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After more than 13 years serving Webster County veterans and 20 years in uniform, Dan Lewandowski will retire on Friday.
On Tuesday, Webster County Veterans Affairs Commission Chairman Rich Lennon presented Lewandowski, the county's veterans affairs director, with a plaque to honor his service.
"I'm truly humbled," said Lewandowski. "When I started 13.5 years ago, this was a job I really, really wanted. Coming off active duty helping soldiers, I was then able to help veterans. I hope I made a difference in the lives of veterans and their families along the way."
Dana Preuschl was named the new executive director of Webster County Veterans Affairs in February. According to Lennon, Preuschl has been training under Lewandowski's mentorship since then.
During Tuesday's meeting, the supervisors also placed on file the resignation of Webster County Auditor Shaunna Abrams. According to Supervisor Austin Hayek, Webster County Treasurer Brenda Angstrom will act as the county auditor until the board is able to appoint a successor.
"I have the utmost of confidence in the Treasurer's office and the Auditor's office," said Angstrom. "I think this will work out well in the interim. It will be tough as we're in tax season and the elections are coming up, but we have great teams in both offices."
The supervisors unanimously appointed Vickie Reeck and Ernest Kersten to the new Webster County Public Safety Authority.
Reeck was appointed to the authority jointly by the Board of Supervisors and the Fort Dodge City Council. Kersten is the county's representative. Ryan Gruenberg is the city's representative.
According to Supervisor Niki Conrad, Reeck worked for the City of Fort Dodge for more than three decades. She retired as community and economic development manager in the Development Services Department.. She now works for Snyder & Associates.
"Vickie's experience is a great match for what we're asking of the authority," said Conrad. "I am very confident in recommending her to the Public Safety Authority."
Hayek said that Reeck's appointment is not a conflict of interest with her position at Snyder & Associates, unless the company is bidding on a potential project. Then she would have to recuse herself.
Kersten is an attorney and has served on the Boards of Adjustment and Compensation. He is also a resident of the county outside of city limits.
"Fiscal responsibility is always top of mind for him," said Conrad. "He is not a yes man. He has a grasp of the legal requirements and is well-versed on the need for a new jail, and I know he will be mindful of taxpayer monies. I know he will truly represent Webster County."
On Monday, the City Council approved the appointments of Reeck and Gruenberg.
Supervisor John Cochrane said there is no compensation for those named to the Public Safety Authority and that all meetings are open to the public under open meetings laws.
The Public Safety Authority is tasked with planning a potential new Law Enforcement Center. If the center is approved by the voters during the November general election, the authority will oversee construction of the building. It would own the building, and the city and county would pay rent to the authority.
The potential new center would house the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff's Office, the jail and the 911 dispatch center. It would replace the current facility at 702 First Ave. S.
The supervisors approved a temporary detour of traffic on county county roads Quail Avenue, Racine Avenue, and 380th Street in Dayton for the Labor Day rodeo parade on Sept. 7.
A quit claim deed was also approved conveying the county's interest in a portion of Garfield Avenue to the City of Gowrie. According to Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll, this relates to the Dollar General that is being built on the edge of city limits in Gowrie for a short stretch of county road that is within city limits.
Johll also told supervisors that the Iowa Department of Transportation plans to replace a railroad crossing on Iowa Highway 7 near the Cargill crossing. Traffic will be routed to P29. According to Johll, the target date for the project is July 27, and construction should last approximately one week.