Webster City- The Hamilton County Conservation Board Thursday morning met with four people regarding the decision made this month of cutting the conservation budget of $125,000 to help balance the Hamilton County budget.This will mean the ending of conservation education programs beginning January 1,2027. The board told the individuals that they will monitor the financial situation when the new budget year begins July 1st,2026 and from that point. One person told the board that they would volunteer to help the conservation education program for 2027 but nothing was finalized. The Hamilton County Budget hearing for the 2026-27 will be held next Wednesday evening, April 29th at 6:00 p.m. in the downstairs conference room of the courthouse.
The conservation board learned that they are the recipients of a Transportation Alternative Funding Grant from the MIDAS Council of Governments for $408,000 to install a bridge at Little Wall Lake south of Jewell. The bridge will be located over the drainage ditch at the lake. Bidding for the bridge project will be submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation this July. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin next year. The Hamilton County Conservation Board will apply for a state trail grant project application for construction of the trail from Jewell to Little Wall Lake. An announcement will come this summer if Hamilton County Conservation receives funding for the project.
A search for a new office manager for Hamilton County Conservation continues. Director Brian Lammers said that 30 applications have been received for the person to succeed Lori Westrum who will retire on July 3rd,2026. The Conservation Board will make their selection over the next few weeks.
The golf season at Briggs Woods Golf is off to a great start. There is however an issue of drainage at Hole Number 12 at Briggs Woods. Quotes for work on improving the drainage will be submitted to interested firms and reviewed by the board next month.
The next Hamilton County Conservation Board will be Thursday,May 28th at 9:30 at the Briggs Woods Conservation office south of Webster City.