one finally passes. Um and the bills have all been pretty much the same. And so, I guess what I'm saying is don't let that stop you from doing what we need to do at our level, okay? Um I I agree with this moratorium or this pause um so that we can we can look at what we're doing and where we're doing it. Um and you know, I mean you could drop it to 12 months. And that's and with the option to extend, just like you have it in there. Um but I also think what we need to add to the county and I've recommended this to the planning and zoning board and they did not take it up uh 2 years ago um is that we need a general uh permit

to solicit leases or easements. So, that way when when these industrial projects do come up, we're we don't hear that what we've been working on this since 2008, so you know, it's too late for you to say anything. That's holding us hostage. And we have, you know, as as a board and as a county, we should know what projects are being solicited out there. And so, um basically if a if a company is soliciting property owners or residents um for leases for industrial uses like the solar, wind, um Bitcoin cuz I understand that Bitcoin is a small company project that can sit on a piece of land. They don't have to buy it. They're looking at buying acreage, you know, that's a different different scenario. But they would have to apply for a permit through the planning and zoning office. And then project what they're, you know, describe their project, how they're going to use it. I believe they should have to go through public hearings and things and then have that permit approved through the planning and zoning board. But that does not the solicit to permit or the permit to solicit. But that doesn't guarantee that their permit would totally be accepted at the end. Two-year permit. I do have it Kim, you look confused. I do have it written out. I'm not confused. I understand what you're saying.

Okay. So, yeah. Um but that way we aren't we don't get the surprise in the end. We should be prepared. There's a lot of communities that if you're going to go door-to-door selling back vacuum cleaners or something like that, you have to get a permit to solicit. So, it's on that it's kind of on that grounds. So, I do have I do have my my desires typed out so that you can take a look at them. Oops, my bad. Do? That one for you, John. Yeah. Do you have any questions for me? I do go to the county zoning officials conference next month at the end of the month and I can ask who does include as just general conversation, who includes solicit solicitation permits in their ordinance. Well, I would have no objection to uh changing the time, you know, on the moratorium. Uh if we wanted to go down to 6 months with it extendable, I wouldn't have a problem with that. You know, like you said, we're we're

talking to the having our annual conference with the zoning board. You know, in a week and uh it's something we could discuss with them and see if, you know, how long Megan thinks that we'd take to update some of these plans. I don't want to I don't want to force them to have to do it in 30 days. But, you know, we definitely want to give them the time that they think they need to get this done. [clears throat] [snorts]

What what would you like us to do with this? Well, I guess we'll I would ask to table it for another week until after we've talked to the zoning board and had more input and uh we may have to change the timing on it and so on. And then I'll bring it back. Okay. Is that acceptable everybody? Till next Tuesday? Yeah. [snorts]

We meet Monday with the zoning board. Would be better to wait 2 weeks till the Tuesday after. Probably be better to wait 2 weeks so we can could get together with everybody and uh you know, and and I I hope you're right about this siting law at the state getting dropped for the year. I really do. Yeah. You know, because the last thing we want is for the state telling us what we can do in our county. Mhm. Yeah. You know, it happened years ago with the uh CAFO. master matrix plan and the confinement animal feeding operations. And we don't need any We don't need oversight from the state on that particular area. Mr. Kelly. Yeah, you also have an outstanding issue with respect to Airbnbs that was dropped basically by uh state government essentially imposed on the county. So, I think you're right that the there need there needs to be some vigilance and uh you know, observation on what they're doing there because the they're they're uh pursuing um let's say, you know, a specific agenda that might be good or might not be good for Dickinson County. But I know with the Airbnb's, that's really created a a lot of different issues cuz we've got the property taxes are such that some people are having to convert to Airbnb's in order to hold on to their property because of the escalation of the property taxes. So, there's certainly a lot of a lot of different issues, but I think uh Mr. Clark, that's a good point that I I do think we need to make sure I don't know how you guys handle that. You know, uh you know, watching I know Barb keeps an

eye on what's going on, but there's certainly needs to be maybe and it's probably for the new board to determine some some specific oversight on behalf of Dickinson County on what's going on you know, in Demoin. Just a thought. Big thank you. All right, so then it's agreed this is going to be tabled. When you do that Yeah. The motion moves on. We're now down to We have a final statement No. It'll be tabled. It'll be back on the agenda. No, that's good. Okay, we're now down to general discussion and board and committee reports. Kim? I attended the department head meeting which were held on April 8th. We did a fire drill table top demonstration led by Mike Harriot. That's basically the requirements for a fire drill. Um he's revamping and updating our emergency system. So, everyone knows obviously all the different routes, places we go for for emergencies and that type of thing. Appreciate his work. Uh I gave a report on the wellness committee, so everybody's on same page again to try and get everything completed and board. I know we will lead by example Stephen already you've already uh gotten that going. Uh we talked about company nurse. Uh we're doing very well as far as reporting any incidences. That's very important. Um We Alyssa Holtz stated that she'll be sending 15 to 20-minute training videos to comply with the HIPAA training requirements. So, those will be coming as well. And she also if you haven't noticed, when I first started she'd send out these things on the uh Turn in mail. on the email and I'd bite at them. And of course, I got

