WASHINGTON

Personnel changes for four departments, a DOT reconstruction agreement, and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding provision for a mental health patient advocacy were all unanimously approved by the Washington County supervisors Tuesday, July 3.

The agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is for asphalt resurfacing, with milling, on Iowa Highway 78 from the intersection of Highway 1 in Brighton to the west corporate limits of Wayland. All costs, other than those specifically allocated in the agreement, will be paid by the DOT.

The project involves Washington, Jefferson and Henry counties and is for paved approaches along Highway 78 from Brighton to the Jefferson County line and will see paved side roads at 335th Street, both east and west sides of Highway 78, and at Kiwi Avenue, north side of Highway 78. Total estimated cost to the counties for their project share is $37,282.

The Memorandum of Understanding is to provide Mental Health Patient Advocacy between the participating counties of Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren and Washington and Des Moines County. It provides for the cost of the advocate service (representation for a non-voluntary commitment of a patient) and, as noted during the meeting, is part of the transitioning from county departments to the new central state ASO with the state covering the cost of the service. The memorandum continues a process that has been in effect for about 14 years, and to date, as noted by supervisor Richard Young, has not cost the county anything.

Personnel changes are Hogan Miller, ambulance services paramedic, $29.52 to $31.54 hourly, effective May 25; Haley M. Byrge, Washington County jailer, $24.18 hourly, effective May 23; Ava Wulf, Conservation naturalist intern, second summer, from $10 to $12 hourly, effective June 5; Frederick Engel, Conservation maintenance technician, full time to casual part-time, from $30.48 to $25.00 hourly, effective June 5; Laurelin Geno, Conservation naturalist intern, $10 hourly, effective May 27; Jackson Zahradnek, engineering summer intern, second summer, $18 to $18.75 hourly, effective June 3. Action for Paul Young as a Conservation summer aide at $11 hourly, effective June 9, was tabled to next week for paperwork review.

In other business, the board approved installation of an additional thermostat for the radiant heating panel in restroom 218 at Orchard Hill at a total cost of $1,092.90 and learned that moisture condensation issues in Buildings 2 and 3 will be addressed; however, all work in on schedule at Orchard Hill and at the courthouse remodeling.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Chairman Young announced that “we are now at two candidates” for the Emergency Management Services director position with a hiring expected soon.