During open forum at the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors meeting, several residents raised drainage and notification concerns that drew extended discussion from supervisors and staff.

Residents’ complaints and requests: A landowner asked that Drainage District 92 (DD 92), and specifically a subreach referred to as "Lap 3," be cleared after repeated ponding following heavy rains. The landowner said they had been told by county staff to proceed with work and then later told not to proceed; the speaker requested clearer notification and the ability to submit a contractor estimate for the work. The complainant said the area behaves like an old lake bed and described recurring sloughing and ponding after storms.

County staff and supervisors responded: Road and drainage staff noted that earlier photo-based reviews suggested the outlet might be the problem and that in at least one instance county contractors had cleaned the outlet. Staff said the county would re-assess the site with drainage staff (Helgason referenced in discussion) and add the item to next week’s agenda for further action. Supervisors said private contracts and bids from local contractors could be considered and that easement or logistical challenges could affect what solutions are feasible.

DD 37 culvert and debris: Supervisors also noted debris and an old metal culvert left near a previously repaired outlet (reported as DD 37). Staff said they would bring the matter up with drainage staff for follow-up.

River log jams and DNR/AmeriCorps option: Staff described a potential coordinated effort with the Iowa DNR and a conservation corps to cut and remove large log jams and downed trees on the county’s water trail. The DNR contact said the cost for a conservation corps crew is roughly $5,000 per week, with DNR proposing to split costs 50/50; crews are typically booked but could be scheduled in spring. Supervisors asked to prioritize hazardous navigation spots and identify landowners; possible partnerships with local clubs were discussed.

Notification, transparency and records requests: A resident raised concerns about not receiving notice for a prior board-of-adjustments meeting and requested records of communications from county staff about who had been notified. Supervisors committed to putting the disputed item back on a future agenda and to asking staff (Matt) to provide a list of communication recipients. The resident indicated she may file a formal public records (FOIA) request; supervisors acknowledged the concern and the need to improve website and calendaring transparency.

Next steps: Supervisors directed staff to re-open certain drainage items on the agenda, coordinate with drainage staff for site visits, and compile notification records to respond to the resident’s request. The county will also explore scheduling conservation corps assistance for river cleanup in the spring and consider budgeting options for drainage work in the next year’s budget.