[{"_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",6510264,"mediaKeyId","5390858-393f4b80da5a45566c958ef1d56cd3f6","parentId",5390858,"title","Votes at a glance: Kossuth County Board approves agreements, resolutions and drainage waivers on July 15, 2025","audioSeconds",5519,"startMs",0,"endMs",5519000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5390858-393f4b80da5a45566c958ef1d56cd3f6&start=0&end=5519","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5390858-393f4b80da5a45566c958ef1d56cd3f6/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510264/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-Kossuth-County-Board-approves-agreements-resolutions-and-drainage-waivers-on-July-15-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510264-ca6ba9993ec076ee60ead9d6bd8f1c2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740397&Signature=JbvxGXot-DhZZk8xLcB-fFkq9bGNDwhg9-iRmUtzpYh~36viOBEnw5lFHOKcUEJY0OpOu~axF5EAVUqR2xFIedq1mlktELo~3or3V5nWwNUsIP3tQB7tZZ3rai0tWWFUwuq3JW8PxJ8aGhma-Xz~PM6RTmUpqTuKtKlw9tQSjXvsefWDNk1geq2eWyIO-aqTNqjek-JD6VqGmskW~xEo70F-BS1wn0Zkm4KjjxkM04ijJLI-QxBWIGUp7OcDsv2c7C3Pn1JdG860gk5WMLzrYRUEnGgDAthWufGrvSmmRtDqbKbhvf1-taK6Ud2xaBAk9bxaJBnoaVfhq1hoF3ST6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kossuth County","date","2025-07-15T16:11:40Z","article","Kossuth County supervisors on July 15, 2025 handled multiple routine and administrative items and recorded votes on agreements, financing and drainage assessment waivers. The board also acknowledged auditor transfers and approved several routine personnel and claims items.

Nut graf: The board approved a multi‑county 28E agreement for veterans services, authorized a $45,000 transfer into the transfer station equipment fund (Resolution 07152501), signed letters supporting a federal Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grant for two county bridges, granted utility permission to Mediacom at Highway 18 and 140th Avenue, and approved additional waivers for fall 2025 drainage assessments so the county can complete tax processing.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approve agenda and meeting minutes (July 2025)
- Motion by Supervisor Hawes; second by Supervisor Wachter. Outcome: approved (voice vote). No roll call recorded.

- Approve claims (county claims and drainage claims separated)
- Motion by Supervisor Haas; second by Supervisor Garman. Outcome: approved; recorded one abstention (board noted one abstention during the vote). Notes: drainage claims will be included with packet for chairman signature going forward.

- Acknowledge auditor transfers
- Auditor transfers acknowledged: General Basic to Secondary Road $2,761.60 and Merle (likely Merle Basic) to Secondary Road $19,403.82 (transfers dated 07/02/2025). No vote required beyond acknowledgment.

- Approve drainage repair requests (two items identified; board authorized supervisors to handle requests)
- Motion (mover not specified) seconded by Supervisor Garman. Outcome: motion carried unanimously. Noted items included a request tied to DD82 Lat 30 (Lincoln Sec. 9) and a request by Doug Gorskowski for 500 ft of tile repair in Section 24.

- Approve joint 28E agreement with Wright and Hamilton County Veterans Affairs (item referenced as '2080' in packet)
- Motion by Supervisor Wagner; second by Supervisor Haas (second stated as for discussion). Roll‑call recorded: Haas — Yes; Garman — Yes; Wachter — Yes; Nash — Yes. Outcome: approved (motion carries).

- Approve corrected wage for recorder staff member (longevity omitted in earlier printing)
- Motion by Supervisor Haas; second by Supervisor Garman. Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as ayes).

- Approve resolution to transfer funds from transfer station operating fund to equipment fund (Resolution 07152501)
- Supervisor Garman moved; Supervisor Haas seconded. Roll call recorded: Haas — Yes; Garman — Yes; Wagner — Yes; Nash — Yes. Outcome: Resolution 07152501 approved. County will transfer $45,000 into the equipment fund to bring the balance to approximately $192,000 (as presented by transfer station staff).

- Approve letters of support for two county bridges in the federal Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) application
- Motion by Supervisor Haas; second by Supervisor Garman. Outcome: approved unanimously. Two bridges identified: one east of Ledyard and one north of Fenton on P 16 crossing the East Fork of the Blue Earth River; the Iowa DOT is the grant sponsor.

- Approve utility permit/road right‑of‑way work for Mediacom at 140 Avenue and Highway 18
- Motion moved and seconded; board approved the utility combination permit (voice vote). Outcome: approved.

- Approve additional waivers for fall 2025 drainage assessments (list provided by staff/Kyle for potential hardship waivers)
- Supervisor Howard moved; second by Supervisor Wachter. Motion carried. The waivers approved at the meeting included the following drainage dockets (as listed by county staff): DD 4 Lehi 2; DD 80 Lot 80; DD 80 Lot 81; DD 82; DD 114; and DD 129. Staff indicated these would be offered as 10‑year waivers (instead of 20) where applicable and that affected landowners must respond by the county’s deadlines so taxes can be finalized.

Other recorded items

- Board acknowledged transfer station financial reports and approved the transfer resolution after staff presentation.

- The meeting concluded with other routine items including secondary roads updates and departmental reports.

