Supervisors set May 27 hearing; staff flag urgent HVAC work at EMS facility

The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors set the date and time for its second FY2024–25 budget amendment hearing for May 27 at 8:30 a.m. The motion to set the hearing carried unanimously. County staff emphasized the publication deadline for the budget amendment and said cost estimates must be ready quickly to meet the newspaper deadline.

During the meeting county staff reported an urgent maintenance issue at the EMS facility: two heating and air‑conditioning units serving Building 1995 have failed and staff recommended replacement. Staff said the building sits on hospital property but the county owns the building and pays utilities through a separate meter arrangement with the hospital; the hospital bills the county for the county’s measured usage. Staff indicated the units are air‑to‑air heat pumps with electric backup and recommended replacing both units and evaluating gas backup options to reduce long‑term operating expense. Staff asked to get price estimates immediately so a budget amendment could be prepared for publication in time for next week’s legal notice.

The board also acknowledged interfund transfers reported by the auditor: a transfer from General Basic to Secondary Road for $15,782.58 and a transfer from Rural Basic to Secondary Road for $113,293.90 made May 1. The auditor noted the county’s call- and other non‑tax revenue was about $10,000 above projection as of May 1 and that, even with the expected budget amendment, the year should end with a positive fund balance. Supervisors discussed timing constraints for amendments (noting limits after May 31) and agreed staff should supply cost estimates for the HVAC work promptly so the amendment can be published on time.

Votes at a glance: the board approved setting the public hearing for the FY24–25 budget amendment for May 27 at 8:30 a.m. (motion carried unanimously) and acknowledged the auditor’s reported transfers.