Hey there. My name is Niki Conrad. I’m the Chair of the Webster County Board of Supervisors, and I’ve wanted to try something like this for a long time.

This is the first in a series of short editorials where I’ll share what’s going on in Webster County — the work we do, how decisions get made, and what it means to serve in local government. I’m not doing this to campaign or put out polished statements. I just believe people deserve to know what’s happening, and that public service should be transparent and accessible.

Local government doesn’t always get much attention — especially county government — but it has a real impact on your day-to-day life. Roads, public safety, taxes — it’s all part of running the county. And I think you deserve to know more about how it works.

What conversations are we having? Were compromises made, and why? What’s it like when we have to make the hard calls?

Sometimes I’ll explain a vote I made. I’ll also reflect on things that don’t always get talked about — like a question I’m still wrestling with, or how I try to lead with respect, even when we disagree.

Most of the work happens during the regular, boring, in-between stuff. The stuff that isn’t discussed during elections, and doesn’t make headlines.

Someone told me recently that I tend to use “big, fancy words.” Message received. I’ll do my best to break things down if something’s complicated. But I really believe local government shapes our daily lives — how we take care of each other, how we plan for the future, how we solve problems. I take that seriously, and I know many of you do, too.

This is a conversation, not a speech. I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas. I serve you, so I want to hear from you what you’d like to read going forward.

Please email me at niki.conrad@webstercountyia.gov with your column ideas. I know folks don’t always agree with their elected officials, and that’s fine. You shouldn’t have to agree with me to know where I stand.

My goal with this series is to give you a little more context, a little more clarity, and maybe even a little more trust in how things get done around here. So that’s the plan. Nothing flashy. Just real talk, from me to you.

Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here.

Niki Conrad is the chairwoman of the Webster County Board of Supervisors.