Dickinson County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-08-11
Meeting: Board of Supervisors Meeting
Scheduled time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Dickinson County Courthouse, 1802 Hill Avenue, Suite 1510, Spirit Lake, Iowa
The packet includes the tentative agenda and a minutes/claims document for the August 11 meeting. The agenda scheduled action on drainage and road projects, county claims, mileage reimbursement, a citizen parking request, and several County Engineer items. The included minutes document the actions ultimately taken on those matters.
Key Items on the Agenda
JT61 BR399W Project Bid
The agenda called for awarding a bid for the JT61 BR399W Project. According to the included minutes, seven bids had been submitted at an August 7 bid letting; one was rejected because of an improper bid bond, leaving six acceptable bids.
The six bids ranged from $365,142.64 to $589,446.80. The minutes document that the Board awarded the project to Diamond Concrete and Construction, Inc. of Spirit Lake for $365,142.64, with all four supervisors participating in the roll-call vote voting aye. The engineer also advised that an additional $54,482 for reinforced concrete pipe was not worthwhile.
DD06 Project
The agenda included approval of Change Order #2, Pay Estimate #1, and establishment of a completion-hearing date for the DD06 Project. The minutes document that the Board:
- Approved Change Order #2 for $571.25.
- Approved Pay Estimate #1 of $35,220.64 to Joshua’s Excavation.
- Set the DD06 completion hearing for September 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Each action received unanimous aye votes from the four supervisors participating in the recorded roll calls.
Citizen Request for No Parking Signs
The agenda included a citizen request for no-parking signs. The minutes identify Matthew and Cynthia Bauer as requesting signs adjacent to their property on 178th Street in Spirit Lake, either on one side or both sides of the street, because of concerns about safely backing out of their driveways.
Rather than documenting approval of signs at this meeting, the minutes state that the Board directed the County Engineer to analyze this location and other areas of concern and return later with a recommendation.
Major Financial Items
County Claims
The agenda scheduled approval of claims on the August 11 Claims Register. The included minutes document approval of the claims listing, totaling $726,607.13.
Among the larger individual payments shown on the register were:
- Christensen Bros Inc. — $279,660.99
- Blacktop Service Co. — $158,512.58
- Reding Gravel & Excavating Co. — $111,630.05
- Cooperative Energy Company — $31,961.57
- Dickinson County Treasurer — $25,599.50
These figures are individual entries in the claims listing and do not by themselves indicate the purpose of each expenditure.
Drainage Claims
The agenda also called for consideration of drainage claims. The minutes document approval of multiple claims, including:
- DD06: $3,325.05 to Jacobson Westergard.
- DD19: $500.00 to Beck Engineering.
- DD48: $377.40 to Jacobson Westergard.
- DD JT61: $3,652.50 to Beck Engineering.
- JT61 Br 61: $45.14 to Dickinson County News.
- JT61 Br 399W: $78.66 to Dickinson County News and $2,056.87 to Jacobson Westergard.
- JT61 Br 399W-46: $2,915.00 to Kevin Jasa.
- JT1 D&O: $597.50 to Beck Engineering.
- JT2 D&O: $695.00 to Beck Engineering.
- JT3 D&O: $305.00 to Beck Engineering.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Drainage District #41 Repairs
The County Engineer portion of the agenda included a request for repairs to the Drainage District #41 main ditch. The minutes document approval of the repairs and retention of Carney Drainage & Excavating to remove three beaver dams, with the project expected to cost less than $2,500.
Reduced Speed Limit
The agenda called for consideration of a revised speed limit on M56. The minutes describe the approved change as applying along 250th Avenue, from approximately 15272 250th Avenue to approximately 15715 250th Avenue.
The existing 35 MPH limit in that segment was reduced to 25 MPH. Heading east, the speed limit will then transition to 35 MPH and subsequently to the existing 45 MPH limit within 1,400 feet.
FY2027 Iowa DOT Amended Budget
The agenda included approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 Iowa DOT Amended Budget for Secondary Roads. The minutes document approval and state that construction was the major reason for the amendment because of the 2026 Bridge and HMA Surfacing Projects and the timing of their completion and payment.
The minutes state that FY2026 carryover will cover the overages.
Utility Construction on County Right-of-Way
The Board was scheduled to consider construction of utilities on county highway right-of-way. The minutes document approval of Iowa Lakes Regional Water's permit request for construction along the east side of 280th Avenue, approximately 750 feet north of the centerline of 110th Street, for a length of 500 feet in Superior Township.
The location is within Drainage District #51. The minutes state that the work will not interfere with open ditches or tile lines.
Policy and Governance
Mileage Reimbursement
The agenda included possible action on changing the county's mileage reimbursement in response to the IRS rate. The minutes document approval of a change from $0.7250 to $0.76 per mile, effective immediately.
Prior Meeting Minutes
The Board was scheduled to consider the July 28, 2026, Board meeting minutes. The included August 11 minutes document their approval by unanimous aye votes from the four supervisors participating in the roll call.
What to Watch
The packet identifies several items with effects extending beyond the August 11 meeting:
- A DD06 completion hearing was set for September 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
- The County Engineer was directed to study the 178th Street parking concern and other similar locations and return with a recommendation.
- The JT61 BR399W Project moved forward with a documented $365,142.64 contract award.
- The Secondary Roads budget amendment addresses the timing and costs of the 2026 Bridge and HMA Surfacing Projects.
- Changes affecting road users include the documented 25 MPH speed-limit segment on 250th Avenue.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials from the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors.
