Chief judge asks county to fund hospitalization referee for July; supervisors approve temporary coverage

Chief Judge Kelly Ann Leekar told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on July 1 that negotiations over a new contract for the county’s mental‑health hospitalization referee remain unresolved between the state primary care association and state court administration, and asked the county to pay 100% of the referee’s July compensation so hearings can continue.

Leekar, identifying the referee as a state judicial employee by statute, said the state had provided a contract that appears to cover roughly 70% of the traditional hospitalization‑referee amount but contained terms the judicial branch could not sign. She asked the county to cover one month’s full cost while the judicial branch and the primary care association work toward a mutually acceptable contract.

Supervisors voted to fund the referee position at 100% for July so the referee’s pay and services continue while negotiations proceed. County staff said the board had budgeted 30% historically and that covering a single month would amount to about one‑twelfth of an annual figure the judge cited (roughly $56,000 annually), which the judge gave as an illustrative total in the meeting. Leekar said county staff in Des Moines will prepare a one‑month request so the county can be reimbursed to the extent the state ultimately pays.

Why it matters: the hospitalization referee handles involuntary hospitalization and substance‑abuse commitment hearings for the judicial district; the chief judge said more than 400 active cases are on the docket and losing the referee would make triage difficult.

Board action: the supervisors approved temporary full funding for July and directed staff to work with state court administration and the primary care association to secure a permanent contract or state reimbursement.