[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6120188,"mediaKeyId","2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300","parentId",2709002,"title","Supervisors approve copier lease for planning department, vacate excess county right of way near Sloan","audioSeconds",198,"startMs",563000,"endMs",761000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300&start=563&end=761","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300/thumbnail_563000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120188/Woodbury-County/Iowa/Supervisors-approve-copier-lease-for-planning-department-vacate-excess-county-right-of-way-near-Sloan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120188-56c836b8f09dfec47dea26a0ad8d156f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158946&Signature=BhIUXb~J508UfIEDxNe9p8siREclvy89ozElJqXjqsDqDY8S~Ch-AA3WbvO5ZWMgCkrih3LUVrLm4C6X9tUCkj~MhrJWHly0F9nF8Yc2WFedN3sMpVTwUYjI1XeAsdQ0xTwWaFdSV9RRsroaDbpkgtzRnYF8S~1mKCBfFrZO~SfvCvDIRfQS8q7b9scZsIqKOzhEg15irSLNecVG4FUupoVxu1IqUGyePRF3qY4yVUCsXmMWPwHdwWigLFhGTz2Nfqk2KV-ZNYEjAKIevWB4p-3MMkKu4r7oqhhtK6gH6-A6Qu5rkrC9K8FZDx9X3XuPodf~1F4nijkbVxgvc8K11w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Woodbury County, Iowa","date","2025-03-20T11:30:26.96Z","article","The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors approved a lease and maintenance agreement for a copier for the Planning and Zoning Department and passed a resolution to vacate excess county right of way near Highway 141 west of Sloan.

Daniel Priestley, speaking for Planning and Zoning, recommended a lease with Access Systems after an analysis of printing costs. Priestley said an earlier vendor quote had resulted in a higher projected annual expense, and that Access Systems offered a fixed rate that staff judged more stable for budgeting.

Secondary Roads Director Laura Severs presented a resolution to vacate county road property created when Highway 141 was realigned in the 1960s; the parcel is currently still held as county property and a building has been constructed on it. Severs said the adjacent property owner requested the vacation so the land can be returned to the original parcel.

Why it matters: The copier lease is intended to reduce ongoing printing costs in planning operations that support the zoning commission and board of adjustment. The right‑of‑way vacation formalizes ownership in a case where an old county alignment left unused county property and a structure has been built on the strip.

Action and vote
- The board approved the planning‑department copier lease and maintenance agreement (motion by Supervisor Nelson; second by Supervisor Dietrich). Vote: 5–0.
- The board approved a resolution to vacate excess county right of way near Highway 141 west of Sloan (motion by Supervisor Nelson; second by Supervisor Bittinger). Vote: 5–0.

Ending
Both measures passed unanimously. Staff said the planning department will execute the lease and secondary roads will proceed with documentation for the right‑of‑way vacation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-03-18 Board of Supervisors Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Board approved a lease and maintenance agreement for a planning‑and‑zoning copier and approved a resolution vacating an excess county right of way near Highway 141 west of Sloan.","taxTitle","taxId",3851,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120193,"Woodbury County honors two long‑time sheriff’s department employees on retirement",144,143000,287000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300&start=143&end=287","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6120193/Woodbury-County/Iowa/Woodbury-County-honors-two-longtime-sheriffs-department-employees-on-retirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120193-66217268ef6c58b09baa7b5f35da54f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158946&Signature=MB4TOR90oGpeVLCCd-wbZaHM~D5xjpiN5MdJNID0PeGErv9fwysUaewG3kfztTHyLGRhYot1cyGPHJx-yPl0ULtd2xegvPWf32RuWr~wiYc7TUtwYoqh6h1RtvDGRq5GJYvJnOscWHdb9AjLsIWqr9rq5ApdYeUojO4kHFq3qkUsgB5HXSvGeQe4gJ3yM6ylKlc5~YGFly~4QDstOO2olCTb26onCGtxRsxhTRnYixJXvYlI6kGF07nq1avvp8UGg6ixzHTY-tZd6IACF1IyuqU2ES7oe~spjn3lPQzbv65Mmrvma2E3y7HXK9o~PvFMKiqGe5Pt3iYVFhJwqr3zMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors read resolutions honoring Mary Feiler and Randy Ewell for long service to the County Sheriff’s Department and presented certificates at the board meeting.

The board read a resolution noting that Mary Feiler served Woodbury County for 41 years from Aug. 6, 1984, to April 7, 2025, and that Randy Ewell served for 38 years from Aug. 3, 1987, to April 30, 2025. Supervisors thanked both employees and invited them forward for photographs and brief remarks.

Why it matters: The board formally recognized two long‑tenured public‑safety employees, noting their roles in multiple facility transitions and their contributions to the sheriff’s office and the community.

Details and remarks
Supervisor comments at the dais highlighted Feiler and Ewell’s institutional knowledge and service through multiple local corrections facility moves. One supervisor said the two “have outlived the life of the previous LEC” and thanked them for staying on to help with the transition to the county’s new law enforcement center. Both employees accepted the board’s thanks; Mary Feiler said, “It’s been a long ride,” and noted she had reached personal goals of completing 40 years and working in a third jail. Board members and colleagues offered applause and photographs.

