[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6605825,"mediaKeyId","2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56","parentId",2983689,"title","Humboldt and Wright counties approve memorandum of understanding for joint drainage districts","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",3750000,"endMs",3916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56&start=3750&end=3916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56/thumbnail_3750000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605825/Humboldt-County/Iowa/Humboldt-and-Wright-counties-approve-memorandum-of-understanding-for-joint-drainage-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605825-ba0276e80220e3d5f538bcea3e8ef955/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594312&Signature=VsWSXfuhSd2OahuMY17lNdXFlww0mimpzAnSI5yh35ay3wAyKvl~c0jZV5SO73UgilB9TnsPnCa68tHrA5T0xIdypJaf7SKtBFDAp3GdL4oJ3mqVa9Q0SKbKEHH9Qt0egdQA4lyAXBlO~oFL11kaVT71F33jn4VDtrpg8mMfODzoNdatirizso~m4z8UwqRNQceGdRMg4e3J1QCxdEKCyRML2Z~nC1kPNdSjhgdaocW1E9B~U-eJb7luPOazavSI7lsXMo~xXn~KreZwH0~8bVE8j7gHK1Pe6~x1H5HOkhVwAsgQbhmpMbHB3qG~LaQeulXxEJ3Woo~X3LWIySr6IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Humboldt County","date","2025-04-14T16:23:11.44Z","article","Humboldt County supervisors and representatives from Wright County approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to coordinate work on joint drainage districts and authorize spending up to $15,000 per side for agreed work.

Dean Clues (Wright County supervisor) moved to approve the MOU concerning joint drainage districts; Mike Carpenter seconded the motion. The record shows both Wright County and Humboldt County voted \"Aye\" and the motion carried.

Why this matters: The MOU clarifies procedures and spending thresholds for joint drainage districts that cross county lines, and supervisors emphasized the importance of documentation and communication (work orders, photographs) so both counties know what work is underway.

Details from the meeting

- Scope and threshold: The MOU sets a threshold so each county can approve work up to $15,000 for joint drainage districts and requires that work orders be passed between counties with accompanying documentation.

- Documentation and oversight: Supervisors said they expect pre- and post-construction documentation — including photos — and operational coordination so each county has notice when joint work is planned or executed.

- Vote: Motion to approve MOU passed with affirmative votes from representatives of both Wright and Humboldt counties; no abstentions were recorded.

The MOU was approved at the meeting and will be used for future coordination on joint drainage district repairs and maintenance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Humboldt County Iowa Board of Supervisors Meeting 2025 04-07","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors in Humboldt and Wright counties approved a memorandum of understanding allowing each county to approve up to $15,000 on joint drainage matters, with documentation and work-order coordination required.","taxTitle","Humboldt County, Iowa","taxId",73084,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605831,"Renewables developer introduces team; county questions road use, repowering and decommissioning",549,1847000,2396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56&start=1847&end=2396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56/thumbnail_1847000.jpg","/articles/6605831/Humboldt-County/Iowa/Renewables-developer-introduces-team-county-questions-road-use-repowering-and-decommissioning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605831-e1e9ec37afd40bf5acfa7e3ec5d56537/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594312&Signature=Xy66LZCisohELkZ7vGGMVIw2mx~7~iQDNddnkNn1eVpDd1YYdGyo8KqjF8H-YQO5TWjlK~atdwidbKoXHpOrdlDoHJVEd1qbjXZi8oUNroE6AyMJdauqnGKFH4eEJuKWXGKtG0WdQ30kWrkaI0IrhnI07oy9hHcCdN7iLAbnJIRC7WQAtp1oxgI0WRWzbar2lfhr3fX4-766Hz3M0ouIvk3kUIvEiBlzeVC-uyIDCbeS8HwlWJo-LxRbXpaqtGgw3ewYIAgos1YuIsbe7JopLJvuwV7bsqmjaEzPWZYK8NYvxYkvGS4qyFwmIsk4PJXB6PjZVEIlb41BBI3lYzKSmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives for a proposed wind project introduced a developer and community engagement staff at a Humboldt County meeting and answered supervisors’ questions about road impacts, repowering blade changes, decommissioning and whether federal subsidies were necessary for the project.

Bree (project liaison) introduced the new developer Sue Hill of RWA and consultant John Douglas. Sue Hill, who said she has about 15 years in the renewables business, told supervisors the project is privately funded and the company is researching county concerns such as long-term decommissioning and bankruptcy examples. “This is a privately funded project… Is it nice to have the extra money at the end of the subsidy? Sure. Any business would tell you that. Is it necessary to build this project? No,” Hill said.

Why this matters: Supervisors and residents asked how construction traffic and heavier loads from repowering (longer blades, taller towers) will affect county roads, and who would pay for restoring roads if a project operator later fails or declares bankruptcy.

What developers said and offered

- Road use agreements: RWA stressed the importance of pre-construction road surveys and written road use agreements that require restoration. \"There is no reason why we would ever leave somewhere worse than how we found it. The roads should be fully repaired or restored,\" Hill said. She described a process: county hires a professional to survey roads before construction, the company pays and repairs or improves roads to at least their prior condition after construction.

- Repowering and blades: Company staff said repowering projects sometimes use longer, tapered blades that increase rotor diameter and hub height; whether a given repower uses new blades depends on the project.

- Decommissioning and bankruptcy: Supervisors raised an example from another county where turbines could not be removed because a company was in bankruptcy court. Developers said they are researching other Iowa counties’ experiences and urged counties to use contractual protections. The company said its contracts \"carry\" with the project if sold and that landowner protections are written into leases and contracts.

