LOST Fund Usage Still Center Of Conversation
Mahaska-County-Courthouse
Oskaloosa, Iowa – A small agenda for the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors, as they continued their discussion on what may potentially be the future for LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) funds that go to the county.
The Supervisors appointed Willie Van Weelden to represent the Board on the committee that is exploring the needs of early childhood development and recreation in the county. A committee has been formed by various government entities along with MCDG and the YMCA to explore the needs and options available to help provide childcare and recreation for those in the community.
The Supervisors haven’t necessarily rejected being a part of the coalition of entities that could support such an effort, but have publicly supported the proposed environmental learning center that would be built at Caldwell Park.
In a public meeting held the first part of October, area residents came out to share their thoughts about what the county should use those sales tax dollars for. A majority spoke in favor of the early childhood development and recreation project, with the project at Caldwell Park coming in next on constituents list.
Steve Wanders of the local Farm Bureau spoke to the Supervisors during public comment about his view on where those dollars should be spent. “Me personally, I think it all needs to go to secondary roads,” said Wanders. “Our semis are getting bigger, our honey-wagons are getting bigger, our wagons are getting bigger. The roads are getting beat. It takes money.”
The Board appointed Supervisor Mark Doland to the South Central Behavioral Health Region as representative for the mental health region that the county recently joined.
The Supervisors also heard the MCARD report, accepted 1st Quarter Reports from the Sheriff and Recorder, and approved the liquor license for Peppers Inc.
The Board also approved a Low-Water Stream Crossing for a level B road in the county, and approved online security awareness training from the State of Iowa. The security training utilizes resources available from Secure The Human website.
