Board of Supervisor - Regular Meeting

I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I would like to welcome everyone here today and wish you all a happy cinco deayo and international cartoonist day. That being said, let's start off with num item number two on our agenda, the Dickinson County Public Health updates. Hi everyone.

Good morning. Um, well, this is my last time, Katie Carrie. Um, I think you all know that. I've been met many of you many times. And I just want to start and say thank you for the many years um of support both financially as well as maybe sometimes emotional support getting through COVID. And then um so uh this is my last time in this role. So I transitioned to the director of philanthropy at the hospital. And so we have today is threefold. So want to talk about the chacha process where we left it when I last came in August. Also want to share about um 2025 public health's impact by the numbers and then last but not least introduce our new director Brandy Lawson Larson and she'll be sharing about the current state of public health as well as the future state. Um, so I don't know if we have the slides up if that I don't know if that can come up, but you you guys all have the the pronounce today. Perfect. Okay, so we'll go with that. So starting with Chip. So as I mentioned, we met in August last time and so we had just recently approved the community health uh uh community health assessment. So that was with feedback from over 500 Dickinson County residents hearing about what the issues were that they felt were top of mind related to health. And so since then we met with our focus groups again. And so this was really to see moving from the problems to solutions of how we could work together. And so we've heard from many of our partners and started to come up with what were some of those measurable, attainable um projects that we could do for the next three years. So working with our community health improvement plan, we had that approved by the board um the hospital board in November. And so the top four to share again, so this was

again selected by Dickinson County residents. behavioral health cons continues to be our top concern. Um if you look back at the the data that we have, that number jumps up. It's over half of our respondents said that this was the biggest concern. So that continues to be an issue. So meeting with our group, we started the last time our last cycle four years ago, we built the Dickinson County Behavioral Health Coalition. So, we've kept these conversations going and they really wanted the the goal stays the same. So, increase awareness of behavioral health resources through coalition work, marketing, and community outreach events. So, you all have been very supportive through those. Um, just kind of as a reminder, what we've been doing are those annual Move for Mental Health Walk events. And so, we'll have another one coming up in late August this year. That'll be our fourth one. And that helps raise funds to get uh speakers into the school. So, we've had mental health speakers there. We also had an international speaker from Canada in November that spoke at Pearson Lights Art Center, and that was about helping our kids have more of a play-based childhood instead of a screenbased childhood, getting people um uh off the couch and and into nature. And so, doing a lot more work like that. We've also had a lot of harvest outreach, so working with our farmers, making sure that they're aware of behavioral health resources. We want to do a lot more work with our seniors. Um we know that isolation is a real problem and um trying to support. So we're just going to keep on keeping on with that group. And with cancer, I know this is top of mind for many of us in the room have either been either personally impacted or know someone in our family or a friend group that has been diagnosed with cancer. Um Iowa is the sec has the second highest rate of cancer in the United States. So goal

number one is going to be increasing awareness and providing education on ways to prevent or reduce the risk of cancer. Number two is increasing awareness and availability of cancer screening. So a little bit later Brandy will be talking about how Dickinson just signed on statewide initiative for combat cancer. So we're going to be part of that group. So aging well uh we have the oldest population in the state of Iowa. So we know that this is a group that we want to look at those four decades of life 65 and up and what are the different needs of that group. Again we talked a little bit earlier about isolation in seniors but we've had great collaboration with Elderbridge as well as the YMCA looking for more partnerships of how how we can support this group and then healthy living. So, um, opportunities to design, implement, and promote healthy living programs and services. So, we'll be continuing to do things like partnering with No Boundaries, our eighth and nth graders at Harris Lake Park and alcohology that are teaching our third and fourth graders about healthy living and moving well and and eating well and like building goals for themselves. We'll be looking for other opportunities across the lifespan of how we can help make the healthy option the easier option to choose. So, we'll really be using our behavioral health coalition as well as the Dickinson County Hunger Coalition and programming through Lakes Regional Healthcare and Dickinson County Public Health to try and keep us on track, keep us accountable to to move forward the next three years on moving the needle on these enormous issues that we all can help make better. So any questions about the chat share? All right, then we can move on to the next piece

and this is uh 2020 2025 public health impact by the numbers. So I think sometimes it's hard to understand what is public health, what does public health do? Um, and so sometimes it's nice to see the statistics. So just looking at the calendar year of January 1st to December 31st of last year, our uh team gave 6,229 immunizations and that was to 2,147 patients. So um, our nurses are busy. They we have clinics almost every day. um for sure on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but we do support people when they come in for their wellchild visits, try to help them out and get those shots done in the schools. They go to our assisted living facilities. Um we like to say we're a small but mighty team, but they're getting those shots into arms and and really supporting prevented preventative efforts. And then we also support disease investigations. And so we work together with our state team. Uh these are the ones we did. We did seven last year as well as supporting latent TB. So these are people not with active TB, but they do have um they have that in the background. And so we do help support them get that treatment so that it doesn't flare up. Um so we help with that and then our state team also helps with some of the disease investigations that we do not cover. with preschool dental screens. We go in once a year into the the preschools and we were able to give 42 screens um and then also provide dental education. And we actually this was 2025. We've already had our 2026 numbers and we're up an additional 20 because we're able to now serve a younger population and so not just the three to five year olds and we

