Jefferson County supervisors discuss Southeast Iowa Link

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Supervisor Dee Sandquist brought the fourth amended and restated 28E agreement for Southeast Iowa Link (SEIL) Region to the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Monday, Sept. 30, which they approved. SEIL region director Ryanne Wood, of Lee County, and Jefferson County Mental Health coordinator Sandy Stever were present to answer any questions the supervisors had about the administration of these additional state mandates, governing board definitions and local mental health services for children.

Supervisor Lee Dimmitt expressed his concerns about the new requirement to have non-elected stakeholders on the governance board. Wood explained the regional governing board of eight elected county supervisors discussed this requirement of three additional members on the regional advisory committee who must be present to vote.

The three new members to be appointed by this regional governing board are: one adult person utilizing services or an actively involved relative of such an adult, one adult member representing the regional education system, and one adult parent or relative of a child utilizing services. Wood replied the present governing board will first explain to these new members how the state legislation had required four years of county savings spend-down, which created a very low budget for adult services. The new services have no new state money coming for the children. Sandquist said the SEIL board is now prioritizing what services they can actually provide to all of those affected.

With Wood and Stever, the board also discussed the need for transitional housing within the county and whether Jackson Point Apartments in Fairfield could possibly be utilized. Wood advised Lee County has already been looking into these matters. There are state guidelines for transitional living and the written agreement for the Limited Liability partnership states land use or income restrictions for residents must be considered because apartments such as those like Jackson Point are designated as a permanent housing facility. The board chose to table the reappointment on the Jefferson County Progressive Housing Authority until all this documentation could be brought forward.

County Engineer Scott Cline advised the board the construction has begun on the Peach Avenue Bridge.

The board and Cline set the second of three public hearings Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. to vacate a portion of 160th Street between Nipa Boulevard (north of Fairfield) and Nectarine Avenue. County shop foreman Chad Lamansky then came to the table with Cline as they presented to the board the cost /benefit analysis of hiring a secondary road department equipment mechanic position and authorizing steps to fill that position. Sandquist recommended and discussion followed about reallocating county engineer budget funds to finance this shop work. Lamansky advised the board that it will be much more cost effective to have the second person available to keep the shop repairs already in process while he is called out to repair equipment in outlying work sites. The board approved the hire.