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Community Center pact approved by supervisors
By Joe Benedict/MVM News Network
FORT MADISON - In July the Community Center, operated by the Lee County Central Point of Communication, will have been open for a year. CPC Administrator Ryanne Wood presented the Lee County Board of Supervisors with a report and request to approve a contract with the center on Tuesday.
The center had a goal of providing a safe sanctuary for people with disabilities to gather. It also provides socialization opportunities outside of work programs. The visitors help with responsibilities at the center, including meal preparation, cleanup and other planning.
Wood said since the center has opened, hospitalization at the Keokuk Area Hospital psychiatric unit has decreased by 77 days. That is close to 49 percent down from last year.
Supervisor Bob Woodruff said he wasn't convinced a year ago how effective the Community Center would be. But today, he said, he would make a motion to renew the contract. The motion passed.
Wood shared some concerns with the operation of the center as well. She said transportation needs to be expanded. Currently, there is transportation available to the center three days a week. She said the bus sometimes arrives as late as 5:30 p.m. when the riders are scheduled to be picked up at 6:30 p.m. Wood said there would be more attendance and it would be easier to schedule activities if the transportation system could be expanded.
Wood also would like to see a move to a bigger location. She said the center is averaging about 12 visitors per day and it is too small to accommodate everyone, especially if they want to eat together, or there is more than one person in a wheelchair. If the transportation needs are met, the center will be even more crowded.
She suggested the center continue on a month-to-month lease at the current location, but look for a larger location.
The supervisors also discussed a possible contract between the Lee County Sheriff's Department and the City of Donnellson. Sheriff Buck Jones said Donnellson has been without a police chief for several months and there have been up to 12 interviews with no one taking the job.
Jones said he would like to hire another officer if Donnellson would like to contract with the Sheriff's Department for 20-30 hours a week of guaranteed coverage. He said most of the sheriff's he has discussed contracting with said the cities usually get more than the guaranteed hours.
The cost of another deputy would be about $60,000 a year. Much of that cost would be paid by the contract with Donnellson. Jones said it would give law enforcement in Donnellson more flexibility because instead of one officer being on call all the time, there would be several deputies who would spend time in Donnellson.
If Donnellson wants to contract with the sheriff's office, a budget amendment will have to be passed to pay for an additional deputy.
During the worksession after the regular meeting, Tracy Vance, executive director of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce asked the supervisors if there was anything they could do to help a cleanup effort in Fort Madison.
Vance mentioned two properties that are just outside of city limits. One is an old motel that has partially been demolished on Burlington Hill and another is a property gathering junk cars across from the Fort Madison community Hospital.
Supervisor Rick Larkin asked if anyone had talked to the property owners. Vance said he talked to the Burlington Hill property owner and there had been some progress. The owner demolished two old buildings on the property. The property owner across from the hospital has had contact with hospital officials but would not commit to cleaning up the property.
Vance asked if it was possible to enforce salvage yard rules on the west end property. Woodruff said not if he isn't running a business there. There is no zoning in the county and if the owner isn't operating a salvage yard then there currently is no course of action.
One action that may be taken in the future by the supervisors is adopting the state's health and safety hazard ordinance. This would give the county the right to clean up hazards. The falling down building would be a safety hazard and the abandoned autos could he a health hazard if rats or other animals were living there across the street from a hospital.
The center had a goal of providing a safe sanctuary for people with disabilities to gather. It also provides socialization opportunities outside of work programs. The visitors help with responsibilities at the center, including meal preparation, cleanup and other planning.
Wood said since the center has opened, hospitalization at the Keokuk Area Hospital psychiatric unit has decreased by 77 days. That is close to 49 percent down from last year.
Supervisor Bob Woodruff said he wasn't convinced a year ago how effective the Community Center would be. But today, he said, he would make a motion to renew the contract. The motion passed.
Wood shared some concerns with the operation of the center as well. She said transportation needs to be expanded. Currently, there is transportation available to the center three days a week. She said the bus sometimes arrives as late as 5:30 p.m. when the riders are scheduled to be picked up at 6:30 p.m. Wood said there would be more attendance and it would be easier to schedule activities if the transportation system could be expanded.
Wood also would like to see a move to a bigger location. She said the center is averaging about 12 visitors per day and it is too small to accommodate everyone, especially if they want to eat together, or there is more than one person in a wheelchair. If the transportation needs are met, the center will be even more crowded.
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The supervisors also discussed a possible contract between the Lee County Sheriff's Department and the City of Donnellson. Sheriff Buck Jones said Donnellson has been without a police chief for several months and there have been up to 12 interviews with no one taking the job.
Jones said he would like to hire another officer if Donnellson would like to contract with the Sheriff's Department for 20-30 hours a week of guaranteed coverage. He said most of the sheriff's he has discussed contracting with said the cities usually get more than the guaranteed hours.
The cost of another deputy would be about $60,000 a year. Much of that cost would be paid by the contract with Donnellson. Jones said it would give law enforcement in Donnellson more flexibility because instead of one officer being on call all the time, there would be several deputies who would spend time in Donnellson.
If Donnellson wants to contract with the sheriff's office, a budget amendment will have to be passed to pay for an additional deputy.
During the worksession after the regular meeting, Tracy Vance, executive director of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce asked the supervisors if there was anything they could do to help a cleanup effort in Fort Madison.
Vance mentioned two properties that are just outside of city limits. One is an old motel that has partially been demolished on Burlington Hill and another is a property gathering junk cars across from the Fort Madison community Hospital.
Supervisor Rick Larkin asked if anyone had talked to the property owners. Vance said he talked to the Burlington Hill property owner and there had been some progress. The owner demolished two old buildings on the property. The property owner across from the hospital has had contact with hospital officials but would not commit to cleaning up the property.
Vance asked if it was possible to enforce salvage yard rules on the west end property. Woodruff said not if he isn't running a business there. There is no zoning in the county and if the owner isn't operating a salvage yard then there currently is no course of action.
One action that may be taken in the future by the supervisors is adopting the state's health and safety hazard ordinance. This would give the county the right to clean up hazards. The falling down building would be a safety hazard and the abandoned autos could he a health hazard if rats or other animals were living there across the street from a hospital.
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