were able to get into an additional center. So already seeing some improvement there which is great. Um maternal child home visits um Holly was very busy so we see a lot of moms. So this is a free program that we're able to do that which is really impactful for people those firsttime moms or or people with those medically complex children that need some additional supports or maybe some more of those social supports getting access and connection to resources. So 264 visits that year um serving 20 and then 26 in that age 1 to5 and then so 50 families were served and so that's having a registered nurse come be able to answer all the questions um any of you that have gone through that being a parent and all the questions that come with that there is no manual but we do have a Holly and that helps a lot. So, um we also have Millie who goes out to Hope Haven and so she does health education um tries to do that every month that will work and so she has group sessions of 12 to 20 and she covers everything from a wide variety of topics. So last year she covered in January healthy resolutions so starting out there well uh brain health, sun safety, nail care and influenza prevention. So, all kinds of different things to really bring them in. She makes it really interactive for the group. And then we partner with our home care and hospice team to provide health maintenance visits. And this is a big thing that the board of supervisors have been able to cover because this used to be covered by local public health service dollars and um when they went to a population health model, this was no longer covered. We talked to you about was this a value added piece? Um and we heard yes. And so with their team and

and your support, we've been able to continue to provide 751 visits to 21 patients serve and then also health maintenance visits. Our neram goes out and she helps with med setups, blood draws in people's homes, a lot of those homebound people that it's really a struggle to to get out there. Um she did 70 visits serving five patients. So that's a big that's a big deal and that's something that um we've been able to continue to do. Care for yourself again looking at cancer screening. So breast and cervical cancer uh we have 12 people that we were able to navigate through and these are people that are not on insurance or are struggling to get support or maybe have other barriers such as a language barrier. So we were able to help them and so those patients are in Dickinson, Emma and Oola, that's the region that we cover. And then blood pressure checks. Holl's out there again um at the senior center getting those 64 blood pressure checks. So these this isn't all we do, but this is an idea of some of the things that we do in that calendar year. And that's powered by a staff of full five uh five full-time staff members, two PRN nurses, so our casuals that fill in and countless community relationships. So, just trying to see to show all the things that um we're able to do with all of your financial support and the support of our grants um to really get out there and and be and so with that um I'd like to transition and welcome Brandy Larson. Uh she's going to share a little bit about herself as well as as well as where we're going.

Good morning. As Katie mentioned, my name is Brandy. I am uh started in this role at the end of February. Um I've been a nurse for 23 years. Uh my background in my um earlier years of nursing was emergency room and med surge and then I transitioned over to occupational medicine and and I did that up until um joining public health. Um, but as Katie mentioned, uh, we signed on, um, with 87 other counties throughout Iowa for combat cancer. And the goal and and this is not on there, but, um, the goal is to increase awareness and understanding of lung, colarctyl, and skin cancer and ways to reduce those cancers. So, the first phase is a big social media campaign. And then um 30,000 radon test kits will be distributed across those 87 counties for us to hand out to to residents at no cost. And then um 500 homes that have positive tests can receive up to $2,000 for a mitigation system through the through the program. Um and then they will also train 28 mitigation specialists across Iowa. Those can be um people who are um part of a local public health as long as they have a two-year construction background. Otherwise, they'll find community members who are interested in receiving that training. Um and then there will be 3,000 um colurectal cancer screening kits that will be distributed to uninsured Ians and then 200 of those um Ians that receive uh or find out they have a positive test will receive um assistance with follow-up visits and getting them connected with um the right doctors to help them. And then 1,475 dermatoscopes will be distributed um throughout those 87 counties for um family practice physicians to use when they're doing

assessments on the skin to help identify those um problem areas. And then the last piece of that is a is in like an iPad will be put somewhere in the county for um for citizens to utilize if they have a telealth visit or they maybe they can't get to the provider. They can go use that tablet and um connect with their um with their provider in that way. Um undetermined where that will go yet. A survey will be sent out to the pharmacies and the libraries um throughout the community. And then um so the early childhood um Iowa there, excuse me, will be um changing uh to a a region similar to the behavioral health regions um and that includes our county. the early childhood uh board did sign a letter of in approved our letter of intent last month but as of yesterday um the legislation had passed and so it will be happening um in July and the goal uh for that for that um merger is stronger um co better coordination and sustainability throughout all of our counties as we're working together um nothing will change as far as the services we provide um this year. There may be some changes um next year, but um that will depend on um on that board. And then the final step, the dis redistricting model. Um so the Iowa HHS has led a statewide effort to help strengthen and better align public health. And so um we will be joining with those other counties that I have listed up there. That will be our new district. It helps them establish clear expectations and shared responsibilities.

