[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531228,"mediaKeyId","3585187-aab357fdb7adace166fb2b1b702ff3be","parentId",3585187,"title","Humboldt County discusses private tile policy, joint repairs and La Verne main replacement","audioSeconds",2435,"startMs",577000,"endMs",3012000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585187-aab357fdb7adace166fb2b1b702ff3be&start=577&end=3012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585187-aab357fdb7adace166fb2b1b702ff3be/thumbnail_577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531228/Humboldt-County/Iowa/Humboldt-County-discusses-private-tile-policy-joint-repairs-and-La-Verne-main-replacement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531228-5ee55fa276761822c9a717bde3c41fd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440255&Signature=Dp4CYS-fCsmwS7QzAI-n7CQSMVPsL-tAyfWAIP9IahkmuRIn1yhiVB4l176qdgLdjllrmLs6g8p7hJ4V8jU8HrI1vwcb23I-6mS5mO64iZxztAze0mX~zcuIRh7nJgSsV1CwoLJjG~lnhulWahoTATo9DMDL4h5jVpiV1zJ8~j18lv1~0cw6gylx0oN2tTy-rezT7cTdVPl7FP2eLE03ZKtcRMwoD4azXQ7Ub1NORBUcTdVL3yNKWA2ENsEUN2KRMc0Jdu0Wc49vmVxPGWszMeZp9fn0NUflDUDIBznEO2fU-VljAdt09pAPNX-injuX6aL42ocBmRm5NSibXx2ePg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Humboldt County","date","2025-05-23T14:19:52.993Z","article","Humboldt County drainage officials and commissioners discussed a range of drainage issues including repeated failures of private field tile outlets, proposals to make the drainage district responsible for the first 50 feet of private outlets, and a planned repair of a joint main near La Verne that officials said will likely require digging and replacing the line.

The discussion began with staff reporting they had inspected multiple outlets where private tile connected to public ditches. Under current practice the drainage district pays for pipe material but landowners install the outlet; staff said that approach has left many buried or poorly installed outlets unaddressed and has contributed to bank erosion and siltation in county ditches.

Several board members proposed the district take responsibility for and regulate the final portion of field outlets—approximately the first 50 feet from the ditch bank—so the county can require correct installation and timely repair. Commissioners noted the change could increase repair costs and raised questions about easements, joint-district arrangements and whether 50 feet is measured from the ditch bottom or the top of bank.

Officials asked staff to gather more information before changing policy. The board directed staff to draft an email surveying neighboring drainage districts about their policies for private tile outlets and to circulate the draft for review. Staff also said they would consult the drainage attorney about legal authority and whether the county could assess damaged private tile back to landowners under relevant code language referenced in the meeting (transcript reference: “4 68 1 48 through 1 1 50”).

On the La Verne joint main, staff and commissioners said previous water-jetting had failed and that replacing the joint line with solid pipe was likely the best long-term fix; because the line is in a tree-filled area the work will require coordination with the adjoining joint district identified in the meeting as Kasuth. The board set a joint meeting with Kasuth for next Monday to discuss the La Verne repair and to negotiate a memorandum of understanding that would set a dollar threshold or streamlined approval process for small joint repairs.

The board also discussed a specific case (Section 2685) where a new farmer reportedly ripped out about 100 feet of tile that connects two mains, leaving the center of the run extremely shallow. Staff described remedies including restoring the main, installing intakes at either end (and abandoning the shallow connector), or pursuing an “improvement” process that would require a public hearing, engineer design and a cost allocation that could delay work until the following construction season. Commissioners expressed concern about repeatedly repairing a main if it is farmed over or intentionally removed and about potential claims if the board abandons a main that historically provided drainage.

Other issues raised included private tile outlets located within county right-of-way and the downstream impact on secondary roads; the difficulty of identifying individual landowners associated with buried tile; and operational counts—staff estimated several replacement outlets per mile in typical clean-outs and said the number of buried clay tile could be high based on short inspections.

Direction recorded in the meeting: staff will draft and circulate an email to neighboring drainage districts asking how they handle private tile when owners do not repair outlets; staff will consult the drainage attorney about assessment authority; and the county will hold a joint meeting with Kasuth next Monday to discuss the La Verne repair and an MOU to streamline small joint repairs. No ordinance or formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; board members asked for more data and legal advice before making binding changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Humboldt County Iowa Board of Supervisors Meeting 2025 05-05","oneSentenceSummary","The county debated whether to expand drainage-district responsibility to the first 50 feet of private field tile outlets, directed staff to survey neighboring districts and to meet with a neighboring joint district (Kasuth) next Monday about a La Verne repair and an MOU for small joint repairs.","taxTitle","Humboldt County, Iowa","taxId",73084,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531232,"Humboldt County to give three PTO days to nonunion employees in lieu of raises",51,500000,551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585187-aab357fdb7adace166fb2b1b702ff3be&start=500&end=551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585187-aab357fdb7adace166fb2b1b702ff3be/thumbnail_500000.jpg","/articles/6531232/Humboldt-County/Iowa/Humboldt-County-to-give-three-PTO-days-to-nonunion-employees-in-lieu-of-raises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531232-2fc3a307d3173ae0427a1eacfc17e146/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440255&Signature=WYLHQxiTzjxRJtCy0GCBEVJc84E~lcM6KHxs5zj9JvNQWUKEgcokyT0IXJDaxjg4~7Z~2oVtz7d-kyXLUoHYWrHfwupDmgAErHhDFiZTlPpYfJQ5kLtCmcZPBlP7tG-t4IhLQQv9K0Fh7Q1FpPIOi8HhBUpJsYNVgcFJeWS~68rXTEjKHLy51uh4GXhy5UL6d21ckiGxzDwEJ3BOnbrSw65HKLGRlVPWqO3QmfvTYNlGpbXnJCNSH4bx7y7BG~M1fEsxnne6hAinwYVpV3iEZLq6aWUNv4cxuJmZ7LjWrCoUNd7Hkm8-pL~3ahTJMZre2sXECnmLG7BPTTjvkKwRfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Humboldt County commissioners voted to give nonunion county employees three additional paid time off (PTO) days for fiscal year 2025–26 in lieu of a wage increase.

The motion, made during the county meeting, specified the days apply only to nonunion employees and must be used within the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The board approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners and staff discussed how the days would be administered. County payroll staff said the extra days could be coded separately in the county’s payroll system (for example as a PTO code or a converted-sick-leave line item) so departments and the payroll office can track use and prevent carryover past the fiscal-year deadline.

Speakers said the extra time off is intended as a one-year accommodation because the county could not afford across-the-board raises in the current budget. Commissioners emphasized that the days are not a wage increase and that the county would not treat them as permanent changes to the handbook unless officials chose to revisit policy.

The board’s action affects only nonunion employees; officials said unionized employees received separate, previously negotiated increases. County staff agreed to record and manually track the days for each employee and to send reminders about the expiration of the PTO at the end of the fiscal year.

The county chair closed the item after the vote and moved on to the day’s drainage discussion.","Humboldt County commissioners approved three additional paid time off days for nonunion employees for fiscal year 2025–2026, to be used July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026; union employees are unaffected.","actionData","errors"]

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Humboldt County discusses private tile policy, joint repairs and La Verne main replacement

Humboldt County to give three PTO days to nonunion employees in lieu of raises