In the comment section of last week’s piece, there were a few questions for me that were more focused on the city. Fixing roads, streetlights out, city council decision-making, etc. I get this a lot when talking with folks about what they’d like to see from the Board of Supervisors. To be fair, the lines can get blurry, especially when we’re all trying to solve the same kinds of problems, and especially since my district – District 4 – falls squarely inside the city limits of Fort Dodge.

Here’s the short version of how city government differs from county government:

City government takes care of things within the city. County government takes care of the whole county — the rural regions as well as all the towns and cities contained within it, including Fort Dodge.

Fort Dodge has its own city council and mayor. They provide direction regarding city streets, city utilities, local ordinances, parks, and the police force. If it’s largely an issue for Fort Dodge citizens and takes place within city limits, that’s likely the job of the city.

And in Webster County, it’s a five-member elected Board of Supervisors. I’m one of them. We address things that serve the entire county. That would include county roads and bridges, rural emergency services, the jail and sheriff’s office, public health, elections, and the county budget. We oversee the county buildings and departments like Planning and Zoning, the Assessor’s Office, and Veterans Affairs, for example.

One big difference is the jail. The city runs the police department, but the county is responsible for the jail. So, if someone is arrested by Fort Dodge Police, they’re still booked and held in the Webster County Jail, which is run by the sheriff.

Another difference is roads. The city takes care of the streets inside Fort Dodge. The county takes care of roads outside city limits — well over a thousand miles of gravel and pavement — plus bridges, signage, and maintenance. So, if a gravel road needs grading, that’s a county issue. If there’s a pothole on Central Avenue, that’s the city.

All that said, we also work closely together. City and county governments have different responsibilities, but we share a lot of the same goals — safe communities, strong infrastructure, and good services. It’s common for us to collaborate, especially on economic development and long-term planning.

So, if you’re ever unsure who to call, it’s OK to ask. The important thing is staying involved and informed. Whether you live in town or the county, your voice matters.

I’ll keep doing my part to make the county side of things clearer. Thanks for caring enough to read and ask questions. That’s how government should work.

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