And it will be um organized around the five core service areas. And it shifts from a reactive um care to a more prevention focused model. And it will introduce a lead entity for coordination, planning, and funding. And that lead entity can be um they're looking first for a local public health. So, local public health within those 11 counties, um they can apply to be that lead entity and um they will kind of be in charge of our district. Um and then um if that if no local public health puts in an application for that, they will open it up to other entities in those counties like Upper De Moines um or a similar um a similar that. So any questions? Thank you. That's all we have. So, thank you very much.

Um, do you have anything for new dads? You know, there is a new uh the dads are welcome to be in the best care program, too. So, we have several parents that both are involved in the visits and we've seen that there's some statewide um new dad programs that are just the beginning yesterday. Yeah. Yeah. So, that's just coming online. So, we're not forgetting about the dads. We really want dads to also be there's a new virtual support group for new dads. Yeah. So, good question. I know in my experience if I hadn't gone into education and taken child development classes I wouldn't have had a clue. I I think most of us don't have a clue until

Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions from the group? No question. Just a a quick comment. Brandy, welcome. I have a cough drop if you need it. I have the same thing. Uh Katie, job well done. I've had the pleasure to work with you on a number of different things and just really appreciate your leadership. I know you'll do well on your next gig that you've got lined up. So, thank you for your work here. This is an important part of keeping a county not just healthy, but thriving and so I appreciate what you're doing. I look forward to working with you. Thank you. You as well. Thank you. How much involvement do you have with Upper De Moine Opportunity? Um well, this will be maybe a new venture.

This Yeah, this is a new a new relationship with them. So, um right now we're meeting with Upper De Moines. Uh I think we have a meeting scheduled once a month just to talk through what things might look like. But yeah, that's a new relationship. So, okay. And then we do have, you know, the the standing relationship through the hunger coalition, Steve and and Kim. So we work with them in that way too. So it's a great idea for them to coordinate though. Yeah. Especially I mean one of the things that they deal with a lot's early childhood and you mentioned early childhood. So

yeah. Yeah. We're we're looking for more ways to collaborate um and not duplicate. So that's good. Thank you guys. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Okay, next up is a request for a grant for the Pearson Lakes SAR Center.

Say a picture is worth a thousand words. So, I I brought the replica of the proposed treehouse we have. And uh thank you for the opportunity to come and present today. I'm Bob Kersbomb. I'm the director at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. And a few years ago, we brought in some of our significant donors. We told them, "We're going to bring you in." We whined and dined them, did a dog and pony show. We said, "This isn't an Amway presentation. we're not going to ask you for a thing. And at the end of the evening, I said, well, I wasn't completely honest. I said, because we do want something from you. We want advice from you. Where do we go from here with the art center? And their suggestion is we or was we need to take the art center outside. So, with that in mind, we work together with the trails and we have a beautiful sculpture trail out back and hopefully you've had the opportunity to go walk that. And uh and then another idea we came up from that was to work with Master's Tree Houses and uh put up a treehouse, educational treehouse studio. And uh it was kind of a dream and we contacted uh Treehouse Masters and uh of course when you contact them you fill out this thing online you send it off you get a reply back. Somebody may get back to you in a you know in a time period. Well I was surprised in two days we had a response. Uh we had a conference call. They wanted to get together and talk. They says we're definitely interested. They flew out here. Uh we told them couple requirements. If we're going to do this, it has to be handicap accessible. Has to be available for everyone. And uh they

said just so you know, half the cost of the treehouse is going to be making it handicap accessible. And they said and we told them if we're going to do this that that's just the way it's going to have to be. So, we turned I don't know if you've ever watched Treehouse Masters on TV, but uh we turned them loose out in our woods there and uh few hours later they called us and said, "Come out." And it's kind of like the TV show. Here's where we recommend. Well, if you've walked the trail, you'll realize that on the trail, as you walk around the trail, this is a hill up here. And so they were able or their proposal was we put the treehouse up on that hill to go in the treehouse. There'll just be a slight ramp to walk into the treehouse because you're basically on that hill. You're walking into it on ground level, but by the time you're at the end of the treehouse, you're 20t up in the trees. There's a couple old oak trees out there. they estimated to be about 225 years old. So you'll walk in right under the canopy of those trees. Uh so they send us they build us a replica of what this treehouse studio would look like. It will have a classroom that we can have up to 20 20 people in the classroom teaching art classes and community type classes. the arts center. We're proud we have four different pillars. We have culinary arts. We'll be able to do culinary arts classes out there. We'll be able to do arts education out there. Uh we'll be able to have artisan residency out there. uh we can close off. There will be a gate that we'll be able to close off so

