The Webster County Supervisors approved the purchase of Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) tactical helmets for the Webster County Sheriff’s Office during their regular meeting Tuesday. The purchase from Colorado Gun Fighter in the amount of $15,106.54 will replace the current tactical helmets used by the department.

“I spoke with the Chief Deputy and he told me that these helmets include new comms and are better than what they currently have,” said Supervisor Bob Thode.

The supervisors also placed on file the Webster County Treasurer’s semiannual report, which included 54 different county funds.

“Our investments from 2024 to this year have increased by $267,825.76,” said Webster County Treasurer Brenda Angstrom. “Last year for the full year of 2024, we received a total of $892,222.90. This year, just in the last half of the year, it was $753,892.79. That was the difference there.”

Angstrom also noted that the county’s motor vehicle fund has increased by 56% because of a January ruling that allowed counties to keep more funds from title and registrations rather than sending it to the state level.

The supervisors also heard from Webster County IT Director Andrew McGill, who reported that an annual agreement for Office 365 backup was necessary with Heartland Business Systems.

Webster County Deputy Recorder Courtney Balkenende also placed on file a report of fees collected by the Recorder’s Office for the second quarter.

“For our total recording fees, we brought in $30,237.21,” said Balkenende. “That’s recording documents at $5 per page, which is how that accumulates. Our surcharge, which is also part of our document, we have $1,459. Our copies and abstract updates were $1,474. We also have our auditor transfer fees, which is what we collect when we take documents and give to the auditor’s office for them to execute those transfers. That is $3,135.

“We have our transfer tax which is the tax paid at the time of real estate transactions, and that was $18,272.86. We have our recreational vehicles and vessels which was $5,677. We took in $37.50 for hunting and fishing licenses, and for our vital records, we took in $4,616. Our grand total of $64,908.57 was paid to the county treasurer.”

Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll asked the supervisors to approve a right-of-way project including temporary construction easements for the traffic circle project at county roads D14 and P56 near the Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

The supervisors also approved a resolution establishing a speed limit on Hayes Avenue between 185th Street and 175th Street. According to Johll, the road is gravel with a ravine on the east side. Johll asked that the speed limit be lowered from 55 mph to 35 mph. The request was approved by the supervisors.

Daniel Meyers and Daniel Meyers Sr., both Webster County residents who live in the area on Hayes Avenue, addressed the supervisors and asked that barriers also be put up along that same stretch of road because of the steep ravine.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Meyers.

Multiple supervisors told Meyers and Meyers Sr. that they would go to the area and take a look and come back with additional information.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Johll also congratulated staff member Jeffrey Fox, who recently completed all state and national exams and requirements to become a land surveyor.