That's called hope a vote. Know before you click. It was and I had to take a class cuz I goofed. Well, she's had five now just recently that are having to do it. Oh, well. See you. Join my club. Yes. Uh I haven't had it for a few years, but uh again, she's just trying to keep our system and us safe. [clears throat]

Uh there'll be a CPR cleanup May 14th at 9:00 a.m. to get that all taken care of. And Lori Peterson stated that ISAC is going to have their director coming around all 99 counties. And uh May 13th is when she will be here and she'd like us all to meet with her. It's at 1:00 on May 13th. Um Lori also discussed policies regarding vacation, meal reimbursement, snow days. That then will go to Mr. Galloway who's updating our our our booklet, etc. So, I thought it was a good meeting well attended by our department heads and I really appreciate their leadership. Kim, what was on the 13th? May 13th is when the director of ISAC is going to come around. They want She wants to meet with all of the different county boards and actually employees to see if everything you know, if they have any questions or concerns and a good time, but that's at 1:00 In this room? Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. This morning I had a Silver Lake Park Improvement Association meeting. Um [snorts] we're getting closer to fish barriers. They've been approved for over there, but it's a matter of getting them constructed. They'll certainly help the sediment that goes into that lake. It should keep a lot of that carp out of there which is a huge problem over there. Um they continue the shoreline restoration work. Um also they're talking about membership and getting that going. Of course, we all know the Blue Water Festival was canceled this year. They always were a big part of that. Um but they continue to to grow and grow and what they're getting done over there. If you get a chance, go take a look at the shoreline projects that have been completed. And as you know, the city park is also uh going to be renovated, so a lot of great things happening over in Lake Park. That is what I have. And by the way, so you all know, I'm going tomorrow to have

total knee replacement on my left leg which we tried to do back in October which led to other fun things. Thank you very much. I I I I plan on attending all of the things. I might crutch my way in, but I'll be here. Steve. [clears throat]

I had no official meetings last week. I had some personal issues to take care of one of which was the physical so I can update my ISAC thing, but it's looking to be a very very busy week the rest of this week. Okay. Mr. Clark. Uh last week I uh had the Dickinson County Conservation Board on Wednesday evening. They gave us updates on the progress of the uh Sherwood Park and when they thought that would start. Uh on the morning of the 9th, I attended the Dickinson County Taxpayers Association first first meeting of the year. They don't meet through the wintertime, so you know, it's their first meeting of the year. They have an annual meeting coming up in June that usually they have a really good speaker for that if anybody's interested in and uh on the then on Monday night I this last Monday night I had the Dickinson County uh Conservation Foundation. And uh they have put in for more REAP grants. And or for another REAP grant and they should find out about that in about 2 weeks. And Destination Iowa grant has been submitted again. Uh as I understand it, each conservation board is capped at 3.5 million over a period of years that they can re receive from the Destination Iowa grant. And we're up Dickinson County is up to 3.2, but they have applied for another one to you know, see if they can bring us up to the 3.5. And all that will go to the uh project for their new playground. If any of you have been keeping up with

the what's going on up at the Isthmus Park that's between Spirit Lake and and East Okoboji. Uh for this new playground uh Lee wanted a bunch of trees to turn into natural setting and he was fortunate enough instead of having to buy trees like the architect remen recommended, you know, he recommended buying these specific kind of trees for this much and it was going to be quite expensive really expensive. So, the uh conservation commission got quite a few logs and have already made a number of benches and other uh natural things to go in the new playground. Uh they're still raising money for that. It's it's going to be a big project for for no bigger than an area that covers by the time you pay the designer's bill and the architect's bill and all that, it's it's well over $2 million for a playground. But you know, it's that's all donated money. You know, that doesn't come from taxpayers. That's all donated through their foundations, so we'll see where it goes. Uh This week coming up uh I'm hoping to go to the FEMA meeting with Jeff tomorrow. I think Lori said she was going to go also. And uh then on Friday I have the uh YES board meeting down in Cherokee. And then of course, Monday we have the planning and zoning get together with our board. And the one thing I'll say about the YES board meeting and coming up, we also got our auditor's report back. And five of the things that we were dinged on were the same same exact same things that the county got, you know, dinged on. They're and they're the same exact things that

