The Webster County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new fire alarm system to be installed at the Department of Human Services building, 330 First Ave. N.

The system will be installed by Proshield Fire & Security, of Waterloo, at a cost of $7,368.75.

“The control board for the fire alarm system is not working, so it’s imperative that we get the system up and running,” said Supervisor Bob Thode. “This is also within the same systems that our other buildings have. That’s why this is the only one that was picked.”

A resolution was also unanimously approved for appropriation changes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year for the management information systems department.

“The MIS department is short $34,248 on their budget for FY 24-25,” said Budget and Finance Director Deena McCaulley. “It would all come out of the general basic fund service area 9 from different departments that will not be using the funds by the end of the year.”

Andy McGill, information technology director for Webster County, explained that the budget shortfall is the result of increased vendor fees, vacation days and the remainder of the salary of a recently retired employee, and additional expenses in offsite contracts. McGill told the supervisors that he is also working to decrease costs for the upcoming fiscal year.

The supervisors also placed on file agreements with the Webster County Teamsters Local 238 and Public Professional and Maintenance Employees Local 2003.

The agreement with the Webster County Teamsters 238 is specific to the deputy sheriffs and notes that the union is the “sole and exclusive bargaining representative” for the deputies, sergeants, and lieutenants.” The agreement states that employees will be covered under the countrywide group health insurance, are eligible for 108 hours of holiday pay per calendar year, and that the normal work period is 14 consecutive days with employees assigned to 12-hour shift schedules.

The agreement with the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees, Local 2003 is specific to secondary roads employees and includes all full-time employees of the Webster County Secondary Roads Department, except the county engineer, assistant engineer, maintenance superintendent, and clerical employees. In the agreement, employees are required to work 40 hours per week Monday through Friday with overtime paid at time and one-half. Employees are covered under the county’s PTO program as well as for paid holidays and funeral leave. The agreement also detailed grievance procedures, which require problems to be reported within five working days of the occurrence.

“The folks in our unions are hard-working, highly-respected professionals who contribute so much to making Webster County a better place to live, work, and play,” said Supervisor Niki Conrad. “They keep us safe in a number of ways. Beyond that, though, they’re good people who simply want to be treated fairly. So my thanks to them for respectful and thoughtful negotiations.”

The supervisors also approved payment of $28,741 to McClure Engineering, of Fort Dodge, for professional services on the Webster County Canadian National and Union Pacific Railroad rail spurs at the ag park called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation.