South Central Reporter

Washington County Board of Supervisors met October 16. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

Vice Chairperson Robert C. Yoder called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Courthouse chambers in regular session. Items on the agenda included the following: Domestic Violence Intervention Proclamation; Urban Renewal Agreement with City of Washington; supplement to existing agreement for services with Terracon Consultants Inc.; Quarterly Report - Veteran Affairs; Quarterly Report - General Assistance; Quarterly Report – Recorder; Quarterly Report – Sheriff; Quarterly Report – Auditor; public comment. Supervisors Stan Stoops, Richard Young, and Jack Seward, Jr., were also present. Supervisor Abe Miller was absent.

Others attending were: Sally Hart, KCII Radio; Mary Zielinski, The News; Dave Hotle, Washington Evening Journal; Marissa Reisen, County Emergency Management Director; Cyndie Sinn, County IT/Budget Director; John Gish, County Attorney; Danielle Pettit-Majewski, County Public Health Director; Jeff Garrett, County Treasurer; Jo Greiner, County Recorder; Shawn Ellingson and Bill Fiordelise, County Sheriff’s Office; Xiomara Levsen, Domestic Violence Intervention; Amber Williams, Board of Supervisors Administrative Assistant; and citizens Jeff Thomann, Charlotte Stalder, Denny Stalder, and Les Zickefoose.

All motions were passed unanimously by those Supervisors in attendance unless noted otherwise.

On motion by Stoops, seconded by Young, the Board voted to approve the agenda after it was amended to delete the following: Quarterly Report - Veteran Affairs; Quarterly Report - General Assistance. Both items will appear on the October 23, 2018 Board of Supervisors agenda.

Xiomara Levsen, Client Services Coordinator at Domestic Violence Intervention Program, shared that her organization provides services which include financial, medical, judicial, and victim advocacy services to victims and/or survivors of domestic violence that reside in Washington County as well as seven other counties in eastern Iowa. She stated that during the previous calendar year 46 clients were served in Washington County while in Iowa since 1995 there have been 305 deaths related to domestic violence which includes 22 last year and 10 so far in 2018. Levsen maintains office hours of 10:00 a.m. until noon at the Washington Public Library on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. No appointment is necessary. In Washington County, according to Levsen, approximately 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence while 1 in 8 men and 1 in 8 children also experience domestic violence. On motion by Young, seconded by Seward, the Board voted to approve a proclamation related to Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2018 and to authorize the Vice Chairperson to sign the proclamation on behalf of the Board. The proclamation is as follows:

                                                          Proclamation

                                        Domestic Violence Awareness Month

                                                         October 2018

WHEREAS, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking affects women, children and men of all racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, causing long-term physical, psychological and emotional harm; and

WHEREAS, one in three Americans has witnessed an incident of domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, children who experience domestic violence are at a higher risk for failure in school, mental illness, substance abuse, suicide, and may choose violence as a way to solve problems later in life; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence in rural communities exists as a hidden, silent and often unrecognized crime that is often underreported; and

WHEREAS, through the inspiration, courage and persistence of victims of domestic violence, their children and advocates, our communities are learning to recognize the impact of violence in the home and within intimate relationships; and

WHEREAS, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program has worked to end violence in intimate relationships for more than 39 years through the collaborative partnerships of advocates, volunteers, local municipalities, criminal justice, health and human services, faith communities, business leaders and private citizens; and

WHEREAS, our community’s achievements should be commended and we must continue our commitment to respect and support victims of domestic violence and to prevent future violence in our community.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, the Washington County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2018 to be:

                                             Domestic Violence Awareness Month

in Washington County, Iowa, and urge all citizens to work together to eliminate domestic violence, dating violence and stalking from our community.

On motion by Seward, seconded by Young, the Board voted to approve a joint urban renewal agreement with the City of Washington and to authorize the Vice Chairperson to sign the agreement on behalf of the Board.

On motion by Seward, seconded by Young, the Board voted to approve a supplement to an existing agreement for services with Terracon Consultants Inc. (Terracon) and to authorize Young to sign the document on behalf of the Board. The supplemental agreement is related to an original September 20, 2018 agreement with Terracon to provide soil boring services related to the planned construction of a new Communications building. The supplemental agreement allows Terracon to drill one additional hole than originally planned as a part of an anticipated geothermal system. Seward stated that the motion related to the supplemental agreement designated Young to sign the agreement due to Young’s familiarity with the proposed radio system.

On motion by Seward, seconded by Young, the Board voted to acknowledge receipt of the Recorder’s 1st quarter report for FY 2019 and to authorize the Vice Chairperson to sign the report on behalf of the Board. The report, presented by County Recorder Jo Greiner, reflected revenues for the quarter in the amount of $110,314.62 with the county retaining $44,324.59. According to Greiner a total of 1,208 documents were recorded during the quarter and she stated that in addition during the quarter her office handled 49 marriage applications, 125 passport applications, and 183 boat, ATV and snowmobile renewals and new registrations. A total of 600 certified copies of birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses were provided to the public. Greiner noted that during the quarter her office recorded the first housing subdivision in the County of more than two lots in over two years. The subdivision, called Pennsylvania Townhomes, is located in Washington. Greiner’s complete report is available in the office of the Washington County Auditor.

On motion by Young, seconded by Seward, the Board voted to acknowledge receipt of the County Sheriff’s quarterly report for the 1st quarter of FY 2019. The report, presented by Deputy Bill Fiordelise, included a beginning balance of $13,552.92, total receipts including unallocated funds in the amount of $65,949.97, total disbursements of $65,949.97, and an ending balance of $3,781.54. Fiordelise also reported fees totaling approximately $27,000.00 were collected during the quarter. The complete report is available in the office of the Washington County Auditor.

On motion by Stoops, seconded by Seward, the Board voted to acknowledge receipt of the County Auditor’s report for the 1st quarter of FY 2019 and to authorize the Vice Chairperson to sign the report on behalf of the Board. The report, presented by County Auditor Dan Widmer, reflected revenues for the quarter in the amount of $1,792.50. Of this total, $1,675.00 resulted from transfer fees, $80.00 came from the sale of plat books, $4.00 resulted from the sale of E911 maps, $3.50 for providing copies, $20.00 for providing election services, and $10.00 for providing one fireworks permit. The complete report is available in the office of the Washington County Auditor.

There was no public comment

At 9:28 a.m. on motion by Stoops, seconded by Young, the Board voted to adjourn.

http://co.washington.ia.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10162018-325