Wright County supervisors approve wage adjustment, receive infrastructure updates after Eagle Grove fiber cut

The Wright County Board of Supervisors on July 21 approved a wage adjustment for a Communications Center employee, received quarterly financial reports, approved an Iowa Department of Transportation detour agreement for a bridge project and heard updates on road, bridge and FEMA-related work following a countywide fiber cut that briefly disrupted 911 service.

The supervisors present for the regular session were Ashley Bosch (present via telephone), Nick Rasmussen, Dean Clouse, Ben Leaf and Betty Ellis. Auditing and administrative items were presented by the Wright County auditor and county staff.

Why it matters: The wage adjustment affects staffing levels in the county Communications Center that handles 911 calls. The fiber cut and resulting service interruption illustrate vulnerabilities in county communications infrastructure that can affect emergency operations.

The board approved a wage increase for a Communications Center employee who began work in April; staff said the increase was tied to a prior decision to raise starting wages and to the employee's progress through required training. The motion to approve the adjustment carried with all supervisors voting in favor.

The board also received the quarterly revenue report from the Wright County auditor and the semiannual report from the county treasurer. Wright County Assessor Tony Nicholas presented homestead and exemption applications (including 65-plus homestead and disabled-veteran exemptions) for the board to allow or disallow as recommended; the board acted on the assessor's recommendations.

The supervisors approved an Iowa DOT detour agreement for a bridge replacement project on Highway 3 (project referenced in the minutes) and recorded the motion as carried.

Communications staff reported that a fiber conduit run in Eagle Grove was cut on Thursday, which disrupted phone lines and forced the county to defer 911 calls to Humboldt County until service was restored around 12:30 a.m. ICN staff said a conduit collapsed while contractors pumped water out of the duct beneath a railroad crossing; county staff said the conduit collapse and subsequent reroute under the railroad caused delays. The county engineer noted the railroad sought documentation about an easement between the communications company and the railroad.

Wright County Engineer Adam Funman updated the board on road and bridge work: crews are performing FEMA work, hauling gravel for the county's four-year rotation, and addressing work orders and spot hauling at locations northwest of town. He said bridge work is ongoing but dependent on weather and water-levels; one bridge project south of town remains delayed pending receding water. Funman confirmed shouldering and miscellaneous repairs are being done on an as-needed basis.

Other routine business included discussion of quarry and pit sources for gravel, miscellaneous road patching, and authorization to proceed with various requested projects.

The board adjourned at the end of the session; no contested votes or litigation items were recorded in the minutes.