Humboldt County supervisors approve right-of-way work, authorize DOT funding agreement for three safety curves and accept manure management update

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted to approve three permit or funding actions at Tuesday's meeting: a right-of-way permit that allows a landowner to connect a tile to an existing county tile (no direct outlet into the road ditch), a permit for Doyle Construction to work in the county right-of-way to install sanitary sewer liners and relocate manholes inside the City of Vogue, and a funding agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation to cover up to $3,345,654 for pavement and safety improvements at three county curves with higher accident histories. The board also accepted an annual manure management plan update for GLF Farms (MMP no. 60779).

Right-of-way tile connection

The board considered a request from Ron Thompson to perform work in the county right-of-way near Robert Hawks' property to locate and tie into an existing tile in the southwest ditch. County staff noted Humboldt County Ordinance 21 prohibits directly outletting tile into a road ditch (changing subsurface flow to surface flow) and that the plan is to find the existing tile and hook into it rather than outlet into the ditch. The board approved the permit by voice vote (motion carried; vote counts not specified). (Request by Ron Thompson; referenced ordinance: Humboldt County Ordinance 21.)

Doyle Construction permit for work in right-of-way

Doyle Construction — working for the City of Vogue — requested permission to dig in county highways (C-20 and P-33 / 130th Street and Iowa Avenue) to install sewer liners and relocate manholes inside city limits. County staff said the work will require a right-of-way permit and that the contractor is responsible for coordinating with utility owners and for restoring affected surfaces. The board approved the permit by voice vote. (Contractor: Doyle Construction.)

Iowa DOT funding agreement for curve improvements

The board approved a funding agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for pavement and safety improvements at three county curves identified as having higher accident rates: the bottom of Bulberdean Hill, curves south of Rutland and the curve west of Braggad at Avery Hill. The agreement covers up to $3,345,654; anything above that amount would be the county’s responsibility, the county engineer said. Proposed improvements include a 4-foot paved shoulder, widening, changing edge line striping from 4-inch to 6-inch, and adding rumble strips on the interior and exterior of the curves. County staff said the project will follow DOT bid/letting procedures; lighted chevrons were discussed but not included in the application.

Manure management plan

The board accepted the fourth-annual update to the GLF Farms manure management plan (MMP no. 60779) and placed it on file.

Votes and proceedings

All of the above motions were approved by voice vote with the board saying "Aye" and the chair declaring the motions carried. The transcript does not provide roll-call tallies or individual vote records.

Ending

County staff reiterated contractor responsibilities for cutting utilities and restoring roads, and supervisors directed staff to ensure county permitting and DOT letting processes are followed for the pavement project.