BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA
REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023
At 9:00 am Chair Bob Yoder called the meeting to order in regular session, Courthouse Chambers. Items on the agenda included: discussion/action re: term expiration for members of the Board of Health; discussion/action re: a letter of support for the City of Riverside’s application to the IA Dept. of Natural Resources for funding assistance for the English River Water Trail Project; discussion/action re: an update to Washington County Ambulance Services Employee Manual; discussion/action re: an application form for individuals seeking positions on various Washington County boards and commissions; 2nd Tier Canvass of November 7, 2023, City/School Election. Supervisors Jack Seward Jr., Richard Young, Marcus Fedler; and Stan Stoops were also present.
The Board voted to approve the agenda as published.
The Board voted to appoint Jack Seward to a three-year term on the Washington County Board of Health that will begin on 01/01/2024, and end on 12/31/2026.
The Board voted to issue a letter of support related to an application to the IA Dept. of Natural Resources from the City of Riverside for funding assistance for the English River Water Trail Project and to authorize each Supervisor to sign the letter of support. Prior to the vote Riverside City Administrator Cole Smith shared that the proposed English River Water Trail would cover an approximate eight-mile portion of the English River beginning at the river access point near Riverside and ending at a point near River Junction where the English River empties into the Iowa River.
The Board voted to approve a revision to the Washington County Ambulance Services (WCAS) Policy Manual as follows: “Washington County Ambulance employees will be expected to work overtime by the employer for situations including, but not exclusive of, Emergency Shift Fill (24 hour or less notice) and/or Mandatory Overtime which will be compensated for hours worked at double their hourly rate. Hours do not count towards overtime.” The vote on the motion: Aye-Seward, Yoder, Fedler, Stoops; Nay-Young; Abstain-none. After the vote Stoops questioned Young regarding the reason for his nay vote. Young responded by predicting that the approved motion will result in other County departments also seeking a double rate of pay for emergency shift fill and/or mandatory overtime. Young cautioned his fellow Supervisors with regard to zealous spending and instead urged that the reason for employees failing to report to work be studied. In response to comments that he has heard from the public as to WCAS providing services Young also advocated for a study of adding a third WCAS shift as an alternative. Seward expressed agreement with Young as to considering a third shift and added that the motion passed by the Board may only be a temporary solution.
The Board briefly discussed a draft application form for individuals seeking positions on various Washington County boards and commissions but took no action pending suggested modifications to the form. The Board will again consider the plan at some point in the future when the modifications are completed.
The Board voted to accept as official the 2nd Tier results of the November 7, 2023, Washington County City/School Election as canvassed.
At 10:05 am the Board voted to adjourn.
ATTEST: s/DANIEL L. WIDMER, Washington County Auditor
Published in The News, Thursday, December 28, 2023 L-97