we can make it that we can close off the classroom, but there will be accessibility to the treehouse 24/7 for the rest of the treehouse. Um I think one of our board members said the words probably more profound than anybody when we were talking about this project. He said, 'You know, when you bring a family to the lakes, it's expensive to bring a family up here to the lakes. You spend a whole day at the park, you go to the water park, and that you can drop a lot of money in a big hurry. He says, "With the art center and the nature center, you can come to the art center, spend time in the children's interactive gallery, go out and spend time in the treehouse, 3/4 of a mile walk over to the nature center, spend time over there. They have the new uh uh program that they're developing over at the at the nature center. You can spend an entire day with a family of any size and not spend a dime because both of us are free. The one thing I'm really proud at the art center we do basically everything we do at the art center is during the week. So we bring people into the community during the week when the restaurants aren't full, the hotels aren't full to help support the community. Uh working with the trails, we've been real happy. I know Aaron's uh has a counter. The traffic is doubled. I think it since we've put that uh trail in. I think the treehouse will bring a lot of people into the community, especially on those hub seasons, the fall and the spring, where you can come up here and go go fishing and enjoy the nature and uh the trails

and uh so uh looking at supporting this. I do have a significant donor that's willing to step up and support this for us to apply for the grants. Uh we needed the support of the county and of the city. Uh and uh so I'm here asking for support uh to show that you guys are willing to support this project. And uh and I think you know the one thing too with working with the trails I know I'm not going to single anybody out here but one of our board members happened to be on a trip uh vacation up to Alaska and there was a treehouse master's treehouse up there and she mentioned how the number of visitors they had coming there just because of the treehouse. Uh we think it's a great educational tool. We think it's sure it's going to be great for the art center, but I think even more so it's great for the Lakes region. And uh Treehouse Masters has over a half a million followers. And uh so not that Okaboji isn't on the map, but I think it's just one more thing to add to all the great things we have going here in the Okaboji area. So questions you may have,

what kind of timeline do you have planned for this? Yes, we're looking that this would happen in the fall of 2027. That gives us time to work with with everybody that we need to. There will be a a significant number of local uh uh contractors that will be working with Treehouse Masters. So, we feel it's an opportunity to support our local businesses in the process, but it gives us time that we're not trying to rush it. You know, we feel we have one opportunity to do this. We want to make sure we do it right. So, we don't want to rush it.

Anything else? Well, I thought about this and we have done help people with their CAT grant. you playground out by the schools. Uh, and we do get hotel motel tax money which is supposed to be used for getting people to visit our area. And so in my mind, I think this is a worthy project out there.

I I I agree with that. I think I look at it, Bob, as an investment in our county. Aaron has done such a terrific job with the trails of us invest of investing a small amount of money and I know here you're trying to get over $200,000 just because we're supporting something like that. I'm a treehouse master follower. I I I like that stuff. It's kind of cool. But any additional thing like that for your area and since you put in the outdoor trail, phenomenal. And I do see a lot more folks using that than they have in the past. I think it would be one more draw to the area. Um I like the idea of having some things that don't cost a lot and yet people still have to go eat and they might stay. Uh all big growth things for our our area. So, I I too think that we have funds that we don't give all to our tourism or to our hotel motel that I think we could use this $,000 as an investment for this. So, I'm in favor of it as well.

I have to agree with that. So, I think anytime we can get people outside in the the moderate temperature months, you know, and and uh I don't know how much exposure there'll be for that in the winter time, but the rest of the year round, I think it's a really good deal for uh for our for our public, our citizens, and and for tourism. And you mentioned the the winter months. We we probably won't be doing anything out there during the winter. It would be, you know, kind of a spring summer and fall. Yep. Question.

I've I've I've also watched Treehouse Masters. I'm not a huge follower, but I've watched it. When when they get started, what's their projection for how long it will take to to complete the project? Because, you know, we watch it in what, an hour? Yeah. that that uh we would start in the fall of 2027 and they estimated two to three months. Okay.

Basically, they build most of it out in the state of Washington and uh and then they bring it out and assemble it and then they work with the local contractors here to, you know, do all the infrastructure and that. And uh the one thing that's unique about that they have so much accessibility to uniqueness. I know one of our board members when he saw the model he says, "Well, boy, it just looks like a a a building up in the trees." And so we set up a special meeting with Treehouse Masters. Well, everything in in this treehouse will be unique woods, kind of like the TV show. This isn't going to be just a frame with sheetrock and and and 2x4s. Uh it's very unique. the wow factor is what it's made out of. And uh and I again I I just ditto on the fact that I think it's a real it enhances all the wonderful things we do here in this county and the Lakes area. And uh I guess I'm just proud to be part of the leadership that's working with everybody and thank you for all that you guys do to make things great here in Dickens County.

I'd like to add that um what an additional um wonderful amenity to add to our trail system along with the art sculptures. um with Katie's um public health presentation earlier, what a tiein to what we're going into the next item on the agenda that you know early childhood education and and getting kids outside and off their screens and how important um being outdoors is to to our mental health. So, this is just another attraction to get people um and bring the kid out and all of us outside. So, I I really um fully support uh what they're doing there and um how it will enhance the nature center and the trails in the county in general area.

