In action similar to that of last year, Washington County supervisors, at their Nov. 26 meeting, approved a motion for zero increase in the operational budget for justifiable increases.

Although wages and benefits are part of the total county budget, since there has been no recommendation yet from the county compensation board, who last year set a 3% increase, that aspect was not addressed.

The compensation board is expected to meet this week. The Board of Supervisors can accept whatever the recommendation is or make cuts to it.

In other business, the board:

• Received a fiscal 2019 report from HACAP, noting that 2,204 people in county households were served between Oct. 1, 2018, and Sept. 30, 2019, a 4% increase from the previous year.

In total low-come households received $1.3 million in assistance. The report also noted “lots more homeless” are seeking help and that all HACAP housing is “completely full.”

There also was a 5% increase in 492 low-come household receiving a total of $425,915 in LiHEAP energy assistance. HACAP is requesting $120,000 allocation from the county to maintain its county operations, which include the local housing program at Old Main, local emergency social services program at Orchard Hill and Head Start, also at Orchard Hill. HACAP has operated in the county for more than 44 years.

• Approved the county bridge inspection and rating program for 2020-21 with Calhoun and Burns Associates, Des Moines at a cost of $4,350 monthly.

• Approved a purchase agreement with CellSiteSolutions LC of Cedar Rapids for radio equipment shelters at antenna sites at a cost of $40,922.50. The units are part of the county’s Communications Project that includes the new communications center at Orchard Hill.