County settles insurance claim
by Charlie Comfort
Oskaloosa, Iowa- After a closed session on Monday, the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to approve an insurance claim settlement. The claim dealt with an accident claim, and was presented in the closed session as a possible matter of litigation. After re-entering open session, supervisor vice-chair Willie Van Weelden revealed some details, including that the settlement amount would be $14,959.10
“My point of view is I think I would pay the amount and then it’s over,” said Van Weelden.
Supervisor Mark Groenendyk added that by settling, the county was not admitting any wrong doing.
“This is not an admission of guilt or liability or anything,” Groenendyk said.
Supervisor Chairman Mark Doland also added that it had been a very difficult decision for him to make due to two completely different legal opinions on the case, but he believed it was right to settle.
“It’s made it a little more difficult for me but I believe that it’s the right decision,” Doland said.
The board also reviewed options for masonry work at the Mahaska County Law Enforcement Center. Several different concepts were presented by county maintenance director Troy Bemis, and Mike Mollenhauer, of Shive-Hattery Architecture. No decisions were made by the board on Monday. The concepts were taken under advisement by the board and Mollenhauer will return to a future supervisor meeting to present additional secondary options to go in with the overall project. The board voted unanimously to continue the project with Shive-Hattery.
In other action, the board:
Voted unanimously to join a class action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies to recover damages from pharmaceutical companies as a result of the opioid epidemic. Supervisor Chairman Mark Doland said there has been an increase in opioid abuse in Mahaska County, including several overdose deaths, bring the lawsuit more closer to home.
Unanimously approved a variance setback request from Jeff and Carol Kelderman.
Received a report from MCARD director Deann DeGroot.
The next regular meeting of the Mahaska County Supervisors will be on January 2 at 9 am in the supervisor meeting room.
