Worth County supervisors fix DD 14 assessment schedule after state confirmed responsible for Highway 65

The Worth County Board of Supervisors, acting for Drainage District No. 14, unanimously approved an amended assessment schedule March 30 after an engineer clarified which government entity is responsible for a segment of Highway 65.

Jacob Hagen, an AgriVia engineer, told the board the assessment schedule previously listed Highway 65 as the City of Northwood’s responsibility. "Jacob explained what happened as far as changes that needed to be made to the assessment schedule that was presented previously to the board," Hagen said, adding that after consulting Attorney Jim Hudson he concluded the State of Iowa is responsible for that portion.

Chair Enos Loberg recessed the regular meeting to open a public hearing on the DD 14 reclassification. The board recorded roll-call votes to open and close the hearing; Supervisors Mark Smeby, A.J. Stone and Chair Loberg voted yea on the recorded motions. No landowners appeared or provided comment during the hearing.

After closing the hearing, the board considered the engineer’s report and adopted a motion by Vice-Chair A.J. Stone, seconded by Supervisor Mark Smeby, to fix the assessment schedule to reflect the state’s responsibility for Highway 65. The motion passed by unanimous roll call. The board then adjourned at 10:33 a.m.

Attendees listed in the record included Chair Enos Loberg, Vice-Chair A.J. Stone, Supervisor Mark Smeby, Auditor Jacki Backhaus, Drainage Clerk Chelsey Doty, AgriVia engineer Jacob Hagen and Ryan Buske, listed as Drainage Attorney joining via Zoom. The minutes note that Attorney Jim Hudson advised that the State of Iowa, not the City of Northwood, should be assigned responsibility for the Highway 65 segment.

No next steps, further hearings, or deadlines related to the assessment schedule were recorded in the minutes.