Wright County OKs amended road-use agreement for Twin Rivers seismic testing with $110,000 permit fee

On Aug. 7, 2025, the Wright County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the county road-use agreement with Twin Rivers Exploration LLC that sets a $110,000 permit fee and limits where seismic testing may occur, the board reported during a specially called meeting.

The amendment requires that no seismic testing take place within 250 feet of a bridge or within 25 feet of a roadway structure and requires monitoring of structure vibration so peak particle velocity (PPV) does not exceed 0.5 inches per second. Certificates of insurance had been filed with the Wright County engineer before the vote, according to meeting minutes. The motion to approve the amendment passed with Supervisor Lynn Lukes recorded as voting no and Supervisor Ashley Bosch absent; other supervisors voted in favor.

The change matters because the permit fee and setback conditions establish conditions aimed at protecting county roadway and drainage infrastructure while allowing Twin Rivers to complete seismic testing related to the Twin Rivers exploration project. County staff said the fee and monitoring requirement are intended to ensure damage, including drainage tile and crop damage not covered by insurance, can be addressed.

In related business at the Aug. 4 and Aug. 7 meetings, supervisors approved hiring and personnel certifications and declined a proposed increase in courthouse insurance coverage.

Personnel and administrative actions approved included a motion to hire a replacement full-time dispatcher with a start date of Sept. 15, 2025, at $24 per hour with a $0.25 increase after six months and another $0.25 after 12 months; certification of the appointment of Samuel Kane as deputy sheriff; and certification of the appointment of Shiloh Chloe Cherry as civil processor. The board also approved a courthouse-ground use application for the Community Development Association and passed two resolutions: Resolution 2025-27 designating voting representatives to the Iowa State Association of Counties and Resolution 2025-28 authorizing use of the county UEI number by the secondary roads department.

The board discussed increasing courthouse insurance from $15,000,000 to $30,000,000 but voted to decline Gabrielson Insurance's proposal and to maintain the current $15,000,000 coverage pending an ICAP evaluation of the courthouse's replacement cost.

Secondary roads staff gave a routine operations update: crews continue gravel hauling and culvert work, bridge inspections and repairs remain constrained by water levels at the Belmont Bridge, and paving on County Road R33 (from Holmes Corner toward Hamer’s Corner and crossing Highway 69) will begin with milling next Monday under pilot-car traffic controls. Staff said the contractor will mill about 3 inches and that the project will increase recycled material content in the pavement section. Officials asked contractors to avoid routing heavy traffic onto gravel roads where possible and said Heartland (Mason City) is the subcontractor for milling.

As drainage trustees, supervisors approved a $480 invoice to CGA for ditch communication and meetings and approved an invoice of $487.50 from Nymaster (drainage attorney) for work on a petition related to a proposed drainage district. The drainage trustees also participated by conference call in a public hearing with Webster County on the voluntary annexation and commissioners’ report of benefits for joint transfer case 46-92 and voted to accept the commissioners’ report of benefits.

The board adjourned after completing the agenda. Several items noted during discussion—such as monitoring arrangements for bridge and roadway structures during seismic testing and the county engineer’s recommendation to confirm infrastructure valuation with ICAP—were recorded as direction to rely on inspected evaluations and permit conditions. No additional contingency or follow-up reporting date was specified in the meeting minutes.