all the years I sat on the telephone board were always included in the report and they were always explanations were always accepted and approved by the auditor. They just had to make the report. So. Anyway, that's all I did. Steve Frye. Uh last Thursday I also joined Mr. Clark at the Taxpayer Association meeting and that evening uh I went and listened to the meet the candidates Republican Party for the upcoming the primary. Uh Friday morning we had a trails meeting on the 10th. And uh Matt Richter from Arnold's Park City Council had come in and uh is hoping to work with the Dickinson County trails on a the city of Arnold's Park is going to put in a trail and the county will will do uh a little bit of meet up with them. It's it would be just south of Bridges Bay, Uh north of Pelican Ridge in that area over there to get there's a an RV park over there that would get access north and south so they can stay off that road. I don't recall the number or the name of the road but um but they want to get that process started and and obviously there's a few logistics that need to be worked out but that's a project that's um probably going to be at least considered by the trails board but uh not to speak for Aaron but uh um I think with the it it sounded like with Arnold's Park doing a large portion of it it would something that would benefit the area. Again, that's just not speaking not speaking for Aaron. Um Saturday morning I met with uh a local landowner just about some concerns that he had had um on his property and then last night I went to a city

council meeting. Uh the city has got some uh two parks they're working on upgrading updating significantly Florence Park over there by the high school and then uh Buchanan Park which is by the trailhead which is also scheduled to be updated. Um and so that'll be a nice um project that the city is working on that will coincide with what the the trails is doing. Um that trailhead is just a little bit off of where the park is but there's a there'll be a nice uh restrooms and uh water fountains and and you know other things to do obviously at at a park versus just riding your bikes but uh and then I'm also going to go to that meeting tomorrow in Emmitsburg as well. Okay, very good. Uh outside of the meeting with our department heads I really had no official meetings. Had a few phone calls but other than that pretty nice. Got my documents full. That's a good thing. Is there anything that anyone needs to speak with Hey I used to caddy uh I don't play golf but I used to caddy and shag golf balls and sort the golf courses. Uh the historical [clears throat] society the museum sponsored a round on the golf courses last week and there was probably 50 people there. A lot of the developers and a tremendous amount of uh people who taught golf and coached and stuff came. The second round is this Wednesday at 10:00. So I would urge any of you that are golf you golfers or you have friends that are golfers to come. It's only an hour and uh it I thought it's very educational and then it it kind of addresses a bunch of the cultural and physical evolution that's

taken place around here you know cuz we had at one point dozens of golf courses and now we have quite a few less but I I know I'm sure some of you golf or you know people who who golf so I would just urge you to take an hour and and go and listen and participate because some of you are going to have some information that that isn't going to get disseminated there unless you go. So anyway but they're doing a good job over there and I would just urge people to tell your golfer friends or other people to stop by there for an hour. It's just from 10:00 to 11:00 on Wednesday. So just a little PSA. Where Where is that Patrick? At the Well well at the depot. Oh at the museum. Oh okay. Oh excuse me. Thank you but which item on the agenda is that in regards Um

[clears throat]

I know I'm talking a lot today but several weeks I don't talk so um I I wanted I didn't realize until after the budget was over that we had no budget presentation. I had asked for one during the levy hearing and they said that's typically done at the budget hearing. So I mean there was no presentation from the county on on um you know the previous year and and what this year's going to bring. Um so I just want to say if I missed the budget presentation. Anything else? Yes sir. I'm kind of a newbie here and I've got hearing aids on and for the benefit [clears throat] of us out in the here when you folks speak you just need to pull your microphones into you or yell louder because I only heard about half of what's going on with my hearing aids turned up. That's all I have to say. I'm sorry. I leaned back. I apologize. Thank you for pointing that out.

the only one. Thank you. I'm I'm certain we're all kind of guilty of uh leaning back [clears throat] from the microphone at times so. But he can go back and watch it. Yeah. Or they can speak as loud as you do. Mouthy truck driver sorry buddy. The speaker system picks it up pretty well if you if you go back and you see it but you'd rather get it now. I was thinking you shouldn't come here with your No you should No no you should come.

Make that motion. Thank you Mr. Dollar. Aye. Thank you Mr. Levi. Further discussion? Hearing none Mr. Dollar. Aye. Levi. Aye. Mr. Clark. Aye. Kim. Aye. And Bill is not here officially.