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Humboldt supervisors review engineer’s position

DAKOTA CITY — The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors began a review of the county engineer position at Monday’s meeting.

Board members were given forms to fill out on the county engineer to be given back to Board Chairman Rick Pedersen, He and Supervisor Bruce Reimers will review the comments, see what changes were made since the last review six months ago and go over the results with the board and County Engineer Paul Jacobson.

Questions about the engineer’s performance came up earlier this year based on complaints from landowners.

“As a board we have reviewed in detail all policies and ordinances through work sessions and in board meetings, led to a few changes,” Jacobson said. ”I have provided and will continue to provide all the information that has been requested. The door is always open, we have talked about communication. I’m always available and the staff is always available.”

“I can’t do my job and always answer to the satisfaction of whoever is asking the questions because sometimes the answer is no and sometimes the answer is yes,” he said.

Jacobson said he hoped the board would consider multi-year contracts to add stability, continuity, consistency, and uniformity to himself and to the department staff.

“Instability leads to insecurity which complicates staff retention,” he said.

“Paul’s answers to the public are based on policy,” Pederson said. ”That is his job to follow the policy. We set policies, he follows them.”

In other business, the board accepted the formal report from McClure Engineering Co., of Fort Dodge, on an improvement in Sub Drainage No. 5 of Drainage District No. 11 northwest of Rutland.

The last time improvements were considered for the district was in 2011. In October of that year, a preliminary engineering report was prepared for possible improvements. The improvements were never constructed because the project was stopped by remonstrance. A majority of the landowners owning more than 75 percent of the land petitioned to have the project stopped.

In June, a new petition was filed for improvements. A relief tile running parallel to the main tile for about two miles was proposed. However some landowners objected to the estimated $1.2 million cost and suggested an alternative plan which would split the district in half and might cost less.

On Monday, Justin Miller with McClure Engineering Co. reported the alternative plan would result in only an estimated 6 percent reduction in the cost.

The board accepted the report and will seek advice from the drainage attorney about another petition requesting the board consider costs on a lesser capacity system for the district.

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