Young lady when I came in asked me, she says, "Can adults go there, too?" This is this something for all ages, all abilities, and all incomes. You know, it used to be when I first came to the art art center, the perception was the art center was a place for rich people. And uh we really worked hard to change that. It is it's it's a community's art center. It's a place for all ages, all abilities, and especially all incomes. And we're free. And we're here 12 months a year.

Would anyone like to make a motion on this? I'll make a motion to provide $1,000 to the Lakes Arts Center in their effort to receive an Iowa CAT grant for a treehouse master's treehouse. Okay, Kim is moved. Do I hear a second? I'll second it. Clark has second. Further discussion?

Okay. Was that too difficult? It's very touchy. I was being a goober. Okay. If there is no further discussion, Kim, I Mr. Clark, hi. Levi, hi. Mr. Dollar. And Bill is. Thanks, Rob. Good luck. Thank you. Appreciate all your support what you do for us, but the entire community. Appreciate you. Thank you. I notice that make a pretty good hunting blonde.

Just Yeah. Okay. It's uh now time for item number four on the agenda, the approval of the April 28th board meeting. I'll make a motion number seven. Mr. Dard is moved. I'll second. Levi is second. Further discussion hearing. None. Mr. Dard. Hi. Levi. Hi.

Mr. Clark. Hi. St. Hi. and bill is high. Number five is the approval of resolution 2026-11 we policy. Yep. I'll just here to do some weed commissioner uh housekeeping, but uh and this actually should have been done in March, but there was Tanner left to his other job and we didn't have any weed commissioner. So, um, yeah, this is just I need the approval for the weed noxious weed policy for Dickinson County. Um, I don't know if you guys all have that in your agenda.

Yep. Yep. It's pretty basic. Um, we do follow the state codes with all of weeds. Um, this one does have recommendations when to mow some of this stuff or get rid of it before it does go to seed and becomes more of a problem. So, were there any new weeds added to the list this year or anything?

I don't think so. No, I think Tanner tried to have some last year that weren't on the noxious weed list, but um we're still looking. Even if it's not on the weed list, we still keep an eye on it. We still try to take care of it. So, um I haven't gotten out there and seen all the stuff. Um saw some leafy spurge and stuff like that coming up already. So, if it's not on the weed list, we still keep an eye on all of it. So, yep. Just need approval on this. And if you guys have any more questions about it, no.

And then also, uh, we do need to certify that I am the weed commissioner to the department of a and land stewardship every year. So, I'll have to have Mr. Leopold sign that too every year. So, I will read the resolution 2026-11 noxious weed policy to all property owners be a resolved by the Dickens County Board of Supervisors that pursuant to the provisions of chapter 317 of the code of Iowa and chapter 58 of the Iowa administrative code. It is hereby ordered that each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Dickinson County shall cut, burn, or otherwise control all noxious weeds thereon as defined in this chapter. at such times in each year and in such manner as shall prevent said weeds from blooming or coming to maturity and shall keep said lands free from such growth that it is recommended that noxious weeds be cut or otherwise controlled on or before the following dates as often thereafter as it is necessary to prevent seed production throughout the growing season. However, these are only guidelines. Weather conditions may cause weeds to mature several weeks ahead of normal and consequently require control measures prior to the listed dates. Group one, June 21st, 2026, leapy spurge, Russian napweed, buckthornne, multifllora rose, quack grass, and musk thistle. Group two, July 19th, 2026, Canada thistle, field bindweed, bull thistle, purple loose stripe, Palmer amaranth, bloomless thistle, perennial south thistle. that if the owners or persons in possession or control of any land in Dickens County fail to comply with that foregoing orders, the Wii commissioner shall cause this to be done and the expense of said work, including the cost of serving notice and other costs, if any, to be assessed against the real estate. Complaints will be handled as follows. The complaint is to be called in or emailed to the weed commissioner with the contact information below. State the reason for the complaint, the location of the property, the noxious weeds found therein, the owners of the land, and the

tenants or persons in control of the land. Charles Bigd Doll Weed Commissioner 712338-4786 C Big Big Doll at Dickinson County Iowa spelled out.gov. I would make a motion to uh approve the resolution and presented. Mr. Clark is moved. I'll second him seconded. Further discussion hearing none. Mr. Clark I Mr. Dollar. Levi I and Bill is I can I have you sign these real quick that one?

Oh, perfect. I'll just give you that one. Yeah, we'll just stop and have Lori sign that one. You can have that one and then I'll have him sign mine. This one signed. And we already approved you as we commissioner so we don't need Yeah. No, but yeah for a while till the end of the year. Well, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Just keep them. Appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you. Thanks, Charles. Yep.

Okay, we do not have any drainage district claims. So, item six is scratched. Item number seven is the supervisor summer schedule.

So, usually with approval, the summer schedule for the months of June, July, and August are the second and fourth Tuesday of the month due to when claims are being approved. So I have those dates as June 9th and 23rd, July 14th and 28th and August 11th and 25th. And usually at the end of July there is a a longer break. I think there's three weeks usually in between there. I'm not sure if that's that way this year again, but if there were ever anything that we would need to have a special meeting, then we would have that set forth like we normally do.

