September 8, 2022
Supervisor Wilmarth called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
The Board stood and said the pledge of allegiance.
Roll call Supervisors: Horton, Fitzgerald, and Wilmarth and Auditor Bethany Murphy. Also, present Kim Watson, Justin Savage, Jim Rowe, Frank Houchin and Kevin Coleman.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to approve the agenda for today’s meeting with the addition of hiring an Auditor’s Office Clerk and the minutes of the last meeting. Motion carried 3-0
Frank Houchin was present as let the Board know that he was not thrilled with a low water crossing as a permanent solution.
Ryan and Layne Thornton joined the meeting with concerns on the same bridge in Holt Township.
Kim Watson suggested closing the road for safety precautions.
Layne Thornton asked how may bridges would be closed in the next 10 years. Savage said ruffly 20 bridges. Thornton said the county needs a plan on how to fix the bridges instead of just closing them. Savage does have a plan for 5year and 10 years. In the plan it does contain over 50 bridges that are going to be replaced or rehabbed by the roads department.
There were no committee reports.
The Board tabled the decision on the Holt 21 bridge until they have heard back from the landowner where the possible low water crossing could go temporarily.
Houchin, Rowe, Thorntons, and Coleman left the meeting.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to go into closed session under Iowa code 21.5.1.i to discuss personnel matters. Motion carried 3-0.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to come out of closed session. Motion carried 3-0.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to approve the new hires at Secondary Roads Kevin Freshour and Zach Haffner.
Conservation Director Nick Fehring joined the meeting to hire Rod Willits for a part time position. The Conservation Board met and set the salary for the new Conservation Tech at $39,000.00 and move the current Sanitarian to $47,000.00. Conservation has this in their budget currently and will not need an amendment for this. Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to approve the part time employee and the new salary for the Conservation Tech at $39,000.00 and the current Sanitarian to $47,000.00. Motion carried 3-0.
They are looking to put in a disk golf course at Wilson Lake.
IT Director Josh Good joined the meeting.
Horton made a motion seconded by Fitzgerald to go in to closed session under Iowa Code 22.7(50). Motion carried 3-0.
Horton made a motion seconded by Fitzgerald to come out of closed session. Motion carried 3-0.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to approve the Office 365 Renewal for $9996.00 to come from Infrastructure Funds. Motion carried 3-0.
The Board tabled the decision on the server maintenance agreement until next week.
Richard Brown, Mayor of Blockton presented taxes that were sent to the city that he would like abated. The tax is $324.00 for the year. Horton made the motion seconded by Fitzgerald to abate the taxes for the City of Blockton. Motion carried 3-0.
Crystal Drake joined the meeting to discuss the bid packets.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to revise the minutes of the Public Health portion of the meeting from the August 25, 2022 minutes. Motion carried 3-0. Below are the minutes the way Crystal Drake would like them written.
The Board discussed transportation needs in the County due to lack of driver availability. They discussed other options that surrounding areas have done to provide needed transportation. No action was taken.
Crystal Drake, Public Health Director, provided information on a meeting she attended with The Food Bank of Iowa. Food insecurity is becoming a bigger concern as prices increase and grants ended that pay for school lunches. Currently Taylor County has Food Pantries in Lenox and Bedford. They get their food from a variety of sources. Crystal mentioned the option of emergency food boxes provided from The Food Bank of Iowa and keeping them on-hand for homebound individuals. Crystal discussed with the Board the desire of Public Health to partner with both local food pantries on future food availability.
Recently the American Heart Association contacted Taylor County Public Health on a new program they are providing in rural areas called HEARTCorps. The program supports heart disease education and partnerships with local clinics, pharmacies, and other organizations to improve blood pressure awareness and control. AHA is interested in having a member serve Taylor County and surrounding areas. The member would be based in the Taylor County Public Health office. As part of this opportunity the Hemsley Foundation will give each hosting agency a $10,000 grant to use for future initiatives with heart education and monitoring.
(USDA Grant paragraph is OK)
Crystal provided information on the IT grant that TCPH was awarded to help update a wide variety of technologies in the Public Health office. Part of this money was to be used to bore fiber internet to the new public health office at 203 Main. The Board stated that this part of the project could be started.
Ron is working with Gina Warren from Diagonal Lumber to draw up more detailed plans on the new Public Health building. Duane Werner is finishing up the HVAC plans and will be paid the remainder of his subcontract upon completion. The Board asked Crystal to talk to Drake Electric about preparing an electrical plan for the new public health building. The Board is working to secure a plan for plumbing.
(CDBG paragraph is OK – no action was taken to pursue this grant)
Public Health provided an update to the Board on health-related concerns they are monitoring including COVID-19, Monkeypox, and Polio. At this time no polio boosters for children are recommended.
TCPH is awaiting FDA approval of a COVID-19 booster. The updated booster will cover the current prevalent strains of the Omicron variant. Once approved and available, Public Health will work with county vaccine providers to administer this booster shot.
(Car paragraph is OK)
Auditor Murphy recommend Holly Cavin to be hired for the clerk position in the Auditor’s Office. Horton made a motion seconded by Fitzgerald to approve Holly Cavin to start as Auditor Clerk at $18.00 per hour. Motion carried 3-0.
Fitzgerald made a motion seconded by Horton to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
Pam Wilmarth, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
Attest: Bethany Murphy, Auditor
