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Chickasaw County supervisors adopt 90-day road embargo, set raises and open ambulance bids for review
Summary
At a March 16 meeting in New Hampton, the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors adopted a 90-day blanket road embargo, opened sealed RFPs for a new ambulance for later review, approved a 4% raise for the county engineer and approved several routine licenses and contracts.
The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors met March 16 in New Hampton and adopted a 90-day blanket embargo allowing the county engineer to close secondary roads to vehicles exceeding a five-ton axle weight amid inclement weather.
The resolution (No. 03-16-26-16) — adopted unanimously — cites Iowa Code sections 321.236(8), 321.255 and chapters 321.471–321.473 and exempts implements of husbandry. The resolution permits the county engineer to issue limited exemptions for rapid-spoilage farm produce, certain farm feeds or home heating fuel when needed.
Supervisors also opened sealed bids for a replacement ambulance. The bids recorded at the meeting were: North Central Emergency Vehicles, $329,765 less an indicated trade-in of $33,000 (net $296,765); Legacy Emergency Vehicles, $270,814 less trade-in $33,500 (net $237,314); and Feld Fire, $259,227 (price listed as including trade-in). EMS Director Joel Knutson will review the proposals and recommend an award at a future meeting.
The board approved several personnel and administrative items: adding additional summer staff to the Secondary Roads department (hires must be at least 18 and hold a valid driver’s license); a 4% raise for County Engineer Roman Lensing following the annual performance evaluation; and approval of new language to the county Confidentiality Statement, to be emailed to department heads with a March 30, 2026 return deadline.
Other business approved by motion included authorizing the chair to sign a Drive Thru Services agreement for Alta Vista billed at $17.30 per capita based on a population figure of 227 for FY 2026–27; approving a Class C Retail Alcohol License for Plum Creek Golf Course Association for an eight-month period effective April 1, 2026; and adopting a 4% Alternate Health Care Plan for FY 2026–27 while leaving the budgeted 6% contribution unchanged on FY 2026–27 budgets.
The board also directed the County Attorney to draft a resolution to limit elected officials’ offices to one deputy position and reached consensus to budget a 4% wage increase for the Veteran’s Service Administrator. The meeting concluded with no committee assignments and adjournment at 11:43 AM.
Votes at a glance: most motions recorded “roll call — all ayes.” The minutes record one abstention: Chair Jacob Hackman abstained on approval of the March 10 minutes.
The board did not award the ambulance contract at this meeting; the EMS director’s forthcoming recommendation will be considered at a future session.
