Public Safety Authority gets to work

New group to work on LEC issue

The entity charged with overseeing the potential creation of a new Webster County Law Enforcement Center started its work Thursday.

The three-member panel that is the Webster County Public Safety Authority did not make any momentous decisions. Instead, it spent about half an hour on housekeeping type items.

Ryan Gruenberg was elected chairman of the board. He was appointed to it by the Fort Dodge City Council. He is a former Fort Dodge Police Department captain who is the vice president of operations at Iowa Central Community College.

Ernie Kersten was elected secretary. He is an attorney who was appointed by the Webster County Board of Supervisors.

Vickie Reeck was elected treasurer. She was appointed to the board jointly by the City Council and the Board of Supervisors. She was the community and economic development manager in the city's Development Services Department.

The board also approved its bylaws and rules of procedure.

The board approved a letter of understanding stating that if it issues bonds, it will employ D.A. Davidson & Co., of Des Moines, as the bond underwriter. That company has worked with both the Fort Dodge and Webster County governments.

The company will only be paid if the Public Safety Authority issues bonds. Its payment will be equal to 1 percent of the principal amount of the bond issue.

The Webster County Public Safety Authority was established earlier this month with the mission of planning a potential new Law Enforcement Center to replace the problem-plagued one at 702 First Ave. S. If the voters approve a tax to finance the center during the Nov. 3 general election, the authority would oversee its construction and would own the completed building. The city and county would pay rent to the authority. That rent income would be used to pay off any bonds issued for the construction of the building.