Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius

While not an action item for the Washington County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Nov. 23, the COVID-19 federal vaccination mandate, which could affect the county’s more than 100 employees, was raised by Chairman Richard Young as “something to keep looking at,” especially as several states (including Iowa) are part of lawsuit challenging the mandate. 

Young, who stressed that while he did not vote for the mandate, he was definitely not anti-vaccination, “but it should be a  personal choice” Depending on the outcome, he told the board, “to stay on this,” and be prepared for whatever the legal outcome is.

Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr., detailing his support of vaccination, agreed it should be a choice and that the decision should not come from a bureaucratic entity, but by rule of law through legislative action.

Also discussed were COVID-19 test kits, which are available free from Washington County Public Health. However, Seward noted, they do not meet the federal requirement. The federal test is $20, and Seward said testing fees may be something the county should consider paying for its employees. Discussion also dealt with rules involving vaccination reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid because Public Health must follow federal regulations in all immunization services.

There was no dissent regarding a request to raise the employee mileage reimbursement from the state’s 39 cent per mile to the federal 56 cents per mile, an increase initiated by Public Health. The department employees accrue some 6,500 miles per month (about 80,000 yearly), much of it with their own vehicles. There is also a county vehicle for their use.

The 17 cents difference would amount to approximately $14,000 more annually, and the current department budget can cover the increase, the board was told. The board also was told the department, because of its home visits and related services, has the highest miles.

The board agreed to the raise; however, it noted it should apply to all departments and tabled action to next week when it will be an amendment item to the employee handbook.

The longest discussion involved overtime compensation for the ambulance services director who, in dealing with and meeting staff personnel shortages, accumulated 180 hours. Seward, noting the board has addressed having extra pay for extra work by employees, explained it was not a problem, that hours were tracked and that he “favorably considered” providing the compensation.

The issue is the form, whether the hours were worked as an hourly overtime rate or if the board should review and reconsider the use rate. As of the new pay schedule, approved by the board, it would be $48.26 hourly for the director. The new pay scale was approved October 26, then further clarified Nov. 2 with approval November 9. However, the third time, the director salary was pulled out pending review, especially in covering extra shifts. The increase in the salary range also addressed the paramedic shortage by making the department competitive with other entities.  Seward indicated he was confident additional personnel will be tried, but from August through November, the director had to deal with covering shifts, often by working them. 

Young, agreeing with the need for paying for the work done, said the issue will be an agenda item for next week’s meeting. 

In other business, the board:

• approved Nancy Wilson as one of its representatives to the county compensation board;

• acknowledged the $500 donation from George and Anita Moore (Moore’s Towing) to the county K-9 Unit;

• accepted the $240,8684.43 bid from Iowa Bridge & Culvert, Washington, for the Juniper Avenue RCB culvert, a new twin box project two miles east of Brighton. Other bids were $294,587.50 and $308,511.50. It also approved a resolution authorizing the county engineer to sign documents relating to the project that involves federal funding;

•approved Certification of Cost Allowance Plan with Cost Advisory Services, Inc. of Johnston to handle cost reimbursements for local  administrative expenses for the local DHA office.  The reimbursement for the year is approximately $113,894. The CAS fee is approximately $37,575; and

• learned that the county did not receive grant funds for the estimated $4.5 million McCain’s Landing project. “There were way more applicants than usual,” said County Engineer Jacob  Thorius, adding that “we will continue to work on bits and pieces of this down the road,” and also will see about how it will be part of the new five-year road plan.