The Webster County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the dedication of the River’s Edge Discovery Center to Webster County Conservation Director Matt Cosgrove during Tuesday’s meeting.

“Thank you so much for this amazing honor,” said Cosgrove. “Thank you for your support. As you know, I work with a very talented team and they deserve the credit for this.”

Now named the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center, the new environmental and conservation education facility is open to the public at 20 N. First St. and saw tremendous crowds during the weekend open houses.

The Board also approved the transfer of $58,990.51 from the Conservation Department’s 2023-2024 general fund to the Conservation Trust Fund for additional fees, such as establishing internet, trash service and maintenance at the discovery center.

Also on Tuesday, the construction and installation of two 30,0000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tanks and five service nurse tank platforms were approved at the Landus location of 2054 120th St.

According to Jeff Johnson, planning and zoning administrator, the tanks will be located to the south of the existing building on-site. Located at the corner of U.S. Highway 169 and 120th Street, the tanks will be placed 150 feet from the highway’s 300-foot right-of-way and 275 feet from the paved portion. Johnson said the closest structure outside of Landus is a family home located more than a quarter mile away.

The county’s Five-Year Program was amended to include connecting the Badger Trail to the Three Rivers Trail. The construction project was added to fiscal year 2028 and is estimated to cost $2.4 million, with $750,000 being provided at this time by a federal grant.

The supervisors accepted the resignation of Tom Dorsey, who has served as commissioner of the Webster County Veteran Affairs Department for 16 years.

New commissioners David London, term ending Dec. 31, 2024, James Peterson, term ending Dec. 31, 2027, and Lois Fevold, term ending Dec. 31, 2026, were named.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me to serve Webster County veterans,” said Dorsey. “There’s a time to sow and a time to reap, and I think it’s a good time, and I’m being replaced by three good people.”

During the meeting, the supervisors also recognized recent retirees of the county and honored them with plaques. Retirees include Kathleen Hay, who worked for the treasurer’s office for 43 years; Allison Ripperger, who retired from the IT department after 39 years; Shelly Escobedo, who retired from the county attorney’s office after 15 years of service; Dan Hofbauer, who retired from the secondary roads department after 25 years; Duane Heun, who also retired from the secondary roads department following 24 years of service; and Ron Vought, who retired from the public health department after five years of work.

“It has been, although short-lived, an honor and a privilege to take on a position within this county,” said Vought. “I will miss it. I’ll miss my team. This has been an honor for me, and I count it a privilege to be part of this community and county.”

Also at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the board approved the hiring of Avery Hendrickson as a full-time communications dispatcher. Hendrickson will begin employment July 24 at a full-time hourly rate of $20.09.