The Ida County Board of Supervisors met on Oct. 11 at 9:30 in the courthouse. Board members present were Chair Raymond Drey and Rhett Leonard.
County Engineer Jeff Williams presented the updated salary certifications, which included the approved $1.50 per hour increase. The salaries effective Oct. 31, are as follows: Darek Boysen-$25.50; Tom Cooper-$26.97; Darin Dausel-$25.65; Kent Hinrickson-$25.50; Jered Iversen-$25.50; Andy Johnson-$25.42; DJ Meek-$25.50; Trevor Reitz $25.42 and Tristian Senhen-$26.34.
The Holstein City Council met on Oct. 3, at 5:30 p.m. In the public works report, the council learned that the storm sewer grate at the corner of Highway 59 and 2nd Street, by Cosgrove Law Firm, had been replaced. The high service pump at the water plant has also been replaced. Pete’s Tree Service checked several ash trees that will require removal over the next few years. Street patching has been completed on Kastner Drive and various other places.
Ethan Zobel started EZ Equipment Sales in 2013 when he was just 13 years old. “It started as just buying, repairing, and reselling farm equipment,” explained Zobel. “It quickly evolved into the parts business it is today, where our main focus is selling new, used, and rebuilt tractor and combine parts.” EZ Equipment is located half a mile east of Holstein on Highway 20 (5488 Hwy 20). Zobel currently employs two full-time employees and nearly a dozen part-time employees plus himself.
Todd Conover has a wealth of experience to offer in his bid to be elected to the Ida County Board of Supervisors. “I was born and raised here, a Galva-Holstein graduate,” said Conover. “I was a John Deere dealership employee for 27 years, as store manager and part owner. I’ve also been part of a farm operation the last 14 years, and worked at UBI for three years as a crop insurance specialist in the farm management department.”
Some of Ida County workers will finally get the raise they have been seeking including county roads workers. County Engineer Jeff Williams, Assistant Engineer Colin Ryan and Renee Von Bokern briefed the Ida County Board of Supervisors on wages in place in similar size areas to Ida County.
With inflation hitting hard, wages have been scrambling to respond in turn.
The Board approved $1.50 per hour in an increase for road workers and Tristian Senhen, Engineer Technician.
The story of Holstein’s CornerHaus 101 is, as co-owner Alyssa Dreeszen put it, one of “growing where you’re planted.”
The coffee house and cocktail bar was started in 2016 by Bobbi Jo Clausen and Jeff Neckhash, who were new to being baristas when they started. Adam and Alyssa Dreeszen, who bought CornerHaus in 2020, credit them with providing a solid foundation for both the individual business and the broader community downtown.
Editor’s note: The Board of Supervisors position is the only contested county election this year. Whiteing’s opponent, Todd Conover, will be featured next week.
Devlun Whiteing brings quite a bit of experience to the table in his campaign to be elected to the Ida County Board of Supervisors.
County Engineer Jeff Williams was a last-minute addition to the Ida County Board of Supervisors’ agenda Sept. 27, as he brought news from a meeting of county road workers the previous day. He relayed his employees’ requests for raises.
While doing work recently with crews from Woodbury County, Williams reported, the crews found that road workers in Woodbury make three dollars more per hour than in Ida. In the face of such a discrepancy, the Ida workers decided it would be reasonable to ask for a higher wage.
In appreciation of their customers and friends, Agnew & Soseman is celebrating its 102nd year in business on Friday, Oct. 14 with a free barbeque to be served from 11-1 p.m. at their office, located at 107 East Second St. in Holstein.
