(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session at 9-a.m. Tuesday, in Harlan. Board Secretary/Auditor Mark Maxwell said in the meeting minutres, that the Supervisors briefed each other on current committee developments including; Steve Kenkel, who said he attended a national pipeline safety conference recently in Des Moines. Kenkel reported that specific guidelines are being added and considered, for carbon capture pipelines.

The planned spending for fiscal year 2024 includes a cost of living wage increase for all non-union employees was discussed. Supervisor Parkhurst made a motion to approve a 3% increase to the employees qualified to receive the increase. Schaben seconded the motion. The motion passed. The yearly Rural Transit Joint Participation agreement between the Southwest Iowa Planning Council and Shelby County was presented by Auditor Maxwell, and approved by the Board. The annual agreement details the services Shelby County receives for the rural transit system for the $6,000.00 a year contribution to SWIPCO for the services.

Austin Staley, Shelby County IT Director gave his first department head report as IT Director. Basic security and equipment familiarity and the transition from a third party IT administrator to an in house administrator, he said, has been the focus of his first three weeks of duty. Todd Valline of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry was present to inform the Supervisors of the many events around Shelby County promoted by the Chamber organization. The Supervisors then approved a Utility permit applied for by Aureon, upon recommendation by the County Engineer. The Board also considered and approved the County Engineer’s contract for the next three-years. Copies of the contract are available in the Auditors office.

A public hearing was held during Tuesday’s Shelby County Supervisor’s meeting, with regard to a right of way abandonment of north of the village known as Fiscus. The hearing was held jointly by Zoom, with Audubon County Supervisors. Having heard no public comment the hearing was closed and the joint conference ended. The Board subsequently voted to pass the resolution as presented.

A Public Hearing was also held in a proposed EMS Resolution, with a possible public measure to be placed on the ballot on November 7th, 2023. The resolution states it is necessary to always have first responders on duty in Shelby County to answer emergency calls for assistance. The ownership of the private ambulance service that currently serves Shelby County plans on retirement in the upcoming years and no private enterprise has stepped up to provide emergency medical services.

Tim Plumb EMS Advisory Council member, and Alex Londo EMA Coordinator, presented a hand out with frequently asked questions regarding the Resolution and plans to place the issue on the November ballot. Copies are available from the County Auditors office and on the Shelby County Website. Plumb and Londo also explained that meetings with fire departments and town hall meetings will be scheduled this fall.

Steve Barrett, a Kirkman City Council member asked what effects this may have on current 28E agreements between cities and private EMS and volunteer EMS organizations. The question was referred to the County Attorney. The Resolution, was passed as presented.