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Steffensmeier to replace Osipowicz as engineer
By Joe Benedict/MVM News Network
The search for a new Lee County Engineer to head the Secondary Roads Department did not take very long.
Supervisors Rick Larkin and Bob Woodruff interviewed the only internal candidate and both recommended at the supervisors' regular meeting Tuesday at the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk that the individual be hired as the engineer.
With the exception of one abstention, the board unanimously approved Ernest Steffensmeier to replace Lee County Engineer Dennis Osipowicz. Steffensmeier is Supervisor Larry Kruse's cousin, so Kruse abstained from the vote. Steffensmeier, a current secondary roads employee, fills in for Osipowicz during absences.
Supervisor Chairman George Morgan said it is refreshing to see the department had someone who could step in and move up. Steffensmeier is a licensed engineering surveyor.
Woodruff and Larkin said they were impressed by Steffensmeier in the interview and found him well qualified to take on the job. He will become the county engineer Jan. 1.
The ascension of Steffensmeier to the engineer's position brings some questions with it. Woodruff said some counties have an employment agreement with their engineers. That is something that will be discussed with County Attorney Mike Short.
It also leaves Steffensmeier's old job open. Osipowicz said he discussed that with Steffensmeier and the department may look at hiring a recent college graduate in the spring. Osipowicz said with some young engineers being laid off due to the economy, they may be able to find someone with a few years' experience as well.
In other business, Lee County Health Department Director Julie Schilling said Lee County will receive an additional $6,140 in funds from a federal grant. The money will be part of the contract for 2008 immunization services.
LCHD will receive $4,335 of the money and the Community Health Center will get $1,805. The money is going to be used to buy new refrigerators designed to hold vaccines, medicines and biological items. Schilling said the current refrigerator in use at the LCHD is about 15 years old and needed replaced anyway. The new refrigerator controls temperatures in a one to two degree difference at all times, which is important for vaccines.
In a workshop after the regular meeting, the supervisors discussed the report from the state audit of the county. While the auditor found the county to be fairly “clean,” there were a few issues the supervisors said they would look at.
First was the leasing of vehicles by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. When a county department buys a vehicle, it appears for approval on an agenda for a public meeting. Morgan said that rule should apply to leasing, too, according to the state.
Another minor item in the state report was some welding work done for the county by Steffensmeier's brother. That amounted to about $2,600. The supervisors said there is nothing wrong with family of county employees doing business with the county, but it is something to track.
Supervisors Rick Larkin and Bob Woodruff interviewed the only internal candidate and both recommended at the supervisors' regular meeting Tuesday at the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk that the individual be hired as the engineer.
With the exception of one abstention, the board unanimously approved Ernest Steffensmeier to replace Lee County Engineer Dennis Osipowicz. Steffensmeier is Supervisor Larry Kruse's cousin, so Kruse abstained from the vote. Steffensmeier, a current secondary roads employee, fills in for Osipowicz during absences.
Supervisor Chairman George Morgan said it is refreshing to see the department had someone who could step in and move up. Steffensmeier is a licensed engineering surveyor.
Woodruff and Larkin said they were impressed by Steffensmeier in the interview and found him well qualified to take on the job. He will become the county engineer Jan. 1.
The ascension of Steffensmeier to the engineer's position brings some questions with it. Woodruff said some counties have an employment agreement with their engineers. That is something that will be discussed with County Attorney Mike Short.
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In other business, Lee County Health Department Director Julie Schilling said Lee County will receive an additional $6,140 in funds from a federal grant. The money will be part of the contract for 2008 immunization services.
LCHD will receive $4,335 of the money and the Community Health Center will get $1,805. The money is going to be used to buy new refrigerators designed to hold vaccines, medicines and biological items. Schilling said the current refrigerator in use at the LCHD is about 15 years old and needed replaced anyway. The new refrigerator controls temperatures in a one to two degree difference at all times, which is important for vaccines.
In a workshop after the regular meeting, the supervisors discussed the report from the state audit of the county. While the auditor found the county to be fairly “clean,” there were a few issues the supervisors said they would look at.
First was the leasing of vehicles by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. When a county department buys a vehicle, it appears for approval on an agenda for a public meeting. Morgan said that rule should apply to leasing, too, according to the state.
Another minor item in the state report was some welding work done for the county by Steffensmeier's brother. That amounted to about $2,600. The supervisors said there is nothing wrong with family of county employees doing business with the county, but it is something to track.
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