Fort Dodge Rotary Club
Niki Conrad, Webster County Supervisor for District 4 met with the Club on Monday to discuss changes at the Webster County Courthouse and to provide an overview of how the Supervisors will conduct their annual budget preparation that begins now and must be certified by the State in mid-March. Niki is beginning her sixth year as a supervisor and has seniority over her four counterparts representing various districts of the County. Comments were:
- This year the County will have a new Auditor (Club member Abrams) and two new Supervisors. Thus, she has begun having meetings with the three officials to review the budget process and to answer questions they may have. The Supervisors will also need to elect their next Chairperson.
- Webster County is often cited in state-wide meetings as to how well the City and County work together for the benefit of their citizens. Niki credited this success to by-monthly meetings between two Supervisors, two Council Members, limited staff from both governments, and any others needed to be included for project development. Essentially within the confines of the Iowa Open Meetings Law an attempt is made to share ideas, consider projects, common governance such as landfill, hazmat recovery, etc.
- The Ag-Park (Crossroads of Global Intervention) has current customers of Cargill, CJ Bio, and Valero. At any one time the Development Corporation has contact with approximately 20 industrial prospects that may or may not eventually build within the park.
- The annual education trip to DC is being planned by beginning the process of determining projects that can/should be touted to various Federal Agencies and to request regulatory assistance and potential funding. This year will be somewhat unknown as a new administration will begin after the first of the year.
- Nicki outlined the following budget process:
- January 1 - Begin discussions with County Department Staff to determine needs, potential scheduling, and funding sources. At this time each Department will present their annual budget request. Salaries and Secondary roads are two large monetary categories. An example of money saving is the Sheriff considering purchasing ankle monitors to be used on individuals sentenced for a limited number of days as the jail of overcrowded and outsourcing these offenders is expensive.
- Determine fiscal year salaries in light of available funds (tax revenues are held to a maximum 3% increase by State Law, which is difficult when inflation is running much higher. Something will need to be cut/reduced. Also, the salaries of elected officials are not set by the Supervisors, but by a state identified committee of local taxing bodies. The Supervisors only have power to lower but may not increase this recommendation.
- By early march have a balanced budget to begin required public input meetings.
- The Matt Cosgrove Discovery Center has been an overwhelming success and additional landscaping, development of native areas, and placement of jetties will continue by the Citty.
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