Mahaska County Hires New Deputy
Oskaloosa, Iowa – In the first regular scheduled meeting since the election, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors were one member short, as newly re-elected Mark Doland was absent while he took part in a trip overseas.
For the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, Oskaloosa Police Officer Brent DeRonde was hired to fill the position currently held by retiring Mahaska County Deputy Lyle Dickey. DeRonde will join the Sheriff’s Office on December 1st, 2014.
The Mahaska County Sanitarian and Conservation submitted their reports to the Supervisors in earlier written formats to the board. Each of those departments are overseen by their own respective boards and report to the Supervisors as a courtesy.
MCARD Director DeGroot updated the board about Opportunity Squared and the group’s website work that is ongoing. The MCARD group is also working hand-in-hand on the Oskaloosa rebranding effort with the Roger Brooks committee.
MCARD and Main Street Oskaloosa toured with Iowa DOT along A Avenue and Market to discuss sign pollution along the corridors.
The Supervisors also heard from the Mahaska County Treasurers Office about a request to increase their percentages. Mike Vander Molen, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said that those requests for pay increases are heard at budget time.
Supervisor Greg Gordy spoke of his concern that it would be a half-year worth of salary increases that would be un-budgeted. Mahaska County Treasurer Sone Scott said that, if the current fiscal year continues the same as the past two, there would be sufficient funds to cover the increase in pay.
Vander Molen said that Scott could write in the proposed pay increases into her next fiscal year budget, “but it doesn’t mean you will get them, necessarily.”
New Mahaska County Attorney Amy Zenor passed along a proposal from former County Attorney Charles Stream. Stream has offered to donate up to 60 hours a year to the county to allow Zenor’s continuing education opportunities or other out of office needs.
The Supervisors approved a motion to allow Stream to donate the 60 hours yearly without compensation.