Mahaska Supervisors discuss county EMA, 911 merger
Jun. 6—OSKALOOSA — The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors discussed a proposed "merger" of the Mahaska County Emergency Management Agency with Mahaska County 911 services.
The discussion was held during their regular meeting Monday. The "merger" would then transfer the "oversight and execution of duties" of 911 services to the Emergency Management Commission, which is the governing body of the EMA.
Concerns were raised at Monday's Mahaska County Board of Supervisors meeting regarding changes in legislation that would allow for any merger between the two entities to be passed by a two-thirds majority by the EMA Board and the 911 Board. The proposal would also need to be approved by the Supervisors.
It was also brought to the attention of the supervisors that, once merged, there exists no statutory mechanism to un-merge the two entities in the future.
"There's no parallel provision which allows a vote to split apart this merger or this transfer," explained Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland. "So what that means is if there was a change down the road, or if there was a desired change down the road, it would effectively have to be resolved in court because there's no statutory path to do it."
Part of the discussion included funding for 911 services and where it would come from. Ritland emphasized that the potential transfer of power would likely have no effect on 911 funding.
"Even if there was a transfer of duties to the EMC, I do not believe that then changes how 911 is funded," Ritland said.
In conversation with The Herald, EMA Administrator Jamey Robinson pointed to comments made by State Rep. Cherielynn Westrich, R-Ottumwa, when she spoke before the Iowa House of Representatives about the legislation, Senate File 2298.
In speaking on the bill, Westrich said, "This gives smaller counties more options for funding." While the bill doesn't specifically mention funding sources, it includes language that the commission "shall have all of the powers of a joint 911 service board" if the power is transferred.
"I think we've just got to get things figured out and get everybody on the same page," Robinson said to The Herald. He expressed a hope that the issue could be settled without further legal proceedings.
The county and the EMA have already been entangled in three civil lawsuits regarding the issue of 911 services in Mahaska County and their funding. A judge has sided with the county twice in those lawsuits, and a third lawsuit is pending.
In other news:
— Supervisors approved $833,612.58 in bills for the month of May.
— Talisa Voss' appointment as the jail administrator, effective May 23, 2022, was approved.
— Carter Brown's appointment as assistant engineer, effective June 6, 2022, was approved.
— Supervisors approved a contract renewal with Carosh Compliance Solutions HIPAA consult services for $12,159.
Channing Rucks can be reached at crucks@oskyherald.com.
