Kossuth County approves Phase I archaeology, sets April 29 reclassification hearing for DD 60 Sub 4

Kossuth County supervisors voted to hire an archaeological firm to run a Phase I review for the DD 60 Sub 4 drainage improvement and set a reclassification hearing for 8 a.m. on April 29 in the county boardroom.

At the board meeting, Tyler (staff member) told supervisors the county received two bids for the desktop archaeological assessment. He said Bear Creek Archaeology of Creston quoted $2,740 with a roughly one-month turnaround; another firm quoted $3,570 with a two- to four-week timeline. “I guess my recommendation is to have Bear Creek Archaeology do the desktop archaeological assessment for $2,740, and then go from there,” Tyler said. Supervisors approved that recommendation by voice vote.

Tyler also presented the recommended reclassification schedule for the main tile of DD 60 Sub 4. He said the engineer’s estimate for the overall improvement originally was about $4.4 million but that final costs and rounding produced a proposed assessment total of $2,900,000 for the main tile on the reclassification schedule. Tyler said the report includes classifications computed from elevation, soils and drainage-area data and that the schedule shows each parcel’s “ratio to total cost,” which is the figure landowners should use to estimate their likely assessment.

Supervisors discussed the timing of bidding. Several board members said they preferred to wait until the archaeological assessment is complete before putting the project out for contractors, to avoid adding uncertainty into bid documents and pricing. One supervisor said waiting “is probably the cleaner option.” Tyler said if the desktop assessment finds no issues, the county can revisit bidding; if the assessment flags concerns, further investigation could be required before work could proceed.

The board also approved setting the reclassification public hearing — the formal step for landowners to review and object to the proposed assessment schedule — for 8 a.m. April 29. Tyler said notices will include the schedules required by code and be published in the county newspaper in advance of the hearing.

Supervisors said they would review the archaeological report when available and then decide whether to advertise for bids or wait until the full permit is issued. Tyler said the project remains subject to permitting requirements and that the desktop assessment is intended to reduce the chance of later delays.

The board’s action authorizes the Phase I (desktop) archaeological assessment and establishes the public hearing date for reclassification. No construction contract was awarded at the meeting.