×

Humboldt supervisors postpone action on Jacobson’s contract

DAKOTA CITY — The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors postponed the renewal of the county engineer’s contract at Monday’s board meeting.

The engineer’s contract is up for renewal every year at this time. Last year the board renewed Engineer Paul Jacobson’s contract, including a 3 percent raise, bringing his salary up to $100,000.

However, at the time the supervisors said they had some ideas and suggestions for Jacobson to consider. One of those was better communication between the board and the department about what work was being done. Other topics included the policies on driveways and snow removal.

At that time, Supervisor Bruce Reimers said if he felt Jacobson was dragging his feet he would not be in favor of renewing the contract next time.

The Board of Supervisors sets policy and the road department follows the policy, Jacobson has told the board.

As county engineer Jacobson’s duties include managing the secondary roads department and overseeing the employees involved in the administration, planning, maintenance, design and construction of the county road system.

The board voted unanimously to table action on the contract.

“We need to sit down with Paul and talk about changes we are looking at and get his input,” Board Chairman Rick Pedersen said. “I think we should do this at Paul’s convenience.”

“We will give him a chance to think about it a little bit and talk to us,” Pedersen said.

Because it involves a personnel matter Jacobson can ask for a closed session, he said.

Jacobson didn’t say when that meeting might take place.

Supervisor David Lee said President Donald Trumps’ proposed budget was discussed at a recent meeting of the MIDAS Council of Governments.

Proposed cuts include eliminating the Economic Development Administration, the Department of Agriculture Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant program, Federal Emergency Management Agency state and local grant funding, and a 31 percent cut in the Environmental Protection Agency. Department of Labor job training programs will also be cut.

Community Development Block Grant programs for cities will be eliminated.

“That is where they get their money for upgrading their sewer and water systems,” Lee said. “I don’t know what these cities and little towns are going to do for money.”

People are being urged to contact their congressmen to keep these programs alive, he said.

“They are cutting in some of the wrong places,” he said.

Pedersen said he attended a meeting last week of the Iowa Drainage District Association in Pocahontas. While the Des Moines Waterworks lawsuit against drainage districts in Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties over nitrate pollution in the Raccoon River has been thrown out, “that doesn’t mean they are not going to appeal it. They have up to 30 days to appeal,” he said.

The IDDA has attorney fees that have yet to be paid resulting from the suit.

Member counties, including Humboldt, have pledged $5,000 a year for three years to help with the fees for defending the three counties. If there are any funds left over those fundswill be refunded back to the counties, Pedersen said.

“Obviously there is lots of dollars involved here,” Pedersen said. “We will see how it plays out in the next 30 days.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today