Ending: Several items required follow up by county staff (scheduling meetings, scanning drainage files, and entering waiver information into tax/assessment systems). Formal approvals and roll call votes were recorded for the 28E agreement and Resolution 07152501; most other approvals were by voice vote with outcomes recorded in the minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kossuth County Board of Supervisors Meeting 7/15/2025 Part 1 of 1","oneSentenceSummary","Kossuth County supervisors on July 15, 2025 handled multiple routine and administrative items and recorded votes on agreements, financing and drainage assessment waivers.","taxTitle","Kossuth County, Iowa","taxId",69823,"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},6510269,"Kossuth County supervisors to hold meeting after contractor disputes DD 60 Sub‑4 crop damage assessment",1282,202000,1484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5390858-393f4b80da5a45566c958ef1d56cd3f6&start=202&end=1484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5390858-393f4b80da5a45566c958ef1d56cd3f6/thumbnail_202000.jpg","/articles/6510269/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Kossuth-County-supervisors-to-hold-meeting-after-contractor-disputes-DD-60-Sub4-crop-damage-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510269-6cf71ae177c9536ba9d41400713caa07/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740397&Signature=Ah2~3ELRByy-kqRBzdcd8MuF5W2gpUSB2QhFrFPUJy-RaxZNRZM3GeW8GhB7vGBGM12vEQBJcsXoEQVS2HKk7kFKbpbfWFMQ-86a3Wy3jNpc7GNa7o5BtVgB6Jbsv2K1~y3eBGbE0VMjUIgb9p6X4MTapUkdC3~81X-Ae39-3ohmkzHQW1maGrxitSo-WEStbAtW-8T6QY-XBG2qBzDHy1RO57uS6L8b6qzbpMCq7dIGP9i7EK2ErmiDxxa0WT8~szz3VY5vaeeB1eXa8zzfurCJ0oczIyD1B~L3e3Vl0RzqaN1IzADZwRkeY6qJKqrEh8e988wbwnF-kUR2axKIbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kossuth County supervisors on July 15, 2025 said they would not act immediately on a request to reconsider damages assessed after construction in Drainage District 60, Sub‑4 and agreed to schedule an informational meeting or public hearing for affected landowners.

The request was presented by a contractor representative who said the contractor (identified in the discussion as REI) had not been given adequate notice to respond to damage claims after the project and asked the board to reconsider several of the assessed amounts. The contractor said the firm responded to reported issues when notified, made repairs to a tile connection on May 14 and fixed a settled spot the same day it was reported on June 2, and provided videos and offers to meet on site.

Why it matters: The dispute concerns which damages are eligible for county-paid crop‑damage reimbursement after ditch construction, how cleanup was documented and communicated, and whether additional leveling or chisel‑plowing (which the contractor said was not in its contract scope) should be required. The outcome will affect several landowners along the DD 60 route and the county’s processing of drainage claims and assessments.

Contractor account and landowner complaints

The contractor representative told supervisors an email requesting reconsideration had been sent the day before the meeting and said portions of the work were cleaned up and leveled in the same manner as other parcels along the project. The representative acknowledged that some steel strapping used to bind pipe arrived on the site and was left behind in places: “I apologize to the landowners that had to deal with that,” the contractor representative said. The speaker said the project used a large quantity of bedding stone — roughly 25,000 tons — and that in some areas the team chose to leave a thin layer of rock to preserve topsoil rather than remove additional topsoil to get every rock cleared.

The contractor disputed portions of the damage assessment for one landowner identified in the discussion as Gorkowski/Gorskowski, saying that those fields were not worked or planted within the right‑of‑way and that other adjacent owners were able to plant without issue. The contractor maintained that additional chisel‑plowing and full reworking of compacted ground were not in the scope of the contract and described compaction as a typical, multi‑year effect of construction that is why crop‑damage payments are often spread over multiple years.

Board response and next steps

Supervisors asked whether the matter required a public hearing or could be handled by a smaller, targeted meeting. The board and the contractor discussed notifying only affected landowners rather than the entire drainage district. The contractor offered to provide video evidence and to meet on site; supervisors said they would coordinate a date and that the county would place the event on a future agenda. No formal vote or change to the previously recorded damage determinations was made at the July 15 meeting.

The board asked staff to contact the affected landowners and to check Supervisor Kyle Hurd’s availability to attend a meeting; the contractor was asked to provide contact information and the additional video files it referenced.

Clarifying details from the record

- Contractor reported fixing a tile backfill issue after receiving a picture from Tyler Connolly, and said additional leveling was done later the same day (May 14). (source: contractor representative)

- Contractor reported fixing a settled spot on June 2 the same day it was reported. (source: contractor representative)

- Contractor said the project used “roughly 25,000 ton” of bedding rock and that complete removal of rock would have required removing additional topsoil. (source: contractor representative)

- Contractor said chisel‑plowing or full decompaction work was not in the contract scope, and therefore was not performed systematically across the project. (source: contractor representative)

Community and procedural relevance

The board indicated it will notify only landowners with damage complaints and will place an item on a future agenda to set a date; supervisors discussed using either a phone call for a handful of landowners or a formal meeting or public hearing depending on how many are affected. The board also indicated a preference to provide a punch list at project close in future projects so contractors know what final cleanup is expected.

Ending

No change was made to the damage determinations at the July 15 meeting. The county will arrange an informational meeting or hearing for the affected landowners, and staff were directed to coordinate notice and a meeting date with Supervisor Kyle Hurd and the contractor.","A contractor and several landowners urged the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the board's decision not to pay crop damages for Drainage District 60, Sub‑4; the board took no immediate action and agreed to schedule an informational meeting or hearing and notify affected landowners.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Kossuth County Board approves agreements, resolutions and drainage waivers on July 15, 2025

Kossuth County supervisors to hold meeting after contractor disputes DD 60 Sub‑4 crop damage assessment