Cameras in Dakota City catch polluters
Humboldt received just enough snow last week to bring out the kids and their sleds. In the photo above, Jimmie Kirchhoff (front) and Austyn Schuelke, both age 10 of Humboldt, are all smiles as they reach the bottom of the hill. Independent photo by Phil Monson. To buy these photos and more, visit our photo gallery online at www.humboldtnews.com.
By APRIL KELLEY
DAKOTA CITY - A snowy evening with the threat of dangerous road conditions cut much of the activity short at the Dakota City Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Chris Jansen with MSA Professional Services had planned to attend the meeting to review the new strategic plan; however, the threat of a winter storm forced him to postpone until March.
Tyler Gartenberg with Mid-American Energy was also on the agenda to give a franchise presentation but was postponed until March as well.
Brad Duffy, Public Works Operator reported on the new cameras that have been installed in several places around town.
“Someone took a mattress down to the bottom of the ramp at about 1:46 in the morning and threw it out,” Duffy explained.
“The cameras paid off because we were able to find who did it and they had to clean it up so that was a good purchase,” Duffy concluded.
The Council members approved a three-year renewable agreement with the City of Humboldt to provide fire protection service through the Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department.
The agreement will cost the residents of Dakota City $25,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026, $25,750 for fiscal year 2026-2027 and $26,522.5o for fiscal year 2027-2028.
The City of Dakota City agrees to pay the City of Humboldt for the services even if the service is not used in a given year.
In exchange, the Humboldt Fire Department agrees to maintain fire trucks and equipment in working order.
CEC Electric out of Fort Dodge submitted a bid to install a new LED yard light on the siren pole. The $710.00 bid includes the LED yard light, mounting and hardware, labor to install the lights and rental of a bucket truck to install the light. The bid was accepted unanimously.
The Council members also approved a quote from Schneider Electric for a replacement breaker for the water plant. The quote for $1,162.00 was approved by the council members.
The council also approved a purchase order for Public Works Operator, Aaron Benz to acquire two single jacket fire hoses, one 25 feet and one 50 feet for a total cost of not more than $630.
The Council members discussed the budget as well. One area the city is looking at raising is the cost of recycling one dollar a month per household.
“That helps us. We haven’t raised our recycling rate and they are taking many many loads a week,” Berry said.
She acknowledges that the recycling is not just Dakota City residents' waste. Due to the state-of-the-art facility which is kept in extremely tidy order, people come from other towns to deposit their recycling.
Another item in the budget that was discussed is a brine trailer. Several options have been looked in recent months but have not been purchased. City Clerk Angelique Berry had received a quote from Jensen Trailers for a made-to-order trailer in their price range.
The council agreed to place the order for the trailer to lock in the price offered, but to purchase it until the next fiscal year in July.
Read the full story in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!
