The Webster County Board of Supervisors will meet for their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, December 3rd 2024. The meeting will be held at 10:00AM in the Board of Supervisors’ Room.
The Supervisors will consider a resolution to direct the County Auditor to call an election to poll Webster County voters regarding adopting a levy and imposing a voter approved Emergency Medical Services (EMS) property tax. The resolution is part of the process outlined under Iowa Code Chapter 422D to fund rural EMS.
EMS was declared an essential service in Webster County in February of this year. Since that time, a County Emergency Medical Services System Advisory Council was established, and tasked with providing recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
Under Iowa Code 422D, a property tax can be established to pay for EMS, not to exceed 75 cents per one thousand dollars of assessed value on all taxable property within the county. The vote must pass by at least 60% to be instituted. If the ballot measure fails to meet that threshold, the resolution declaring EMS essential and authority to impose the taxes is deemed void.
The Board will also revisit the purchase of a wheel loader that was tabled from the last meeting. At that meeting, Supervisors were to take action on the purchase of a Caterpillar Wheel Loader from Zeigler Cat for $285,062, but that item was tabled after concerns were raised by representatives from Murphy Tractor and Equipment.
Bruce Stover, on behalf of Murphy Tractor and Equipment, expressed concerns in regards to options on their bid – which were specified by the County – but not necessary in their opinion. Mr. Stover told the Board that if a mechanical problem was to arise with the piece of equipment, the on board system would notify the dealership of the pending issue. Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll requested diagnostic software and updates for 10 years, to allow the County to work on their own equipment in house. Tony Cloud, Webster County Shop Foreman, advised the County already had diagnostic tools for Caterpillar equipment. It was also noted that County machine operators had preference with the Caterpillar product as well.
In other business, the Supervisors will consider approving a contract with Rash Construction in the amount of $397,282.60 for the construction of the Dayton Trail – Phase 1 Project.
