County extends agreement for mental health services

Jefferson County Board of Supervisors member Lee Dimmitt Monday brought a consideration to extend a 28E Agreement with Southeast Iowa Case Management for 90 days.

?An extension of 90 days gives counties a chance to decide what they want to do based on District 5?s meeting,? said Dimmitt.

In May, the governor signed new legislation that shifts control over Medicaid-funded mental health services from counties to the state. The change is part of larger reforms of Iowa?s mental health care system designed to make services more uniform, in part by taking control away from each of Iowa?s 99 counties. ?This new law will take away county control of county taxes for mental health services and give the control to regional directors,? said Dimmitt. ?The state is planning to spend $25 million less annually on mental health. The Department of Human Services is planning to layoff 100 workers statewide, through attrition and retirements. We?ll still be required to have a local coordinator, but it?s the regional director that makes decisions.?

In other committee reports:

? Demolition and renovation has begun on the old county attorney?s office and the third floor courthouse renovation is framed, said supervisor Dick Reed.

? Reed heard and met Iowa?s Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds during her address to Fairfield Rotary Friday. ?I know she used to be a county treasurer and I invited her to the courthouse for a tour. I told her about our one-room-at-a-time remodeling project. I also talked with her about the Republican Women?s 1:30 p.m. tour at Maasdam Barns, and she was interested, but her schedule was too tight. She had to be in Van Buren. She put it on her list to come back.?

? Dimmitt and Fairfield Economic Development Association director Tracy Vance attended Lockridge city council meeting last week to explain the housing grant rehab application process.

?All four communities we?ve talked to are on board to participate,? Dimmitt said.

Two people addressed the board during public comments.

?Thank you for the new sidewalk at our public health office,? said administrator Chris Estle-Tedrow. ?Have you been out to see Brookville Road? The ditches are very steep.?

Burgmeier said the road used to be so wide that water collected on the shoulders and more rapidly deteriorated the sides.

An unidentified man asked what list of noxious weeds the weed commission sprayed.

?I see the sprayer truck going by, spraying and clover ground cover is not a noxious weed,? he said. ?It?s the last bee pasture we have. Now, water hemp should be added to Jefferson County?s list of noxious weeds if it?s not already on it.?

Dimmitt said he would provide the list for him.

?The weed commissioner is spraying wooded plants and guard rails,? said Burgmeier. ?The Jefferson County list of noxious weeds is from the state?s list.?