In their last meeting for 2022, the Washington County Supervisors Tuesday approved four-year terms for officials in 13 townships; set public hearings involving a land sale, a building demolition, and disposition of county interest in an abandoned railroad; and personnel changes.

Approval of the hearing for the disposition of the county’s interest in the abandoned railroad land between Harrison and East Old Street in Washington also had a correction of the legal description.  The hearing is set for 9 a.m. January 10.  A second hearing was also set for January 10 about the proposed demolition of the former county jail.

Two other hearings were set for January 17, one for the sale of the county-owned lot directly west of the courthouse, and one for January 24 for quotes from contractors for demolition services for the old jail.

The township appointments are four-year terms for clerks and trustees in Cedar, Crawford, Dutch Creek, English River, Franklin, Highland, Iowa, Jackson, Lime Creek, Marion, Oregon, Seventy-Six and Washington.

The other appointments are Connie Larson, for a three-year term on the county Board of Health; Dr. Paul Towner, two-year term, medical examiner; Jon Sieren, Daniel Stiger, Marion Hayes, two-year terms, medical examiner investigators; Neill Robson, Crawford Township benefited fire district, three-year term; Nancy Roth and Michelle Redlinger, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, two-year terms; and Karolyn Skubal, Washington County Land Use & Planning Commission, three-year term.

Personnel changes are Unity Stevens, County Communications, from full-time to casual part-time, effective January 9; Jerry Turner, mechanic, secondary roads, effective January 1, 2023 at $30 hourly; Clayton Morrison, GSI intern,  termination, effective December 21;  Jessica Janecek, public health/billing specialist, termination January 5; Sarah Snitch, public health social worker, regular part-time to full-time, effective January 1; and Chris Gerling, paramedic level 2, effective December 22, who is now an EMT at a different level.   

In his letter of resignation for the former position, Gerling noted that he had been informed by the department head about the class of employment and benefits as adopted by the county board and that the salary may not commence until the supervisors authorize the county auditor to issue pay checks without its prior audit. 

The board also approved the second half of the employee pay scale for 2022-2023 that had seen a three percent raise July 1 and the same for January 1.