May 1, 2023

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in a special joint session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present, along with members of the Benton County Board of Health. The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. at the Benton County Service Center Conference Room. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov ( https://www.youtube.com/bentoncountyiowa)

The purpose of today's joint meeting, was to continue discussing the route needed to go regarding Benton County Public Health. Members of the Board of Health present were Chairman, Dr. Maggie Mangold, Lisa Staab and Braxton Morrison. Maggie Mangold provided the update from their recent board meeting. In prior topic, they were looking into Buchanan County as an option to see if there was interest to sub-contract. Buchanan county does not have the capacity for that but would be willing to mentor. So back to the structure of how things are currently and the two options moving forward towards being county based again for providing public health. Mangold provided handouts with two options, making note that Board of Health recently voted to go with the 2nd option. The first option was similar to the current situation with Supervisors and Board of Health both having control over the Environmental Health and the BOH being over a Public Health Administrator in which currently we are contracting with Virginia Gay Hospital and Katie Cox is the Public Health Nurse. The 2nd option would be that the Supervisors would keep control over the Land Use Administrator and the BOH would oversee both the Public Health Staff along with Environmental Health. There was also discussion regarding the budget and office space. Lisa Staab reported on the earlier sub-committee meeting this morning, herself along with BOH member Kaitlin Emrich had with Auditor Hayley Rippel. Rippel explained the current spending authority and how the areas fall within the different funds and service areas. Staab understands the dollar amount they have to work with in both areas of public health and environmental health and trying to come up with a salary and other items needed. The county could amend and build line items accordingly going forward. Barb Greenlee and Matt Even, Benton County Land Use and Health Department employees also spoke up stating they would like it to continue as is for the environmental health department. Currently their salaries are split between Land Use and Health Department in the county budget. Former Land Use Administrator Marc Greenlee oversaw both the Land Use and Health Department. Supervisors controlled the Land Use portion of the budget and the BOH controlled the Health Department portion. Time is dwindling down, and the BOH would like to get a job description together and salary pinned down so they could advertise for the position or positions depending what is decided moving forward, along with where they will house the individual and where the existing Public Health supplies and equipment will need to go as well. Supervisor Primmer suggested another board meeting with just the 3 supervisors tomorrow afternoon and then reporting back to the Board Of Health so they can act accordingly at their upcoming meeting.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To adjourn at 11:33 a.m. Motion carried.

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

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