WASHINGTON

Washington County supervisors Tuesday tabled a data request from the state Health Human Services (HHS) department pending an update and clarification about exactly what local data is being sought and what protections will be in place regarding use of the information. The board will delay action until the request is clarified.

In a related item, the board discussed HIPPA training for county staff, noting that a series from the ISAC HIPPA Program would be $1,950 annually. The current contract with Carosh Compliance Solutions of Crown Point, Indiana expires April12 and may be renewed at the current fee of $10,800. After noting the difference in costs, board members tabled action to next week to allow time to review the options. However, there was agreement that the lower fee would be a factor.

Following a presentation from Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson, Child Welfare and Decategorization Director of Southeast Iowa Early Childhood Development, the board unanimously approved a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county. It joins other ones nationwide.

During her report, Wetjen-Kesterson noted that the major problem comes under various forms of neglect and that prevention needs community effort from a partnership among all programs and services. Child abuse prevention efforts in this area have existed for decades, she noted.

In the proclamation, read by board chairman Richard Young, the partnership was stressed as a way to create awareness of the problem and the means to prevent it.

In other business, the board approved a letter of support for PAWS & More regarding a T-Mobile grant to aid in making PAWS’ new facility handicapped accessible. It was also noted that PAWS, aka Washington County Humane Society, has provided county services since l978 and that it, in the last year, provided shelter for more than 180 animals.

The board also approved the quarterly report from Secondary Roads noting vegetation control, road surface patching, completion of the Lexington Boulevard grading project, Phase I of the Dogwood Avenue project and plans for the Tupelo Bridge replacement.

In clearing county ditches, three chairs, a mattress, a bed frame and a treadmill were removed. There also was multiple roadkill, noted county engineer Jacob Thorius.

The board also approved an agreement between the county and the Iowa Department of Transportation for a bridge replacement on 110th Street over Deer Creek, with an estimated cost of $11 million, with the majority coming from federal bridge and transportation funding. Completion is expected by Summer 2026. Any project costs not reimbursed by highway bridge program funds will be paid by the county.

The board also approved the appointment of Derek Anding to the Magistrate Commission, replacing Ann Williams, who had resigned.

At the start of the meeting, during public comments, the board was asked by J.J. Johnson of Kalona to follow a provision at the bottom of Chapter 216 of the state code and enact civil rights protection for transgender individuals in the county. He asked that the county emulate the action already taken in Waterloo, Decorah and Johnson County, stressing the board has “the legal authority and moral responsibility” to do so.