Motion to approve. Kim has moved. I'll second. Levi is seconded. Is there further discussion? Hearing none. Kim. Hi, Levi. Hi, Mr. Clark. Hi, Mr. Bellers. Hi, M. Bill. Hi.

Item number eight, how engineering board. Good morning, Jeff. I have two items for consideration. First, the approved installation of a new stop sign for traffic control of east west traffic along 20th Street. This is local 834 at intersection with 23th Avenue as requested by the city of Milford. Just so you guys aware, this is the corn the souththeast corner of the new school that the Milford's putting in. Make a motion to approve. I'll second.

Move. Mr. Dard seconds. Is there further discussion? Now, these are just signs, not lights. They're just stop signs. Just stop signs. Do you feel I see Shiloh's here, too. So, do you do you feel that signs are going to be adequate or would this possibly have to be revisited later depending on how the traffic flow works out to whether it should be lights or not? Yeah, I think I I firmly believe the stop signs will be sufficient, but time will tell. And that if we get it approved now, like we were discussing the other day, would give us a year to to determine that before the schools open. Yeah.

Um whether we need a lighted beacon, but the city's talked about if we need to like maybe some lighted stop signs or something, too. So, we have some other options, but I think four-way stops definitely needed. And I think stop signs are generally safer traffic lights anyway. So I I would agree with the lighted stop signs, especially when you're adding a stop sign to a road that has never had one before and at night. You know, the lighted stop signs really will help people that are coming in for the first couple times and not used to that stop sign being there, especially busy as that road is. Yeah,

that's kind of what we discussed with city of Milford was get these stop signs up. We're very uh approved the speed limit change. So hopefully this be a learning curve for people before school is actually operational. Okay, great. When do the signs get installed? Um as soon as I can get my sign out there and install them and we'll notify police departments and the sheriff's office that they'll go up. Great. I should probably put it out there on explor just put it out there a couple times on explor. Yeah, I should you know more we can publicize it the better. So it gets public educated. Yes. And

I think they have to be lighted. I I actually I've lived most of my life on A34. I live two miles west now. I grew up six miles west. And I'm really afraid of that not being a good corner. We get truck traffic because of the pipeline spot right there all the time. We also have now that the middle school is in the next just beyond. Since that's come in, that corner is bad. I don't know. I you would know the accident count, but um I just see an awful lot of of concerning things like I mean just coming into town, they don't stop at those signs as it is. They think that the people coming into town do so that may help but the people coming into town have had it that way forever,

not stopping there. So I'm concerned. time. Sure. Especially for the children. I don't have any in school anymore, but I certainly see it being a frightening corner. The speed limit has changed on that as well, right? With that drop, we're just waiting for City of Milford to change the speed limit east of that intersection. So, we can change it on that portion and it'll be 25 starting where? Like I said, as soon as city gets their signs. I don't know where like where because it's 45 right now. the point right now from that intersection will be 25 going west and north until we're 200 foot beyond the school. So I think I believe it's plant what's that

by the dough plant then or it's about 1,200 feet uh not quite to the stover property about 1200 feet west and I think it's like 1500 feet to the north because we already see issues with the dough plant pulling right out of their back side of the building and near accidents happening there too. So there's just a lot of a lot of new things there that haven't been there for a long time. And I guess I just come as a citizen concerned about, you know, the future for the kids because I don't I just think that's going to be a dangerous car. No, I appreciate the input.

What would it help to put up one of those flashing lights like we have at the on Hill Avenue when you're coming into the school and down on 28th Street? One of those speed radar type signs. That's one thing we did talk about the city. So that's that's still a possibility. Okay. Yeah, that's we want to kind of try things and see how it goes at first because it's going to take it's going to be a learning curve. I remember when they switched a stop sign over here by fairway. The first time I went through that intersection, I touched my brakes. I'm like, "Oh, whoops. There was a stop sign there." Presbyterian Church. Yes. Yes. City.

So, it's going to take it's going to take some education and it's going to take people seeing it. So that's why, like I said, we're open summer and then fall winter where they open so that people have things figured out before there's tons of kids going in and out of their buses. And I imagine some warning tickets might be a lot of warnings to start. Yeah. Yep. Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Levi, Mr. Mr. Dollar I Mr. Clark I Kim I and Bill was I

thank you board and my last item today is to approve a request for repairs on DD48 tie off direct county forces to hire a contractor to complete the repair I'm estating estimating less than $2500 motion to approve. Mr. Clark moves. I'll second. Seconds. Further discussion. Hearing none. Mr. Clark. Hi. Young. Hi. Mr. Bard. Hi. Hi. Thank you. Thank you. When does Excuse me. When does N56 start?

