Les Askelson brings to a close 20 years on the Winneshiek County Board

When Les Askelson became a county supervisor 20 years ago, Linus Rothmeyer was County Board Chairman and Dave Hageman, Carleton Kjos and Otis Tollefson were supervisors.  Now, like those four, Askelson has become an ex-supervisor.  His county board meeting earlier this week brought to an end his 20 years on the board--16 as Board Chairman.

"We've done a lot of good things in 20 years," Askelson tells decorahnews.com.  For instance, when Askelson began serving on the county board, the county jail was close to being closed down by the state.  But because of the cooperation between Winneshiek County and the City of Decorah, there's not only a new jail, but a new joint law enforcement center.  The new dispatch center is so much better than the county's system from 20 years ago, says Askelson, who calls the old system "just like out of 'McHale's Navy'."

Askelson also is proud of the new county highway shop in Freeport and the new Woolen Mill and Washington Street Court projects.  Most of all, the improvements have been made while the county's property tax levy rate has hardly ever changed--something that makes Askelson "pretty darn proud."

He says while some major road projects such as Locust Road have been done in the past 20 years his biggest concern as he leaves is the shrinking funding for road projects.  He notes that 20 years ago the county had a $6 million "nest egg" and was able to fix broken bridges in a year or less. Because the state's gasoline tax has not increased, state funding has stayed stagnant while construction costs have risen.

Still, Askelson says county government "is not just roads anyone...it's managing a very large business supported by property taxes."  He says it will take awhile for the four new supervisors to get up to speed and learn everything they need to know.

The new supervisors might also be surprised by how much work is involved in being on the county board.  Askelson served on 13 committees while a supervisor, including serving as chairman of Northeast Iowa Community Action.  He will remain on that board as a citizen member, and will also stay on the Northland Agency for Aging board.  After all, he admits, in 20 years, he's gotten used to attending committee meetings.