Posted: 9/12/06
Public health, human services wonít be combined for now
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County will not be consolidating the human services and public health nursing departments in the near future.
The board had discussed that possibility earlier this year as it sought a replacement for public health director Linda Grupa.
A committee of department workers and commissioners decided not to recommend the idea.
Commissioner Ann Thompson said the county would have to hire additional staff in public health to make it work. It could be looked at down the road, she said.
Most counties that consolidate those two departments donít do home care, commissioner Kevin Kelleher added. He called home care the economic engine of the department. ìWe basically donít use any taxes for that department,î he said.
To make consolidation work, the county would have to hire a person with that expertise, Kelleher said.
The county will now advertise again for a public health director with a home care emphasis. The county did so earlier this year, and had picked a finalist, but the person turned the job offer down.
Transport officers get raise
In other personnel business, the board approved a pay increase for transport officers in the sheriffís department, from $10 per hour to $10.50 per hour. A cost of living adjustment will then be implemented effective January 1, 2007.
Personnel director Tim Comstock said the officers had gone several years without a raise. ìThey do provide a valuable service to the county,î he said. The estimated cost is $100 per month.
Jailer/dispatcher Jennifer Blocker was also approved to regular status from probationary.
Wetland approved
The county approved a wetland application by Don Bissen of Hokah. Environmental services director Rick Frank approved the plan. He said a technical evaluation panel (TEP) of federal, state, and local agencies had approved it also.
Bissen will be filling a site inside the city limits of Hokah and replacing it with wetlands partially inside the city and partially in Hokah Township.
Bill Von Arx of Caledonia noted that the mitigation land was close to the Root River. He said there could be conflicting aspects to that fact, with concern about erosion along streams. He asked if the setback was realistic given itís in a flooding area.
Frank answered that the TEP had looked at that, and that the site is 90 feet from the banks of the Root River. He said it would be revegetated and put into native trees that go with the floodplain.
Other business
ï Hangar sold: The board approved the purchase of the hangar on lot 10 at the Houston County Airport by Greg Wennes of Spring Grove. He bought it from Pat Delaney of La Crescent. The county charges an annual lease fee of $166 on the lot.
ï Proposed levy increase: Commissioners approved a proposed levy increase of 8.9 percent. A final levy will be approved in December. It can be lower than 8.9 percent, but not higher. The total levy is $6,917,500, compared to $6,352,000 that was certified in 2006.
Commissioners went over budgets line by line with department heads on August 29, Kelleher said.
Thompson said the increase is mainly due to higher mileage, health insurance, and retirement costs.
Another big increase is the cost of boarding prisoners, Thompson said. The county budgeted $50,000 for this in 2005, and the cost was $160,000. For 2006 the budget was $100,000 and the cost as of June 30 was $149,7829. The county has budgeted $250,000 for it in 2007. That expense will be mostly eliminated except for juveniles when the new criminal justice center is built, Thompson said.
ï Culvert bids approved: The board approved bids for two box culverts, one on Whitetail Drive in Crooked Creek Township for $164,221, and one for Peyton Valley Road in Winnebago Township for $108,229. Kimball Construction of Houston was the low bidder on each project.
ï New engineer: Tim Comstock introduced new county engineer Marcus Evans to the board. His first day was September 5.
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