June 15th is where they're projecting the start date. Okay. Are you guys going to put signs out to um state that it's going to be closed starting then? Yes. Uh there will they're going to work on the underground work first. There'll be a detour in place. Okay. Once they get the underground work done, they start the road work to be under a pilot call. Okay. You don't have to answer. That's not on the agenda. Good point. There's beavers over there. Please, please stay on task.

Okay. Uh, number nine, we're down to general discussion board committee report. Kim, I not at meetings last week. I do want to continue to remind everyone, please make your appointments for your wellness uh, physicals with your physicians as well as the online assessment. We do as a group here in the county need to re reach 80% participation to receive our not just our rewards of doing it but also the big savings that we save each year and I know that our five supervisors will lead the way. Thank you Mr. Dollar. Mine's done. I I know that. Good job.

It is done. So, uh, on the 28th, uh, the, uh, well, it zoomed in with the upper de mo opportunity, uh, board, and they, uh, they discussed March financials, head start, early head start. They're at zero balance. Uh, they they have zero balance left on their grant funding. And uh there's going to be a final audit report from this uh federal government is by uh May 30th. Okay. Now, they have some new funding opportunities. I don't I'm not sure that uh they were aware of those this morning. Uh Iowa Department of Health, Human Services, Child and Adolescent Health, CA. I had enough trouble keeping up with military. All right. uh their hyperlink and UDMO is the uh region's first five grantee and was contacted by Marcus Johnson Miller, bureau chief of the Bureau of Family Health with the Division of Public Health at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services after notice was received from the current uh CI provider, Cherokee County Board of Health Plans to end its CAH contract in December. in September of 2026. Uh this is an opportunity for Upper De Moines. It could be funding up from half a million to a million dollars to provide the services, but it'll mean that uh it's a two-year term, and they'll have to complete first complete the uh what's remaining on uh Cherokee County's uh board. It's two-year term. They have to have three mandatory staff. They have to have a

dental hygienist, another RN, and a coordinator. Uh, and they're going to planning also on adding a Medicaid specialist to help them with the funding. Uh, this is going to be the midsue region of the beyond the 12 counties. So, it's it's going to be bigger than that. uh funding's available uh 580,000 right now per annual uh contract year with one to four matching plus Medicaid revenue that they can get. Uh the counties to be served are Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, EMTT, Lion, O'Brien, Oola, PaloAlto, Plymouth, and Sue. And uh the contract start dates October 1st of 26. Okay. And then on the 30th, I attended the uh vets lunchon that that uh spring put on here. There was 65 in attendance. Wow.

Was a really good turnout. and she had a mental health uh lady that zoomed in from Sou Falls and uh I mean discussed somewhat with vet veterans reintegrating into society because I mean we still after having been out so many years we still think and act sometimes different than the regular population. I mean and we like things in order disciplines and uh so that was good. Plus there's also a very extremely high number of veteran suicides. So mental health is a very big issue and it was a it was a good presentation. Uh yesterday we had a a county land use plan steering committee meeting. Mr. Clark, Levi, and I attended along with the the rest of the committee. And uh the point was to discuss the the three different options that we had so that when uh we're done, we can advise the board of our selection uh where they were able to eliminate one. But there's still discussion going on with two and we're planning on meeting sometime later this week. Is that correct? Mr. Clark, and that is all I have.

We're good, Mr. Clark.

Uh, on the 29th last week, I pres presentation for the county land use plan committee by RDG and Associates out of Omaha on their thoughts and ideas on on Dickinson County. Uh then on the 30th I was at another presentation by uh Bolton and Mink who uh gave us their ideas. Uh and like Mr. Dullard said we uh met again yesterday to discuss uh the three programs and what we felt was was uh going to work the best. We've have eliminated one. we're going to meet. I don't know if um I haven't got an email from Megan yet saying which day it's going to be this week, but she was going to do some some checking on on a couple questions that we had uh concerning the uh amount uh and availability of of some of their planners and designers. So, uh, that'll be later this week and hopefully we'll come back to the board and next week and be able to tell you who we se selected and, uh, when their perspective start date will be. On May 1st was, of course, the uh, opening for Walleye Weekend here in the Lakes area. Uh the Arnold Park Okaboji Fire Department fire and rescue squads had a uh pancake supper that went Friday night from 5 to 8. Uh pancake and sausages were served. On the second they had uh again on on Saturday morning they did the same thing from 7 to 12. Uh the Boy Scouts always served that and uh uh it's it appeared to me that the attendance was real good for it even though they had to move it down to the

roof garden from the the fire station. The new fire station won't be completed, I don't believe, until sometime next year. So, um that was about all I did. So, but I I I talked with Jeff and and uh a little bit on the the lower guard bridge. Was it 90,000 lbs of rerod that they've put into that bridge, you know, to uh to strengthen it, strengthen it and make sure it's sturdy and stuff. And it'll take 501 cubic yards of concrete. That's approximately 50 to 51 loads of uh concrete that have to be brought in just to pour the deck. They still have to pour approaches and and uh put rails and stuff up up after that. Hopefully, it'll uh be completed in time for most of the summer. So, not all of it, but most of it. And uh just for everyone's information, Senate File 2472, the property tax bill, was passed, I believe, on Thursday the 30th. Uh it now goes to the LSA for their interpretation and writing of the rules and regulations. And uh we'll see where that uh leads us in the future for uh um planning the uh finances for the for the county. There's going to be some big changes. It's going to affect some counties really terribly and some not so much. So, we'll just have to see where the uh where the rules and regulations on that come down and how they're interpreted. So other than that, I was didn't have much to do.

