The Worth County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6 voted to engage attorney Ryan Buske to serve as the county's drainage counsel, reappointed county engineer Rich Broom, and approved a package of routine resolutions and administrative rates.

The board unanimously approved a motion to engage Ryan Buske of Pocahontas, Iowa, as a drainage council advisor. Buske said he practices in Algona and has worked with local counsel Jim Hudson and drainage specialist Bob Goodwin; he offered to provide a formal resolution if the board preferred. "I don't claim to know everything, but I think I have the resources and the intellect to be able to find answers as they come about," Buske said during his introduction.

Votes at a glance
- Engage Ryan Buske as Worth County drainage counsel — motion approved by voice vote (ayes). Provenance: meeting introductions and engagement motion.
- Approve annual appointments and reappointments (Kathy Meyer to county board of health; Paul Furley to veterans commission; Mike Bode as lead commissioner; Cody Winter to conservation board; Joe Thompson to zoning board of adjustment; and multiple regional appointments) — motion approved by voice vote. Provenance: appointments slate.
- Reappoint Rich Broom as county engineer — motion approved by voice vote. Provenance: reappointment motion.
- Adopt Resolution 2026-01 (construction evaluation/master matrix for confinement feeding operation structures) — motion approved, roll-call ayes recorded; resolution to be posted to the county website. Provenance: master matrix discussion and roll call.
- Authorize county engineer to execute certificates of completion and final exceptions for farm-to-market projects and adopt right-of-way payment policy consistent with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Land Acquisition Policies Act — motion approved. The board approved recommended right-of-way multipliers and rates and specific compensation figures: fence removal $18/rod (barbed wire), $32/rod (woven wire); crop damage $1,400/acre for corn and $850/acre for other crops. Provenance: authorization and valuation discussion.
- Authorize the county auditor to pay certain bills during meeting adjournments (previously approved payroll, insurance, unemployment reports, emergency expenses) — approved. Provenance: auditor authorization segment.
- Approve payroll claims and a payroll increase for Joseph Beyer — motions approved. Provenance: payroll segments.
- Designate official newspapers (North At Anchor and the Manly Junction Signal), set the federal mileage reimbursement rate at 72.5¢ per mile, and raise the meal reimbursement rate from $38 to $42 per day — motions approved. Provenance: administrative rates discussion.

Why it matters
The votes finalize a set of routine but operationally important items that determine who provides legal and engineering oversight for county drainage and infrastructure work, how the county values right-of-way and crop damages for road projects, and standard reimbursement rates that affect county travel and per-diem expenses. The master matrix decision carries agricultural permitting implications for confinement feeding operations regulated at the county level.

What comes next
Staff will post the adopted master matrix resolution on the county website, the county engineer will proceed with executing certificates of completion for farm-to-market projects as authorized, and the auditor will implement the new administrative rates. The board also scheduled further budget/workshop discussions where compensation and staffing timing will be revisited.