Following a presentation from Jathan Chicoine, manager of Home Base Iowa, a “one of a kind” service providing resources for veterans, the Washington County Supervisors Tuesday agreed to consider a resolution of support, joining 24 other Iowa counties.  

The goal of HBI is to be in all 99 counties within another year, said Chicoine, noting the program dates to 2014 and has added wide employment (through Workforce), housing and education for veterans and their families.   The program has, to date, 127 counterparts through the country and in Iowa has aided more than 400 veterans, said Chicoine.  There also has been support from area businesses, especially economic development groups and site grants.

He provided the board with a detailed information package and will send a sample resolution for its consideration. Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr., indicating favor, also noted that the board will have to figure for any costs in providing information and assistance for the program.  

In other business, the board:

Received and briefly reviewed the Washington County Ambulance Services annual report that noted the service has 132 medical service providers with 32 of them the staff of the county service, which are 14 full-time and 17 part-time personnel plus the position currently held by Katrina Altenhofen as interim director.  Staff works in three shifts for the 24/7 to, as noted by her, “provide the best 911 service possible.”  The service received 2,294 calls in fiscal 2022-23 and reduced its payment reimbursement backlog from more than 370 claims to 151, all involving insurance most of which involved Medicaid, due largely to an adjustment rate approved by the county board in April, reflecting the current CMS rate.  In her presentation, Altenhofen noted that September was the heaviest month for calls and Friday the heaviest day.  A full copy of the report is available at the county auditor’s office.

Approved a signing authority on the behalf of the board to deal with insurance firms for the replacement of communications equipment damaged in the March 2023 EF4 tornado near Wellman for both RACOM (installer) and for associated insurance coverage documents.  Seward explained there are three levels of insurance involved in the approximate $160,000 damage costs, one of which had an adjuster that “thought the equipment could be cleaned, repaired and put back.”  Seward noted that with life-saving equipment that is not a good procedure, especially since it ends warranty protection and has a risk of failure.

Approved changes in county deputy wage payments for nine deputies from bi-weekly to hourly as part of a requested bookkeeping procedure.  Officers are Nathan Schmuecker, Nolan Burke, Robert Stewart, all $36.59 hourly; Noah Schlabaugh, $30.30; Ethan Hansen, Jordan Uiin, Dreysen Robe, and Andrew Stanley, all $32.82 hourly.  There will be regular step raises in January, April and May.

Approved employment termination for Brittany R. Stutzman, effective August 9.

Following a five-minute recess went into closed session under Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c) regarding litigation, the same as the one of last week.  When returned to open session approved three motions to “authorize our attorneys to offer the proposed settlement to landowners as discussed in the closed session.”