Board Of Supervisors Table Solid Waste Commission Appointments

By Eduardo Zamarripa, CRI Weekly News

Oskaloosa, Iowa- On Monday morning, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors tabled Solid Waste Commission appointments.

The board decided to table the discussion because of Supervisor Grerg Gordy’s absence. Supervisor Mike Vander Molen wanted to ask Gordy some questions about the commission.

In its last meeting, the board discussed re-appointing the four annual representatives for the commission. Gordy is one of the appointees, along with Peggy Wright, John Jacobs and Alan DeBruin. Gordy made a motion to re-appoint all four representatives. Vander Molen expressed concern with not having gender balance in the appointment of the representatives and suggested posting the openings for three months. However, according to Gordy, doing so would mean having interim appointees in that period of time, which would temporarily take away the county’s voting power. Supervisor Mark Doland and Gordy voted “yes” on that motion, while Van Der Molen voted “no.”

Today, the board approved creating, and posting, an application form for committee vacancies with the hope of obtaining gender balance throughout all commissions.

In addition to that, the board signed-off on two project agreements:

• Federal Aid Agreement for Project #BROS-CO62(83)-8J-62 in the estimated cost of $140,000 (This is in regards to a bridge replacement project located at 200th and 95th street. This authorizes the use of federal “bridge” money.)
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Agreement for Project L-EWP-13-62-02;L-EWP-13-62-03 (This allows the county to get reimbursed for ‘riprap’ projects. Riprap is loose stone used to form a foundation for a breakwater or other structure)

The board approved the Cost Allocation Plan for Fiscal Year 2013.

“That’s way lower than she (Community Services Director Julie Bak) thought it was, that’s really good,” Doland says.

During committee reports, Doland talked about the fixed bus route that’s being discussed by 10-15 Transit and Ottumwa Transit. Because of Affordable Care Act regulations, the organizations had to split to stay under 50 employees. Doland says the project is still moving forward, but they are trying to gather as much information as they can.

The board also received sanitarian and Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development (MCARD) reports.

The next Board of Supervisors meeting is on Dec. 2 at 9 a.m.