Woodbury County officials present FY26 capital and improvement requests, board receives multiple proposals

Woodbury County officials and department heads presented a slate of fiscal‑year 2026 capital improvement and departmental improvement requests during a board hearing, and the Board of Supervisors moved to receive the requests for further consideration.

Auditor Michelle Scaff said the auditor and recorder offices need new furniture and fixtures; she requested a multi‑year plan and budgeted $200,000 as a placeholder to replace about 15 workstations and provide seating and secure work areas for elections staff. Building services requested $600,000 in FY26 toward a $1.1 million estimated demolition of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and $372,000 for concrete repairs at the Dorothy Pico Nature Center after engineers recommended slab remediation.

Parks Director Dan Isaac asked the board to consider a roughly three‑mile roadway overlay at Little Sioux Park; current estimates presented include a 5‑inch concrete overlay at about $1.1 million or a blacktop option near $752,607. Isaac said the park generates significant non‑tax revenues and that delay risks higher future repair costs.

Secondary roads presented a request to relocate and replace the mobile shop, citing inadequate and deteriorating facilities and advising a 7–10 acre site would be more suitable. Emergency services requested replacement of a high‑mileage 2016 rescue truck and concrete repairs to station approaches and storage areas. Human Resources requested office carpet, three cubicles and a file cabinet for an estimated $25,000. The sheriff sought 23 squad‑car tablets ($87,000) and a digital forensic licensing service (about $21,000 annually). The communications center director, Wendy Hess, requested a full‑time communications operator to lead onboarding and training; she said training has suffered since a prior training position was cut in an earlier budget year.

Several departments also presented improvement requests: treasurer and recorder office upgrades (remodel and paint), parks facility work, and county IT and WCICC security infrastructure upgrades. Many presentations were information‑only; in multiple cases the board moved to "receive" the requests for inclusion in upcoming budget deliberations.

Why it matters: the items presented will feed into FY26 budget deliberations and could require six‑figure appropriations. Department heads flagged both immediate maintenance needs (ceiling plastering, concrete trip hazards, roof leaks) and longer‑term capital choices (road overlays, building replacement or demolition) that affect operational budgets and service capacity.

Board reaction and next steps: supervisors asked about phasing options for park roadwork to coordinate paving plants and reduce cost, discussed carrying funds in a segregated health or opioid fund where appropriate, and asked the auditor and treasurer to explore payout and coding options for grants or restricted funds. The board and staff agreed to schedule follow‑up budget hearings and to provide more detailed cost breakdowns before appropriations are adopted.

Ending: Supervisors said they would use the presentations and submitted materials to prioritize projects during the FY26 budgeting process. Several requests will be discussed again at scheduled budget hearings and in department follow‑ups with the auditor and treasurer.