Woodbury County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-08-25
Meeting: Board of Supervisors Meeting
Scheduled: August 25, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a Community Development Block Grant application for Little Sioux Park riverbank stabilization, canvass a special election, review two property-tax refund requests, and continue discussion of the Siouxland District Health Department’s 28E agreement. The agenda also includes routine consent items and informational reports.
Key Items on the Agenda
Little Sioux Park Bank Stabilization Grant
The Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing and consider actions needed for a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery application. The Woodbury County Conservation Board is seeking funding to stabilize portions of the Little Sioux River bank within Little Sioux Park that were damaged by 2024 flooding.
- The packet identifies erosion, loss and displacement of bank material, degraded riparian habitat, and impacts to public access and nearby park infrastructure.
- Preliminary improvements include longitudinal peaked stone toe protection, slope revetment, seven bendway weirs, live pole plantings, bank shaping, and related stabilization work.
- The engineer’s preliminary opinion lists a $496,200 total project cost, including a $359,330 base bid, contingency, and $65,000 for engineering, permitting, and construction oversight.
- Public-hearing materials state that the proposed activities would be funded entirely through CDBG Disaster Recovery funding and request $496,200 in federal funds.
- The application is expected to be submitted on or before September 16, 2026.
- No residential displacement is anticipated.
The Board is also scheduled to consider approving the accompanying Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment and a resolution authorizing submission of the grant application. The proposed resolution would authorize the Board chairperson and Conservation Board Director Daniel Heissel to sign application materials and designate Heissel as the County’s contact person.
Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment
The draft assessment accompanying the grant application identifies housing, disaster resilience, recreation, conservation, and economic-development needs. Among its high-priority housing needs are greater housing affordability and availability, access to safe and high-quality housing, and homeownership opportunities.
For broader community development, the draft identifies high priorities including safe and reliable housing, preserving the county’s rural character, and economic development. Potential activities include flood mitigation along the Big Sioux and Little Sioux rivers, stronger erosion controls, expanded recreation opportunities, water-quality and river-restoration projects, affordable housing initiatives, housing rehabilitation assistance, and disaster recovery and resiliency efforts.
Election Canvass
The County Auditor is asking the Board to canvass and approve the results of the 2026 City of Salix Special Election, held August 18.
The packet contains an unofficial results report showing:
- 230 registered voters
- 60 ballots cast
- 26.09% voter turnout
- Timothy W. Skidmore: 56 votes
- Write-ins: 4 votes
The contest was for one council member to fill a vacancy in Salix. The agenda item is an action item, with the Auditor recommending that the Board receive and approve the election results.
Financial Items
Property-Tax Refund Requests
The County Treasurer is requesting approval of two refunds totaling $803.37.
- KSL Properties — $618.92: The packet says the State of Iowa has been purchasing properties for the Gordon Drive expansion project. Taxes for 2801 Gordon Drive were estimated and collected until transfer to the State, and the account was overcharged after taxes rolled into assessment year 2025.
- Marc Sherman — $184.45: The packet says Sherman sold 3230 Jones Street on July 7 but had automatic monthly tax payments established online and did not cancel them.
The Treasurer’s materials state that the requested refunds have no financial impact and recommend approval.
Siouxland District Health 28E Agreement
The Board is scheduled to continue discussing renewal of the Siouxland District Health Department 28E Agreement. The current agreement has been extended through January 1, 2027, and the packet says a new agreement needs to be signed and approved by the Board by that date.
The packet presents several provisions for possible revision rather than a final agreement for approval. Issues identified for discussion include:
- Agreement term: The materials raise the possibility of a 10-year agreement.
- Annual rent: The existing agreement calls for $80,000 in annual rent. The comparison proposes removing the annual rental amount, noting that the original rent was intended to repay the County’s approximately $800,000 purchase price for the property.
- Building maintenance: Existing language generally assigns maintenance or repairs of $2,000 or less to District Health and costs above $2,000 to the County. One proposal would cap the County’s responsibility at $10,000, with District Health responsible for expenses above that amount.
- Alternative maintenance approach: Another option would allow District Health to retain rent funds within the health fund for building maintenance and repairs.
- Technology support: Proposed language would reflect the current arrangement with the Woodbury County Information Communication Commission, including District Health funding for a 0.5 FTE technology employee.
- Employment language: The packet flags an Iowa Code reference concerning employment practices for possible updating or removal.
This item is listed as information, with the purpose of identifying provisions that should be updated or removed before a final draft returns for approval.
Consent Agenda
Items 3 through 5 are grouped as routine consent items to be considered in one motion unless a Board member requests a separate vote.
The consent agenda includes:
- Approval of the August 18, 2026 meeting minutes.
- Approval of claims.
- Approval of a Memorandum of Personnel Transactions.
- Presentation of an award certificate recognizing Kyle Gates for donating seven gallons to the LifeServe Blood Center, with four hours of paid time off identified in the certificate.
Personnel transactions in the packet include temporary employment separations, a Legal Secretary appointment at $26.85 per hour, and a transfer to Senior Clerk in the Treasurer’s Office at $28.28 per hour, among other listed changes.
Previously Completed Actions in the Packet
The packet includes minutes from the Board’s August 18, 2026 meeting as background for approval on the consent agenda. Those minutes document several actions already completed at that earlier meeting, including:
- Approval of claims totaling $524,895.56.
- Approval of $121,986 in year-two Opioid Remediation funding for Sky Ranch Behavioral Services, effective July 1, 2026.
- Approval of a Woodbury County Fair Board request for Secondary Roads assistance.
- Setting a September 8, 2026, 4:40 p.m. public hearing on the proposed vacation of a portion of Jewell Avenue between U.S. Highway 20 and 160th Street.
- Approval of a Medical Examiner linen service agreement with APPEARA.
These are documented prior actions and are not new decisions scheduled for August 25.
Other Agenda Items
The agenda also provides time for reports on committee meetings, citizen concerns, and Board concerns. Citizen concerns are informational; the meeting notice states that the Board cannot take action on or deliberate about concerns that are not properly listed on the agenda.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The Little Sioux Park project carries the most substantial proposed funding in the packet. The Board is scheduled to move through the public-hearing and authorization steps for a CDBG Disaster Recovery request of $496,200, with an application deadline on or before September 16.
The Siouxland District Health agreement is at an earlier stage. Rather than presenting a final renewal for approval, the packet asks the Board to work through potential changes involving the agreement’s duration, rent, responsibility for building maintenance, technology support, and other provisions before a final draft is prepared.
