Commissioners approve higher collections, reorganize permanent maintenance budget lines

Williams County commissioners approved a resolution adopting permanent maintenance collection rates for fiscal year 2026 and discussed a restructure that consolidates drainage costs into a single budget account. The approved resolution (listed in meeting materials as Resolution 3 92) reflects a proposed collection that will support increased permanent-maintenance expenses. Clerk read the resolution and the motion passed on roll call; the clerk recorded "Commissioner Westwell? Yes. Commissioner Webb? Yes. Motion carried." Why it matters: Staff said the change moves previously dispersed costs — notably wages and tile repairs that had been paid from a separate "A" fund — into the permanent maintenance (R) fund so all drainage costs appear in one place. Brian, the drainage staff member, said that produces a higher budget number (he referenced a preliminary figure around $691,000) because previously some costs were offset elsewhere and not shown on the drainage ledger. During the discussion, staff explained the larger budget includes tile-repair work that gets reimbursed; in other words, some items included in the higher budget are pass-throughs. "Part of that includes tile repairs, which we get requests for... but it gets reimbursed," Brian said. Commissioners asked for line items that separately show tile repairs and title-of-record assessments so they can track inflows and outflows. The board discussed practical administration: the drainage office will continue to track individual ditch spreadsheets and parcel-level assessment percentages produced by the drainage software; staff offered to email prior spreadsheet runs to commissioners. Commissioners also asked staff to consider a capital line in future budgets for building or shelter needs for equipment and recommended clarifying how health insurance and benefits are allocated into the new permanent-maintenance account. Next steps: Staff will supply commissioners an itemized spreadsheet for each watershed/collection and provide a follow-up as the budget process advances. The permanent maintenance rates adopted at the meeting will be used to generate collections unless the commissioners later adjust the schedule.