Worth County supervisors continue annexation hearing for Drainage District No. 10 after landowners raise objections

The Board of Supervisors of Worth County, Iowa, acting for Drainage District No. 10, opened a public hearing March 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. CST at the Worth County courthouse to consider annexing additional parcels into the district. Chair Enos Loberg called the meeting to order and members Mark Smeby and A.J. Stone voted to approve the day’s agenda.

Jacob Hagan, an engineer with AgriVia, told the board and attending landowners that annexation is the process used to determine which lands benefit from a drainage district and therefore should be assessed. Hagan said Drainage District No. 10 covers roughly 7,214 acres and includes a main tile and 17 lateral tiles and ditches. Hagan described AgriVia’s five-point benefit analysis, which evaluates each acre using elevation, distance, slope and soil data in GIS to determine whether a parcel is aided by the district’s facilities. “We study each acre individually using elevation and distance and soil data collected in GIS,” Hagan said.

Hagan reminded property owners that objections to the annexation schedule must be submitted in writing. Landowner Ken Tenold asked questions about how his land would be affected; Hagan displayed maps prepared in advance and explained that annexation would, among other things, give a parcel the right to connect to district tile if appropriate.

Two written objections were presented. Marion and Ronald Helgeson filed an objection and told the board they had not brought existing tile maps to the hearing; Ronald Helgeson said he did not believe his land would benefit from annexation. Hagan asked that the Helgesons provide tile maps at the next session so AgriVia and the board can reevaluate their claims.

Landowner Dave Djuren read a written objection on behalf of a 7-acre parcel he said “doesn't drain into the district” and therefore is not benefited. After reviewing the parcel information on the spot, Hagan told the supervisors he felt it was appropriate to remove that specific 7-acre parcel from the annexation schedule.

Because the Helgesons did not bring tile maps to substantiate or refute their objection, the board continued the annexation hearing to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Worth County courthouse to allow landowners to submit additional evidence. The minutes of the March 30 meeting were attested by Drainage Clerk Chelsey Doty.