BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA
REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023
At 9:00 am Vice-Chair Marcus Fedler called the meeting to order in regular session, Courthouse Chambers. Items on the agenda included: discussion/possible action re: citizen’s petition concerning potential relocation of Washington County offices; Treasurer’s Quarterly Report of Fees Collected; Veteran Affairs/General Assistance Quarterly Reports; personnel change requests–Sheriff; personnel change request–Ambulance Services; appointment of Todd Troyer to fill unexpired term as Lime Creek Township clerk which ends December 31, 2026. Supervisors Jack Seward, Jr., Stan Stoops, and Richard Young were also present. Board Chairperson Bob Yoder participated remotely.
All motions were passed unanimously by those supervisors in attendance unless noted otherwise.
The Board voted to approve the agenda as published.
Downtown Washington business owners Lorraine Williams and Karen Bates Chabal, along with others, encouraged the Board to reconsider its apparent plans to renovate county-owned facilities at Orchard Hill in order to relocate various employees of Washington County to the Orchard Hill site. Such plans are currently being considered by the Board as a solution to the problem of insufficient office space. The Board was also urged to take time to consider and research other possible solutions to the problem. A lengthy discussion ensued. Some key points included Young’s statement that fiscal responsibility is a major component in any decision reached by the Board and added that more information regarding costs was needed before a final decision could be reached with regard to spending the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Fedler stated he planned to work with staff from Encite Architecture & Design PLLC to explore other possible remedies to the problem of inadequate space. Williams forecasted that vacant stores on the Washington square will result if County offices are removed from downtown Washington and relocated to Orchard Hill. Stoops and Yoder differed with their fellow Supervisors by stating they favored the County acquiring the Federation Bank building. Seward voiced reluctance to the concept of acquiring Federation Bank and adding more square footage which he deemed as unnecessary. Fedler reminded that in addition to the purchase cost of the Federation Bank there would also be the costs of renovation and upkeep as well as the fact that the property would no longer be on the tax rolls. The Board took no formal action.
The Board voted to acknowledge the Treasurer’s Quarterly Report of Fees Collected for the 3rd Quarter of FY23 and to authorize the Vice-Chair to sign. Highlights of the report, presented by Treasurer Jeff Garrett, included total motor vehicle fees of $2,379,140.93 collected during the quarter ending March 31, 2022, with the county retaining $77,134.15 (3.2%) of that total. The report listed other fees of $116.04 collected which resulted in $77,250.19 in fees retained during the quarter. The complete report is available in the office of the Washington County Treasurer.
Veteran Services Officer Sue Rich presented the 3rd quarter Veteran Affairs report for FY23. During the quarter four applications were received with three of them being denied and one being approved for utility assistance in the amount of $98.27. The Board voted to acknowledge receipt of the 3rd quarter Veteran Affairs report for FY23. The complete report is available in the Auditor’s office.
Washington County General Assistance Director Sue Rich presented the 3rd quarter General Assistance report for FY23. During the quarter two applications for benefits were received with one being denied and one being approved for $200.00 in rent assistance. The Board voted to acknowledge receipt of the 3rd quarter General Assistance report for FY23. The complete report is available in the Auditor’s office.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Vice-Chair to sign, personnel change requests from the Sheriff for Dylan Evans who will begin duties as a non-exempt on-call Rescue Worker at the rate of $14.00 per hour effective April 25, 2023, and for Vicktoria Entsminger who will begin duties as a non-exempt on-call Rescue Worker at the rate of $14.00 per hour effective April 25, 2023. The County Auditor is hereby authorized to issue pay warrants upon proper certification from the Department Head.
The Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Vice-Chair to sign, a personnel change request from Washington County Ambulance Services for Jordan Heyvaert who will begin duties as a non-exempt regular part-time Paramedic at the rate of $30.73 per hour effective April 21, 2023. The County Auditor is hereby authorized to issue pay warrants upon proper certification from the Department Head.
The Board voted to appoint Todd Troyer to fill an unexpired term as Lime Creek Township Clerk which ends on December 31, 2026.
At 9:40 am the Board voted to adjourn.
Attest: s/DANIEL L. WIDMER, County Auditor
Published in The News, Thursday, May 11, 2023 L-142
