(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors met this (Wednesday) morning, and acted on several matters to come before them on their agenda. First-up, the Board received an update from County Engineer Karen Albert.She said the Secondary Roads Department has been hauling contract road rock and cleaning-up some trees that fell during a recent storm.

A Public Health update was received from Montgomery County Public Health Director Samantha Beesen, who mentioned she is taking on additional duties in the County.

Beeson said the State of Iowa has merged DHS and Public Health at the State level, and “there is talk coming down from the State level, that in the next couple of years, Public Health (departments) will be regionalized.

In other business, the Board acted on approving contracts with the Villisca and Elliott Libraries, for services totaling $13, 665. And, they approved a tobacco/tobacco products permit application from the Red Oak Country Club. The Supervisors passed a resolution which essentially tracks lease agreements/paperwork, as required by Iowa law. And, they passed a resolution to accept a bid from Peterson Contractors, for work on a new box culvert project on 180^th Street, in Montgomery County.

The Board discussed, but took no action at this time, on a lease agreement with Family Connections, for additional Annex building space. Chair Mike Olson suggested the current rate of 30-cents per square foot the County charges for the 3,410-Sq.ft facility, is “a little low.” Family Connections currently rents 1,800 square feet of the building. The County pays the utilities, mowing and snow removal for the building. FC would like to update the addition previously occupied by West Central. Both the Board and Family Connections representative Chelsie Hirt FC Director/Therapist, agreed they need to put together some updated information and figures before approving a renegotiated agreement.

And, the Supervisors discussed with officials from the City of Red Oak and Montgomery County Development Corporation (MCDC), a resolution for one-half of the financial support ($1,500 of the $3,000) needed for maintenance of a rail spur. During their meeting this past Monday, the City Council in Red Oak voted 3-to 0 to approve a one-year economic development support agreement with MCDC for repair of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad spur that spans a distance between the Bunge plant and the railroad’s main line, along with authorizing the transfer of ownership of the spur from the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association to MCDC.

After a considerable amount of discussion, the Board voted 4-to1, with Vice Chair Donna Robinson opposed, to pass the Resolution. Supervisor Mark Peterson read the resolution as presented. Here is a portion of that Resolution…

The Board then reviewed and approved by a similar vote of 4-to-1, a Memorandum of Understanding between the County,City of Red Oak, and MCDC, which spells out the additions, changes and/or corrections as presented. The hope is to begin repairs on the spur this month, with the goal of having it operational by August 1^st.