Okay. Anybody?

Uh last Wednesday with Mr. Clark. I sat in on the uh meeting concerning the landings plan with RDG. Uh Friday I had a Zoom meeting um with our ECI our our board that had been dissolved. Um got some notes here. We had uh some legislation has evolved significantly. Um earlier proposed proposals would have restructured the ECI, you know, state level. It was kind of touched on this morning by uh public health. Um House Study Bill 623 has shifted to House File uh 2795. And so the initial direction of the House study bill 623 was eliminating or replacing the ECI structure as a whole. um removing centralized decision-m and moving it to the state level, shifting funding and service control away from the local boards and accelerating that timeline. But within the current legislation, the direction has changed then to House File 2795, which basically stops everything I just said. Um no structural changes implemented, establishes a legislative study. um committee requires stakeholder engagement including the ECI input includes public input across the communities and focuses primar primarily on home visiting services and so what that means then for the local ECI boards is um the local governance remains intact there's no immediate funding or program changes opportunity to influence future recommendations ability to demonstrate effectiveness for local systems and continued ad advocacy for community- based decision-making So, with all that said, we're going to meet every our board that was dissolved um is still going to meet every Friday in hopes then to reestablish and move forward with a with a new ECI uh program.

Good. Excellent. So, um

we will yeah continue to meet on on Fridays to to hopefully keep progressing. Um on Monday, uh I sat in with the meeting that that Mr. Dullard had referenced about the land use plan. Um and then last night there was a special meeting um at the for the city council re regarding Kulkens Park. Um there's been that's been an ongoing situation in Milford there. And so whether the the city is going to continue to maintain or or um go back to the land owner, there's an easement issue and um with the gas station there and and so things seem to be moving forward actually in a positive direction. It was um uh I think I think it just will take a little bit of time, but I think the city will continue to maintain it. Sounds like anyway. Um, and then Friday I have uh trails and then another ECI Zoom meetings.

Sounds like a good week. Yep.

I had nothing official. I've been meeting with a young man man from my class that was a Vietnam vet and he told me something that really irritated me. As Mr. Dillard was talking about mental health. When he when he and his buddies came home, the veterans of foreign war wanted nothing to do with him because they didn't consider Vietnam a war. Can you imagine that? Anyways, uh I did participate in the walleye weekend. I did uh a lot of scare the fish but don't catch them. However, one of the fellows I was with caught a 36 in northern pike

and I'm sure that would have won a contest at cables but if we would have taken it in it would have killed it and so we decided to let it go but it was fun to see and that's all I have. Is there anything out with our I I do have a question. Um, you with Memorial Day coming up, does the Veteran Affairs, do they have anything planned for Memorial Day celebrations? I believe they do. It will be at the uh high school again. In the family center? Yes. Okay. There's no parade or anything? You don't think so?

We haven't heard about it, but that doesn't mean there won't be. I I think they stopped the parade a few years ago, but when we had a downpour or something and that's too bad because as a high schooler, I always enjoyed eating all the hot dogs I could and drinking all the coke I could. Well, and it was a good time. It was a good time for the marching band to get together and, you know, get to play their their songs again. So,

anything else from the crowd? I have a question. Uh there's going to be a meeting next week that's going to be somewhat complicated I think on Tuesday. Can you give us any preview of what what the uh agenda is or anything or is it I don't know maybe I'm off but I was told that there's going to be a meeting the ne your next meeting and it's going to be dealing with quite a few different issues. I'm if anybody has any information on it or I have not seen an agenda for next week. Are you talking the moratorum public hearing? He's talking about

I mean it it's just a public hearing on approval of resolution 2026-8 and with that resolution it has to be associated with a moratorum or sorry it has to be associated with a public hearing. Yeah. I don't know if there's a code section that states that a who's running that meeting are is the board. The board is running it. It's their resolution to pass. It's not P&Z. It's not board of adjustment. It's the board of supervisors passing that resolution. If you have comments or questions, we just bring them up as normal. Right. Okay. I just wonder there's nothing unusual going on. It'll be just like a regular public hearing if there's any letters of objection.

That's what I was looking for. Just clarification. Thank you, Jordan. Anything else? If not, I take the motion to adjourn. I'll make that motion. Mr. Dollar move second seconded by Mr. Clark. Further discussion we start absentee voting next week. FYI from Wednesday. If there is nothing Mr. Dollar I Mr. Clark I Levi Hi. Kim I

and Billy. You're officially adjourned at 10:05. Levi, you got some work to do. She got one.