Worth County supervisors approve interfund transfer, several licenses and contracts; budget workshop scheduled

Worth County Board of Supervisors members met in regular session and approved several routine and one-time administrative actions while advancing budget planning for the year.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026‑6 to transfer unspent capital funds allocated for roads into the county's building capital fund; the resolution was approved by roll-call vote with Smeeby, Stone and Lowbert recorded as 'Aye.' Speaker 2 introduced the resolution and Speaker 4 explained the money being shifted came from road capital that will not be spent this year. The exact dollar amount read during the meeting was not clearly transcribed.

In other formal actions, the board:
• Approved Pay Estimate No. 3 for the conservation office and engineer's office projects and asked parties to sign project documents.
• Approved a liquor license for Lazy Acre Vineyard after a motion and second from Supervisors; the board noted an internal process for flagging establishments that generate complaints.
• Approved a pair of law enforcement items: an addendum with Joyce, Iowa, and a law enforcement agreement; motions were seconded and carried by voice vote. No financial terms for those agreements were read into the record during the meeting.
• Authorized Auditor Jackie to retain outside counsel to address an IRS issue, approving the possible payment of a $7,500 retainer for attorney Angela Brick of the firm named in the transcript as 'Nymaster Good ETC.' After motion and second, the board approved the engagement contingent on follow-up with Peter. "I don't like seeing my name on letters from the IRS," Speaker 4 said during the discussion.

Why it matters: the interfund transfer lets the county repurpose capital dollars originally budgeted for roads toward building projects, a shift that can accelerate facility work but reduces earmarked road funding. Approving pay estimates and licenses keeps current construction and business permitting on schedule; authorizing outside counsel addresses an immediate legal/administrative liability.

Budget and staffing discussion: Supervisors spent significant time on budget planning. Topics included an office-rental plan for county staff (noting possible displacement when the administrative building becomes unavailable), health insurance contribution options (a recommendation from Ryan to maintain status quo or use a $95.60 contribution), and an upcoming union contract negotiation that several supervisors said will affect payroll projections. Speaker 3 sharply criticized the proposal's numbers: "I get a slap in my face...I will not support another agreement at those numbers," the supervisor said, reflecting resistance to proposed wage assumptions.

Sheriff coverage and interjurisdictional costs were also raised: speakers said Manly sheriff's department coverage and how the county budgets for law enforcement outside Northwood should be addressed in the workshop and in upcoming intergovernmental discussions.

Next steps: The board set a Friday morning workshop to continue budget work and asked staff to prepare detailed numbers for salary scenarios, insurance options and space/rental costs. The board adjourned following a brief round of supervisor comments.

Votes at a glance:
• Resolution 2026‑6 (interfund transfer): approved (roll call: Smeeby—Aye; Stone—Aye; Lowbert—Aye).
• Pay Estimate No. 3 (conservation/engineer projects): approved by voice vote.
• Payroll approval: approved by voice vote.
• Auditor’s quarterly report: approved by voice vote.
• Liquor license — Lazy Acre Vineyard: approved by voice vote.
• Law enforcement addendum and law enforcement agreement: each approved by voice vote.
• Authorization to engage outside counsel for IRS matter (possible $7,500 retainer): approved by voice vote.

Attributions: direct quotations and attributions in this report come from speakers identified in the meeting transcript. Where dollar figures or firm spellings were garbled or unclear in the transcript, the article indicates that the numbers or spellings were not clearly transcribed rather than inventing precise values or corrected firm names.

The board is expected to meet again to continue budget deliberations and to finalize details for sheriff coverage and contract terms.