Wright County trustees approve 30x50 emergency management building on county property

The Wright County Board of Supervisors on a majority vote approved permitting the Emergency Management Commission to build a 30-by-50-foot steel storage building on county-owned land near the county radio tower.

At the meeting Jerica Beecher, identified in the record with Wright County Emergency Management, said the shed would move trailers and equipment that are currently stored outdoors and exposed to weather. Beecher said the structure would be a steel-frame building with concrete floor and insulation, and described possible door configurations (one large overhead door, possibly two) and roughly 14–16-foot door openings to fit equipment.

Beecher told supervisors the emergency management office has budgeted funds and reported a current fund balance and rollover the office tracks; she said the county emergency management estimated the building cost at about $80,000–$85,000 and that she did not have a grant identified to supplement construction costs. Beecher said the city partners had agreed to participation and that the commission would determine final funding and whether to proceed.

Supervisor Ashley Bosch moved to approve the Emergency Management Commission building a 30-by-50 structure on county property at the tower location; the motion was seconded and passed with four ayes and one nay. The record did not identify individual votes by name; five supervisors were present.

The board discussion covered siting (just south of the tower), access around the tower, and the desire to move trailers and vehicles into secure storage to reduce wear and storage fees paid when equipment is impounded or stored elsewhere. Beecher said the building would allow secure storage of vehicles and trailers and free up other county or partner storage space.

No construction contract was awarded at the meeting. Beecher said the Emergency Management Commission will decide whether to proceed and how to handle funding; the county commissioners only approved use of county property for the building. The board did not direct a specific funding mechanism beyond remarks indicating the emergency management budget and rollover funds would be considered.

The vote was advisory to permit siting on county property; final procurement, contractor selection and construction timeline were left to the Emergency Management Commission and the county commission’s future budget decisions.