Mahaska Board of Supervisors met Monday and again the issue of behavior health took center stage. The supervisors continue to struggle with how best to handle the behavioral health issue since Department of Human Services Director Charles Palmer denied the existence of the Mid-Iowa Region that contained Mahaska and Marion County.

Board member Willie Van Weelden said he was willing to begin the process to apply to the southern region that contains Wapello, Davis and Appanoose counties. Board chair Mark Doland said he met with the southern region in Bloomfield and there is some willingness for the region to consider the inclusion of Mahaska County.

Board member Mike Vander Molen is insistent that any option should include Marion County as a partner. The snag is that Marion County is not contiguous to any of the south region counties. Vander Molen asked if Mahaska and Marion could apply as a region to join the south.

Julie Bak, Mahaska County’s representative to Mid-Iowa Region said Mahaska would have to be accepted before Marion could be admitted to the region. The board decided to wait until they hear from the state on the appeal before moving forward with an application.

Joe Durian representing the Veteran’s Affairs Commission requesting the movement of Karie Foster to full-time as director. Foster has been on the job since 2005. The board was not against the move, but unsure if there was enough money in the Veteran’s Affairs budget to cover the change.

The commission has allocated $17,971 for the position, but is asking to move to a $45,000 salary plus benefits. Auditor Sue Brown said the benefits package would be about $14,000. Vander Molen asked Durian and the commissioners to look at their budget. The board left the possibility of a graduated increase in hours toward a full-time position. Durian said the commission would look at the information and get back to the board.

The board has decided not to become part of a 28E agreement for the Cedar Creek Watershed Project. The board cited uncertainty on possible funding that may be ongoing once implemented.

Doland will attend the monthly meeting with the landfill and inquire about the possibility of placing a household hazardous waste center at the county landfill. The board would like to pursue working with another county to place a satellite placement in Mahaska County. Doland will bring the interest level from the meeting back to the Aug. 17 meeting.

In other business:

Approved payroll changes in the Assessor, Treasurer, and secondary roads departments

Approved $1,250 for paving of Old White Cemetery

Extended deadline to complete cleanup of Country Life to Nov. 30

Approved letter of authorization for DOT driver license services

Approved seeking a seasonal employee

Accepted bid from Iowa Bridge for $139,153.53 for work on the bridge on 305th Street west of Rutledge

Story provided by RD Keep