Eggs & Issues Cooks Up Local Discussion
Issues switched from state to local issues on Saturday for Eggs and Issues. Left to right is; Natalie Spray, Jay Christensen, Mike Vander Molen, Michael Schrock.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Eggs & Issues had a different flavor Saturday, as state legislators were unable to be in attendance due to county party conventions.
In their place were: Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock, Mahaska County Supervisor Mike Vander Molen, Mahaska Health Partnership CEO Jay Christensen and Natalie Spray, who is part of the Oskaloosa Blue Zone Project.
The representatives from each group opened with remarks, beginning with Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock. Schrock said that even with all of the different snow events, the city is within its budget for snow removal this year, and has salt yet, “We’re pretty fortunate in that regard.”
Schrock also stated that the Oskaloosa City Council has authorized spring clean-up once again this year. Last year the city removed 134 tons of debris from the city during the spring clean-up event or 166 truck-loads. The tentative dates for clean-up this year are April 28th through May 1st.
Mike Vander Molen updated those in attendance with how the county secondary roads are coping with the winter weather, and its snow removal process. “I know our road crews have been out over 30 times this winter,” said Vander Molen. He added that the overtime and salt usages cut into the budget, “but it’s important that we keep the roads as clear as possible.”
Vander Molen explained that the budget for the year has been finalized, and with it was a decrease in the mental health levy to zero for this year, as the current balance was great enough to cover this fiscal year. There was also a decrease in the general supplemental levy of thirty cents.
Vander Molen touched on Emergency Management’s launch of the county wide Haz-Mat service that is being handled by the New Sharon, Cedar Township and Oskaloosa Fire Departments. He also expressed that the mental health region should be in place by July of this year.
Mahaska Health Partnership’s CEO Jay Christensen took his turn to talk about the hospital’sr accomplishments during the past year. Recruitment has been a focus for the hospital during the past year. “We’ve actually added 8 physicians and 5 nurse practitioners in the last 18 months,” said Christensen. “Or goal is, on the short run, to be able to get appointments within 24 hours. On most days, you could get a same day appointment. It may not be with your usual provider, but you could get a same day appointment.”
“We opened our new wing,” Christensen said. He expressed the importance of that expansion to the hospital.
Family Medical Center was also integrated into the hospital this past year. “That’s one of those things that’s a short 8 years of work,” said Christensen on integration.
The hospital is also upgrading their electronic medical records and will be going live with the updated technology on April 28th.
Natalie Spray with the Oskaloosa Blue Zone Project spoke about their goal of improving the community well-being. “Blue Zones Project is a community lead initiative,” said Spray.
Spray said that the Blue Zone Project is working with the Oskaloosa City Council, schools, restaurants and businesses. Oskaloosa is one of 15 communities in the United States to be selected as a Blue Zones demonstration site. “It’s an opportunity to show the nation what Oskaloosa is about,” said Spray.
There will be a kick-off event that is open to the public, and is scheduled for Monday, April 14, starting at 5:00 pm.
