The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.

The Board approved three contracts for bridge and culvert replacement projects around the county. Gus Construction out of Adair was awarded each contract for a total of approximately $1.17 million. The Board also approved a budget amendment with the Iowa Department of Transportation. The amendment mostly covers funding transfers, and Engineer Josh Sebern told the Board it was essentially a technicality.

The Board also continued its discussion on placing GPS tracking devices on secondary roads vehicles. Sebern informed the Board it will be $6,000 per year plus installation costs to get the systems up and running. He doesn’t believe the devices will be efficient enough to warrant the cost and feels his staff is already held under high accountability. District 1 Supervisor Jack Lloyd agreed with Sebern, thinking the money could be used for bridge and road projects. However, Supervisors Grasty, Rutledge, and Dixon all felt there could be measurable benefits from adding the devices. The Board will look to make a proposal for continued discussion, though no formal action was taken.

The Board also approved Dr. Josh Strehle as the next County Medical Examiner and six other individuals as County Medical Investigators. Other action items approved include a Partial Self-Fund (PSF) summary of benefits and coverage form, and the drafting of a capital asset procurement policy with a $5,000 threshold.