Supervisors approve changes in custodial department and other personnel matters

by Bob Beach

During public comment time at the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, December 17, Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that last week’s shooting incident in Connecticut brought into focus shortfalls in the mental health system nationwide. Schellhammer noted that Supervisor Lennie Burke has long argued that the shortage of beds for mental health patients is a crisis that needs to be addressed. He added that while some are very well served by the Central Point of Coordination (CPC) system, a certain percentage of the population is falling through the cracks and that as a result, what happened in Connecticut could happen locally.
Burke requested that a resolution be placed on the agenda next week to discontinue the 28E agreement with Winneshiek County to share the CPC Administrator position. He said that CPC Administrator Jan Heikes has not been taking the message to legislators that more mental health beds are urgently needed, and that Allamakee County would be better served by hiring its own part-time CPC Administrator. The other Board members agreed to consider the resolution at the Board's next meeting Wednesday, December 26 (delayed due to the Christmas holiday).
During regular business, the Board accepted the resignation of Mike Gallagher from his position as Head Custodian, effective February 1. Gallagher recommended Jason White to fill the position, saying that White already has the required boiler certification and is well qualified for the position. The Board appointed White as Head Custodian at an annual salary of $30,000, effective February 1, and retained Gallagher to fill White’s current part-time position at $12.50 hourly.
The Board also met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who recommended hiring Bryce Hammersland as Assistant to the Engineer. Ridenour said that Hammersland, who was hired in March as a Civil Engineering Technician, has a four-year Civil Engineering degree and was the most qualified applicant for the Assistant to the Engineer position, vacated by the retirement of 41-year Secondary Roads employee Al Rissman. The Board agreed with Ridenour’s recommendation to hire Hammersland, effective January 2, 2012, starting at $20.40 hourly.
Ridenour also asked for and received the Board’s approval of plans for paving Bear Creek Drive (County Road A-26) from the Winneshiek County line to Iowa Highway 76. Ridenour said that bids for the estimated $3.1 million project would be taken in March of next year.
In other business, the Board approved the annual Weed Commissioner’s report as submitted by County Environmental Health Director and Weed Commissioner Laurie Moody. Moody said that mutiflora rose and thistles continue to be a problem but that land owners have been cooperative in complying with eradication efforts. She noted that Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lands are some of the worst cared for with respect to controlling noxious weeds, a fact that she had reported to the State Weed Commissioner.