Trustees agree to mail preliminary reclassification to Warren 11 landowners amid timing concerns

On April 7, 2026, the Story County Board of Supervisors, acting as drainage district trustees, voted to present and mail a preliminary reclassification report for the Warren 11 drainage district to landowners prior to the May bid letting.

Engineer Tyler Connley told trustees that a revised preliminary reclassification added a railroad parcel that had been omitted in the first draft. "We revised and resubmitted the preliminary reclassification values including the railroad," Connley said, and characterized the preliminary schedule as a modern approach that spreads assessments more equitably among benefited parcels.

Trustees discussed the procedural steps required to adopt a final reclassification: appointing commissioners to prepare a commissioner’s report, holding a public hearing not less than 40 days after the filing of a final reclassification report, and, if desired, levying the district before the end of May so assessments would be collectible that September. The board heard two timing imperatives: (1) landowners need time to digest potentially large changes in assessments and (2) the county has practical deadlines for levying districts to affect tax collections in the same calendar year.

Crystal Becker, a member of the public, urged trustees not to delay notice: "Why not get the classification the preliminary reclassification moving now? Let's not wait until we're almost done with the project and then go through this whole discussion again," she said, urging that landowners receive preliminary figures well before final decisions.

Other trustees expressed concern that sending preliminary figures that may change before final adoption could confuse landowners; trustees debated whether to appoint commissioners immediately or wait until closer to a final filing. Staff and trustees agreed to mail the preliminary reclassification to landowners and to schedule a public meeting to review the proposed final classification so affected owners would have opportunity to comment before any levy.

By motion, the board approved presenting the preliminary reclassification to Warren 11 landowners by mail prior to the bid letting. Trustees also discussed options if final reclassification could not be completed in time for a May levy: levy under the existing schedule (for limited items, such as engineering costs), levy a small interim amount to reduce a negative district balance, or defer a full levy until 2027.

Next steps: staff will mail the preliminary reclassification with clear labeling that the figures are preliminary; trustees directed staff and the engineer to begin identifying and, if appropriate, appointing commissioners to review the report and to set a public hearing consistent with the 40-day statutory interval.