- Subsidies and finance: Developers said federal incentives are helpful but not required. “Our projects can be built without them,” Hill said, adding the company has a long history of building projects privately.

Community concerns and next steps

Residents and several supervisors expressed skepticism about road damage and about whether later owners would maintain the projects. Developers offered to examine local roads flagged by the county and to bring photographs and plans for road use agreements to future meetings. No formal approvals or binding agreements were made at the meeting.

Speakers asked that the company return with more specific mitigation proposals and examples from neighboring counties; developers said they would continue to gather information and attend future meetings.","Representatives for a proposed renewables project introduced themselves to Humboldt County supervisors and answered questions about road use agreements, repowering, decommissioning and project financing/subsidies.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605836,"Residents press county over large, uneven assessment increases; assessor outlines valuation process",4092,1047000,5139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56&start=1047&end=5139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983689-81730ae4c80e1294c839a16e9aa9cf56/thumbnail_1047000.jpg","/articles/6605836/Humboldt-County/Iowa/Residents-press-county-over-large-uneven-assessment-increases-assessor-outlines-valuation-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605836-678d2f7eca3f83cc7d7f6d65c6d1299a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770594312&Signature=Pz0DOkykgFdTdfY6WI8qwAMzAIvZEbKIUnfqwV8olC6URjzhQ5j8v32y9AkxmTBnCTAmeGWfwjITvq1laHmIgL3Z4e2ZqXfBizw65qxJc4dk~bsXHeT6UYOdLUH3Tgb3HQqQPQJELIJrPkfjhbUG9QJRZSsPZmBH1-O7Ku~6in87LGzfz14oNuNZACFN-OSXPyxyrLpG4-~QXmwwLacexr0aeEXINgTPHfN8KHqtt46cUNy0yGWXeqS4n4OdxdBhFzZ46XxMiWoXjuLCV3HLT33gicPpB5oOWgN8n2GMUjQ1J5lYrPPlt9rHcufH4TX8slyKcAI~9q7-MwegVcksrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Humboldt County supervisors spent a large portion of a regular meeting hearing public complaints about sharply higher property assessments and a presentation from the county assessor outlining how values were set and what options property owners have to challenge them.

Residents told the board their assessments jumped by tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases while neighboring parcels saw smaller changes or declines. “I wanna be treated fairly, and that’s all,” said resident Richard Olsen, who said his business assessment rose about $100,000 this year while some nearby commercial properties fell in value.

Assessor Linda (Humboldt County assessor) told the board assessors use 12 months of sales data and state-produced productivity values to compute assessments, and that the Department of Revenue will apply a statewide rollback that limits how much assessed-value increases translate into taxable value. “The Department of Revenue will recalculate the rollback rate to limit … across the state to 3%,” Linda said, explaining the distinction between assessed value and taxable value and noting the county does not set tax rates.

Why this matters: Residents face higher assessed values now but the eventual change to individual tax bills depends on the state rollback percentage and next year’s levy rates. The assessor’s presentation showed agricultural productivity values and the mechanics used for residential, commercial and agricultural classes; residents asked how appeals and Board of Review or PAV (Property Assessment Appeal Board) hearings work.

Key details and county responses

- Multiple residents reported large, inconsistent assessment changes: one said a business assessment rose by about $100,000 while a nearby property decreased by $100,000; another cited a house assessed near $1.6 million though construction and market figures differed.

- Assessor Linda summarized class-level changes: agricultural values rose (she said about a 35% increase in the ag productivity-based calculation, with CSR-based rates cited moving from $25.45 to $35.50 per CSR point), an ag building factor change to 74% (meaning ag buildings are valued at about 26% of replacement cost after depreciation), and other recalibrations for residential and commercial classes.

- Sales ratio statistics presented: the assessor cited metrics including a residential median near 99.01 after revaluation, a coefficient of dispersion of roughly 25 (the assessor noted coefficients above 20 indicate potential inequities that require attention), and a price-related differential (PRD) of about 1.11; she explained what those indices mean for equality of assessments across value ranges.

- Appeals and evidence: Linda described appeal options (local board review, PAV) and said assessors must rely on available market sales; where sales are scarce, appraisals or cost/replacement analyses can be used. She urged owners to bring appraisals or allow staff to inspect interior quality when appropriate, saying, “Assessors are allowed to estimate under these circumstances. It may turn out that the estimate is wrong. And if so, then corrections can be made upon proper proof.”

- Timing and uncertainty: the assessor emphasized the county cannot predict an individual taxpayer’s final bill because levy rates and the state’s rollback calculation will determine taxable value; she said '25 assessments will affect bills payable in fall 2026 and spring 2027.'

What supervisors said and next steps

Supervisors acknowledged constituent frustration and suggested scheduling a work session with the assessor to review specific cases. Board members and staff offered to meet 1-on-1 with residents to review property record cards and identify errors; the assessor said she will accept appointments and correct obvious factual errors when supported by documentation.

The board did not take any formal action on assessments at the meeting; residents were advised to consider protests and formal appeals if they disagree with their assessments.","Humboldt County residents raised concerns about large, uneven increases in property assessments during public comment. County Assessor Linda explained how values and rollbacks are calculated, described appeal routes and gave detailed figures on recent valuation changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Humboldt and Wright counties approve memorandum of understanding for joint drainage districts

Renewables developer introduces team; county questions road use, repowering and decommissioning

Residents press county over large, uneven assessment increases; assessor outlines valuation process