Pocahontas County supervisors adopt drainage assessments, approve dairy permit and sign multi-city 28E policing agreement

Pocahontas County supervisors on May 19 adopted a resolution levying assessments for county drainage districts, approved a permit for Dutchland Dairy Co., and signed a two-year 28E law-enforcement agreement with five small cities, the board’s meeting minutes show.

The actions were taken during the regular session held in the Supervisors Room at the Pocahontas County Courthouse. Chairman Louis Stauter and Supervisors Peter Seehusen, Clarence Siepker, Kyle Smith and Brent Aden voted unanimously on all recorded motions.

The drainage action: The board adopted Resolution 2026-05-24 after determining that available funds for certain drainage districts are insufficient to meet obligations and to pay outstanding warrants. Auditor Nita Hinrickson said the resolution levies a percentage of the latest classification schedule against lands in affected districts and sets assessment due dates and waiver rules. The resolution’s text, as entered in the minutes, sets the assessment date as of May 19, 2026 and lists assessments as due and payable by Sept. 30; the printed resolution text also includes a reference to Sept. 30, 2025, which appears to be a clerical inconsistency in the record. The board adopted the resolution by recorded roll call (Seehusen, Siepker, Stauter, Smith, Aden — ayes).

Why it matters: Drainage assessments can result in additional levies on farmland and other property within drainage districts; the adopted resolution also describes waiver eligibility for certain parcels and includes a schedule of assessed percentages and levied totals in the meeting record.

Dairy permit and building plans: The board reviewed building plans and a master matrix for a proposed Dutchland Dairy Co. facility. Supervisor Peter Seehusen reported a matrix score of 440 points; after discussion the supervisors approved the construction permit application for Dutchland Dairy Co.

28E law-enforcement agreement: Auditor Hinrickson said Rolfe’s city attorney provided recommended edits to the county’s draft 28E agreement; the county forwarded those recommendations to the County Attorney and the sheriff. The board voted to sign a two-year 28E law-enforcement agreement with Gilmore City, Havelock, Palmer, Plover and Varina and adopted Resolution #2026-05-25 authorizing the agreement. Hinrickson said participating cities will be billed annually in July.

Roads, equipment and hiring: County Engineer Tate Schmeling reviewed the remaining FY2026 equipment fund balance, discussed ongoing projects and said the road department will trial high-performance storm pipes for some future entrance/culvert work. The board set a fuel-bid letting for June 16 at 10:05 a.m. and approved posting an ad for summer help in the engineer’s office.

Personnel and finance items: The supervisors approved creating a separate fund to track a $3,000 VA grant, accepted a $10,000 contribution from Humboldt toward a mental-health liaison position, and approved a $0.50-per-hour raise for the new Public Health office coordinator. The board denied a request to suspend taxes pending receipt of additional information from the Treasurer’s office.

Other business: The board approved four manure management plans for local feedlot/finisher sites, appointed Bolten & Menk as engineer for design and construction oversight of the Winkler and St. Sebastian wetland projects, and received routine weekly reports from supervisors.

Next steps: The county will open fuel bids on June 16 and proceed with implementation steps identified in the approved resolutions and permits. The full drainage assessment schedule and the text of adopted resolutions are available from the Auditor’s office on request.