Ending
The board’s reading of the resolutions was followed by brief remarks and photos; no further action was recorded at the meeting.","Supervisors read resolutions thanking Mary Feiler and Randy Ewell for decades of service to the County Sheriff's Department and presented them at the board meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120198,"Woodbury County supervisors confront $2.6 million shortfall; agree to keep several improvement requests in budget",277,815000,1092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300&start=815&end=1092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709002-76ecb579e2c5cad29b4c3cb943f38300/thumbnail_815000.jpg","/articles/6120198/Woodbury-County/Iowa/Woodbury-County-supervisors-confront-26-million-shortfall-agree-to-keep-several-improvement-requests-in-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120198-dde9a3da483a62d6261967b3c821ac57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158946&Signature=ZgFUuu6ecRT3wY-Hw37vquVrwPPOYsefatMDS-4O5KRK~1PEBIN0p4dNdxhCuSykVBm4TWkRysXMLGVp1Jg4qlpxM7SRuHc5w4kc7PxD3sqW9800hMF1QA65uIO~IKFIOjUu5Hcl4OblSRJMtLdWgWk~2k5q7kjNSWMOjVgj4WjPu0clRpobOuk0L1Kpl9kPzuipt5CQlFTS1RRmwizr62s2Zu8GN~wVwv1YCE8sCgIVCk3PEIGSs~nZpJ4ADzQ7lQYp4bkdM-62CJ6HteXQ3cUdsOUBgSrnG3bwoCiYFgdLMYr-p7y4Eyl8CGQJO7kQzf1Izwixg8drYi8XH7BmXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors reviewed a projected Fiscal Year 2026 shortfall and voted to keep several department improvement requests in the draft budget while looking for offsets to avoid cuts to core services.

County Auditor Michelle Scaff told the board that “after removing all of the improvement requests, last week, our fund 1 deficit is $1,820,434,” and that the county’s total shortfall across several funds was about $2,641,865. Scaff said officials had identified about $104,000 that could be removed from basic funds and that the county had published maximum levy figures the public has begun receiving.

The discussion focused on whether to fund personnel requests that departments said were needed to preserve services. Supervisors approved several items individually, including the treasurer’s seven improvement requests and a communications-center training position that county leaders said is critical to 911/dispatch operations.

Why it matters: The board signaled a preference to avoid deauthorizing positions where possible and instead to seek temporary offsets — including unspent fiscal‑year 2025 funds, a possible hiring freeze on selected vacancies and a potential one‑time transfer — to reduce the structural deficit. Supervisors emphasized the consequences for rural services and public safety if revenue or reserves fall further.

Most important facts
- Auditor Michelle Scaff presented fund-by-fund shortfalls: a Fund 1 deficit of $1,820,434; a general supplemental deficit of $727,630; and a rural basic shortfall of $93,801. Scaff described the combined figure as about $2,641,865 (expenses vs. revenues for FY26, not counting beginning balances).
- The board was told there is a potential of up to roughly $500,000 in unspent FY25 funds that could be used to bolster reserves; county staff will verify how much of that is realistic.
- Supervisors kept a proposed E‑911 training position in the draft budget (county share under roughly $30,000, per discussion) and approved seven treasurer improvement requests that officials said would be covered by projected fee increases in the treasurer’s office.
- The board discussed, but did not adopt at this meeting, possible increases to the county levy to close deficits. Scaff said the published “maximum levy” figures with the improvement requests included would have resulted in levies shown to taxpayers; those figures will be adjusted as items are removed.

What the board voted on (selected motions)
- Approved the treasurer’s seven improvement requests (motion by Supervisor Bittinger; second by Vice Chairman Nelson). Vote: 5–0.
- Approved retaining an E‑911 communications training position in the budget (kept in projections; motion to retain carried as part of budget actions). Vote: recorded as unanimous for putting it back in the draft projections.
- The board agreed to pursue verification of up to $500,000 in unspent FY25 funds and asked staff to return with firm numbers next week.

Details and department presentations
Michelle Scaff, Woodbury County Auditor, walked the board through the numbers and explained that published maximum levy notices had been mailed with improvement requests included. Scaff said the maximum levy with improvement requests shown to taxpayers would be about 7.38931 for urban residents and 9.8824 for rural residents (figures are for the county portion shown on mailed notices and will be updated as the board alters the budget).

Tina (County Treasurer) explained that legislative fee increases, effective Jan. 1, 2025, have generated additional projected revenue for FY26 and said that the office expects to recover the cost of clerical upgrades through increased fee activity. Treasurer staff estimated that, with controlled printing volumes, the annual cost under the recommended copier/printer contract would be roughly $3,235 compared with higher alternatives.

Wendy, Communications Center Director, described staffing and training stress at the dispatch center and urged the board to keep the proposed training position. “It’s been a long ride,” Wendy said, adding later, “We tell people how to do CPR. We tell people how to administer Narcan on overdoses.” She and other department representatives explained turnover trends and the training burden for existing staff.

Sheriff’s office representatives (including Chad and Captain Peterson) said four requested correctional officer positions would be used as federal transport officers if approved; they noted current vacancies and said they would reassign staff if positions were not funded. The sheriff’s office acknowledged it could delay hires but warned of impacts on other services.

Board direction and next steps
Board members asked staff to return next week with firm figures on the following items: the exact amount of unspent FY25 dollars available to transfer, the financial impact of selectively freezing certain open positions, and levy‑increase scenarios (including the effect on a hypothetical taxpayer assessed at a representative value). The board agreed to consider a targeted hiring freeze (defunding positions temporarily but not deauthorizing them) in order to preserve services while avoiding immediate layoffs.

Ending
Supervisors emphasized that decisions do not reflect a judgment of employees’ merit but rather the constraints of revenue and state policy changes affecting county budgets. The board scheduled follow‑up budget work for the next meeting and asked staff to prepare clear public communications about levy and budget options.","County officials reviewed Fiscal Year 2026 budget shortfalls, considered improvement requests and hiring freezes, and voted to keep several department requests in the draft budget while exploring reserves and other offsets.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors approve copier lease for planning department, vacate excess county right of way near Sloan

Woodbury County honors two long‑time sheriff’s department employees on retirement

Woodbury County supervisors confront $2.6 million shortfall; agree to keep several improvement requests in budget