MCARD Future Takes Step Forward
Mahaska County Supervisors for August 20, 2012
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Mahaska County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Monday August 20, 2012.
After general housekeeping, the discussion settled down to MCARD (Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development) and the course of action to be taken after the resignation of Miranda Johnson.
Johnson resigned to take a teaching position, and since that point Deann De Groot has been filling the position on an interim basis. Supervisor Ken Roozenboom, who sits on the MCARD board, said that it would be advisable to hire a facilitator to review the needs and staffing in the future.
The facilitator would most likely come from a program at ISU and the review would cost approximately $500.00. Rozenboom made a motion to have the county pick up half the cost of the fee for the facilitator.
Supervisor Greg Gordy questioned the need for the county to help fund that project, as the county already helps sustain the department with a $25,000 contribution towards MCARD annually.
After further discussion, the request for the additional funds was tabled, and Rozenboom made the motion for the hiring of the facilitator to move forward using current MCARD funds.
The August 6th agenda item of installing a cellular reception booster antenna to the County owned building occupied by DHS (Department of Human Services) was taken back up.
Supervisor Greg Gordy expressed concern that language in the contract states that if DHS were to leave, it could take the equipment that the County had helped to pay for with them.
He said that the State doesn’t help to reimburse for cell phone usage by the employees. He also brought up that, in the past few years, the County had installed a new phone system, along with voice mail. Gordy thought that the amount for the new phone and voice mail system was nearly $12,000.
Rozenboom said that most business is done by cell phone, and it’s helping to provide a service to the residents of Mahaska County.
Rozenboom and Van Weelden voted to approve the cellular contract with Gordy voting no. The measure passed.
