FOREST CITY — Winnebago County officials will seek additional medical examiner investigators as the county works to maintain enough trained personnel to respond to deaths and assist with official investigations.
The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors approved placing an advertisement for more medical examiner investigators during its Tuesday, July 7, 2026, meeting.
Supervisors Bill Jensvold, Terry Durby and Susan Smith were all present for the 9 a.m. session.
The county’s medical examiner investigators assist with unattended, suspicious and other reportable deaths under the direction of the county medical examiner. The board did not specify how many additional investigators it hopes to hire or when applications will be accepted.
The supervisors also received and approved quarterly reports from the Winnebago County Veterans Affairs Office, Auditor’s Office, Recorder’s Office and Sheriff’s Office.
Veterans Affairs representative Mary Lou Kleveland appeared before the board to discuss her department’s quarterly report.
Drainage troubles were also brought before the supervisors.
Winnebago County Drainage Clerk Kris Oswald reported that a fallen tree was blocking the flow of water in Drainage District No. 1. Helgeson Drainage was contacted to remove the obstruction and restore the flow.
Maintenance Supervisor Ethan Schutter updated the board on secondary road operations.
Shouldering work at Rice Lake has been completed, while mowing has started along the county’s gravel roads.
Roadside weeds and trees generated additional discussion during the meeting’s open forum. Supervisors agreed to attend the Winnebago County Conservation Board meeting the following Monday to continue discussing vegetation in county road ditches.
The board also approved applications for homestead property-tax credits.
County officials received a manure management plan for Buffalo Site No. 65411 in Winnebago County.
The supervisors approved $107,424.61 in county claims and expenses.
The board adjourned until its next meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
COUNTY CLAIMS AND EXPENSES
Alliant Energy, utilities — $64.09
Allison Rice, mileage — $124.10
Amazon Capital Services, supplies — $259.32
Barb Wolf, mileage — $408.18
Black Hills Energy, utilities — $294.75
Brightree Home Health, services — $4,405.97
Central Iowa Detention, services — $3,000.00
Chris Heyer, mileage — $286.38
Cintas Corp., services — $1,031.45
City of Forest City, utilities — $4,543.00
City of Lake Mills, utilities — $201.41
City of Leland, tax increment financing payment — $6,065.63
City of Thompson, utilities — $173.10
Duncan Heights Inc., services — $342.00
Elderbridge Agency on Aging, services — $10,045.00
Fastenal, supplies — $290.81
Forest City Ford, services — $68.78
Hancock County Auditor, services — $24,658.48
Hawkeye Communication, services — $147.00
Healthcare First, services — $120.65
IACVS, dues — $50.00
IMWCA, services — $5,181.00
Interstate Power Systems Inc., services — $854.01
Iowa Drainage District Association, dues — $9,435.00
Iowa State Bar Association, dues — $285.00
IPAC, services — $4,796.48
ISAC, dues — $7,075.00
ISSDA, education — $375.00
Jennifer Johnson, mileage — $641.25
K1 Excavating and Drainage, supplies — $2,215.46
KC Nielsen Ltd., parts — $1,337.36
Kristine Schwartz, mileage — $507.13
Krystal Wempen, mileage — $930.90
Lake Mills Physical Therapy, services — $1,285.48
Lake Mills Seed House, supplies — $2,107.50
Lawson Products Inc., supplies — $162.38
Medline Industries Inc., supplies — $43.08
Melissa Vaudt, mileage — $765.95
Melissa Warren, mileage — $239.00
Midwest Waste LLC, services — $2,000.00
Next Generation Technologies, services — $483.00
North Iowa CARS, services — $70.94
Rhonda Schriever, mileage — $354.88
River City Glass, parts — $665.00
Singelstad Hardware, supplies — $49.54
T-Mobile, telephone — $26.81
Travis Hassebroek, services — $280.00
Visa, supplies — $1,157.99
WCTA, telephone — $3,156.67
Weavers Leather Store, supplies — $444.95
Wex Bank, fuel — $448.40
Willson and Pechacek PLC, services — $300.30
Winnebago County Historical Society, services — $3,000.00
Winnebago County Tribune, advertising — $169.05