The Webster County Supervisors honored Recorder Lindsay Laufersweiler Tuesday after formally accepting her resignation. Laufersweiler announced June 8 that she will leave the Recorder’s Office on July 20 for a role outside of county government.

“She has been an integral part of our leadership team here at Webster County for many years,” said Supervisor Niki Conrad. “She championed digitization of records in the Recorder’s Office which was a huge project that she wanted to do for some time and got the funds together and was able to do it for Webster County. She always puts the county first and I thank her very much for her service and wish her well.”

“I’d just like to thank Lindsay,” said Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll. “She’s been here longer than I have and I’ve been here eight years. She’s done an excellent job in creating and maintaining and expanding electronic document recording in the Recorder’s Office. I’ve really enjoyed my professional working relationship with her and her office. She’s done a great job of training her staff there to carry on what she’s done in her tenure, and I just want to thank her for all that she’s done for Webster County and Webster County citizens.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with her for the past two-and-a-half years being on the board and she’s been a tremendous asset to Webster County and is really focused on budgets and records and is always conscientious of our budgets,” said Supervisor Austin Hayek. “I’ve really seen how she has directed and led her employees to make sure that we have an amazing team in that office. Her efforts and work will not go unnoticed.”

Also on Tuesday, the Board approved the transfer of $75,000 from the general basic fund to the public health fund. This is a line item in the budget that was previously approved. Supervisor John Cochrane voted no to the transfer, but did not provide any reasoning for doing so.

A bid of $29,636.14 from CDW-G, of West Des Moines, was accepted by the supervisors for eight laptops and six docking stations for the Webster County Sheriff’s Department. According to Deputy Nick Dunbar, the laptops that the department currently has are so dated that soon Microsoft updates will no longer work and the computers will no longer be compliant with Criminal Justice Information Services. With the low bid, new docking stations and Panasonic Toughbook laptops will be purchased.

The supervisors approved and read a proclamation naming June 23-29, 2025 as Friendship Haven Week. Friendship Haven will be celebrating 75 years next week.

“I just want to thank the board for the support and really want to invite all of you and the public to our events next week starting with a re-dedication of our original Chapel on the Hill bell,” said Friendship Haven CEO Julie Thorsen. “We have permanently displayed that in front of our Welcome Center campus to recognize the contribution of all of those before us. We also have several events planned for next week including Wednesday night’s dedication, Legacy Night on Friday night and self-guided tours. For everyone who has wondered how Friendship Haven has evolved over the past 75 years, there will be a really interesting historical display of current buildings and also all of the buildings that we’ve had in the past. We’ll finish the week with a very special worship service that again the public is invited to.”

Rich Lennon, a member of the county Veterans Affairs Commission, explained to the supervisors that the guidelines for Webster County Veteran Affairs are changing. The local Veterans Affairs board is planning to increase the dollar amounts that veterans in need can request.

Lennon said the veterans can currently request $500 towards rent but that will be increased to $800. Utilities payments are currently at $175, but Lennon noted that the board plans to increase that to $275.

“We provide assistance to veterans in need,” said Lennon. “The guidelines that are provided by the supervisors set out what we can follow when people ask for help. It sets our eligibility requirements, too. This includes burial, rent, utilities and transportation. We haven’t looked at this for three to four years, but we’re looking at raising the amounts. We use a baseline of the federal poverty level and in the past we’ve used 200 percent. We’re wanting to raise this to 250 percent for the poverty level. With the cost of everything we feel that this will help those in need more.”

The assistance that is provided by the Veterans Affairs Commission is paid directly to the utilities company or mortgage company, according to Lennon.

At the close of Tuesday’s meeting Fort Dodge City Councilman Cameron Nelson with the EMS Advisory Council presented challenge coins to each of the supervisors for the work they did in helping to pass the March EMS as an essential service vote.

Driscoll also noted to those in attendance that the local Night To Unite will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. June 26 at the Fort Dodge City Square. There will be free food as well as an opportunity for residents to meet local and area law enforcement.

The supervisors will have a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday to finalize transfers for the end of the fiscal year.