By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Dakota City, IA – The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors looking to keep their 28E agreement with Pocahontas County along similar lines.
During the most recent meeting of the supervisors on Monday, Feb. 1, they met with Pocahontas County Health Department Administrator Anne Thompson. As was the case the week before they discussed their current agreement on a shared sanitarian position.
As previously reported by KHBT, Pocahontas County has made the decision to turn the position to a full time position. Thompson says her board of health is very interested in finding the right, motivated person for the position.
SEE: Humboldt and Pocahontas Counties discuss shared sanitarian position
Thompson says her office has been fielding calls from both Pocahontas and Humboldt County. She says the tax payers have not been satisfied by with service provided while the position was part time. There is also a desire by Pocahontas County to get deeper involved in some state and federal programs to better serve environmental health.
The biggest concern for Humboldt County was the division of price under the new proposal. What was presented to the supervisors was the cost would be split about even between the two counties. All the supervisors expressed their concern because this would cause the price to double for this position in Humboldt County.
The supervisors say their preference is to keep the agreement as previously written in 2014. This is where Humboldt County is only billed for the work done in Humboldt County. They say they’re will to increase the hourly rate and mileage as well to help pay for the full time position.
Thompson and the supervisors discussed options going forward. Thompson says that Pocahontas County would only go full time if Humboldt County was on board. They both could choose to hire separate part time positions.
Following the discussions the Humboldt County Supervisors requested Thompson go back to her board and report where they are at. The county will also explore other options including hiring their own part time position or doing an agreement with another neighboring county.
Further discussions on the sanitarian position are expected to occur at a later meeting.