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Iowa County approves contract with local hospital to fund two deputy security officers
Summary
The Iowa County Board approved a 20/80 contract with a local hospital that will fund two deputy positions to provide security at the hospital. The county says the arrangement will cost taxpayers no new ongoing wage or vehicle expenditures and could begin after hiring and testing procedures conclude in the spring.
The Iowa County Board voted to approve a contract with the county hospital that will fund two deputy security officers, the board confirmed during its meeting.
The contract, described by county staff as a 20/80 arrangement, will place two deputies at the hospital with the hospital covering wages and benefits. County officials said the county will supply a spare patrol vehicle rather than adding a new car to the fleet. The board approved the agreement by voice vote after a motion and second; the motion passed unanimously.
County officials said the hospital and county have negotiated the schedule to provide daily coverage with a 12-hour shift model that the sheriff’s office already uses. County staff described the arrangement as flexible, with the ability to adjust schedules by mutual agreement.
County speakers said the hospital prefers continuity and expressed interest in keeping the same officers assigned to the hospital when possible so they become familiar with hospital operations. Officials also said the hospital’s offer to pay wages and benefits avoids the typical immediate taxpayer impact for new hires, although the contract will add two people to the county’s covered personnel roster.
Staff outlined the hiring and onboarding timeline, saying the process will follow typical testing and advertising rules for law-enforcement hires. County staff estimated the testing and hiring timeline will take roughly 45 to 60 days, and the earliest realistic start date for the hospital coverage would be in April, subject to successful recruitment and candidate testing.
Board members discussed operational details including whether the hospital-assigned deputies would come from existing personnel or be hired new. County staff said the most likely model is a mix: one existing deputy and one new hire initially, with rotations and scheduling adjustments handled through normal personnel processes.
The board approved the agreement by voice vote. County staff said the contract will be finalized with a pricing schedule to be circulated to board members and that any schedule changes under the contract would be made by mutual agreement and within the constraints of union rules.
The county emphasized the arrangement is intended primarily as a deterrent and community-facing role inside the hospital, including night coverage, perimeter checks and assisting patients and visitors rather than routine law-enforcement patrol duties.
Provenance: Topic introduced when county staff outlined the proposed contract with the hospital and concluded after discussion of hiring timelines and scheduling.Testimony excerpt: "Okay. So as you know, the hospital is interested in hiring 2 deputies to perform security at the hospital..." (transcript block starting at 2235.94). The conversation about hiring timeline and start date appears near transcript blocks ending around 2939.295.
