PROCEEDINGS OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024
At 9:00 a.m. Chairperson Richard Young called to order in regular session a meeting of the Washington County Board of Supervisors which took place in the Washington County Courthouse. Items on the agenda included the following: Pledge of Allegiance; approval of agenda; public comment related to agenda items; discussion and action regarding Resolution 24-32 to Publish Notice of Meetings to Declare Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Essential Service in Washington County, Iowa, as Authorized by Iowa Code Section 422D, discussion and action regarding establishment of public meetings to consider the passage of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an essential service in Washington County; personnel change request – Ambulance; department head comment; adjourn. Supervisors Bob Yoder, Jack Seward, Marcus Fedler, and Stan Stoops were also present.
Other individuals in attendance included Kalen McCain with the SE Iowa Union along with County Attorney Nathan Repp, and Board of Supervisors Administrative Assistant Amber Williams. Various other individuals listened and/or watched remotely by way of electronic means.
Fedler led the individuals assembled in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
All motions were passed unanimously unless noted otherwise.
On motion by Stoops, seconded by Fedler, the Board voted to approve the agenda as published.
There was no public comment.
On motion by Fedler, seconded by Stoops, the Board voted by way of roll call vote to approve Resolution 24-32 as follows and to authorize the Chairperson to sign Resolution 24-32 on behalf of the Board.
RESOLUTION 24-32
A RESOLUTION TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF MEETING TO DECLARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA, AS AUTHORIZED BY IOWA CODE SECTION 422D.1
WHEREAS, the Washington County Board of Supervisors has the authority under Iowa Code 331.301(1) to … “exercise any power and perform any function it deems appropriate to protect and preserve the rights, privileges, and property of the county or of its residents, and to preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of its residents”; and
WHEREAS, the Washington County Board of Supervisors recognizes the public need for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Washington County and has demonstrated its support of the Washington County EMS system by its 2021 appointment of the Washington County EMS Advisory Council and charging the Council to provide guidance, research, assessment, budgeting, and recommendations related to EMS in Washington County to the Washington County Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 422D.1 was amended and signed into law by Governor Reynolds in 2021, giving Iowa counties the ability to declare EMS as an essential service for their respective county, thereby making it possible for counties to propose funding sources for EMS to the county’s voters at an election, including a local option income surtax or an ad valorem property tax not to exceed seventy-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed value on all taxable property within the county; and
WHEREAS, the Washington County EMS Advisory Council has submitted its recommendations to the Washington County Board of Supervisors and has requested the Washington County Board of Supervisors to move forward with the process outlined in Iowa Code 422D and to declare EMS as an essential service in Washington County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Washington County Board of Supervisors, that
1. The first of three meetings required by Iowa Code 422D in order to pass a resolution declaring EMS an essential service in Washington County will occur on December 23, 2024; and
2. Notice of this meeting scheduled for December 23, 2024, shall be published on or before October 24, 2024, in both of the official publications for Washington County that meet the requirements of Iowa Code Section 618.14.
NOW, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, if a proposition to fund EMS fails to receive a favorable vote by at least sixty percent of those voting on the question, this Resolution 24-32 shall be deemed null and void.
HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors for Washington County, Iowa on this 17th day of October, 2024.
RICHARD L. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Washington County Board of Supervisors
Attest:
DANIEL L. WIDMER
Auditor
On motion by Seward, seconded by Stoops, the Board voted to authorize the Washington County Auditor to submit for publication in the two official County publications a notice of public hearing related to the establishment of Emergency Medical Services as an Essential Service in Washington County. .
On motion by Fedler, seconded by Stoops, the Board voted to acknowledge, and authorize the Chairperson to sign, a personnel change request from Washington County Ambulance Services for Joe Fulitano whose final day of employment occurred October 14, 2024.
There was no department head comment.
At 9:17 a.m. on motion by Seward, seconded by Stoops, the Board voted to adjourn.
ATTEST:s/DANIEL L. WIDMER, County Auditor
Published in The News, Thursday, December 12, 2024 L-169