Scott County supervisors hear county administrator on humane-society van, EMS reaccreditation and budget planning

The Scott County Board of Supervisors met Sept. 11, 2025, approved routine consent items and heard several updates from County Administrator Mahesh Sharma, including plans to repair and transfer a used van to the local humane society and news that county medic/EMS has been accredited for the next five years.

Sharma told the board that during a recent intergovernmental meeting with Davenport and Bettendorf their “main discussion was regarding the human society.” He said the county has a used van currently in its possession and “we are going to repair it to ensure that it's road safe. And, then we'll bring it to your attention. And if you approve, we will hand it over to the humane society as they requested.” The administrator framed the transfer as contingent on later board approval and on completing repairs.

The administrator also reported that the county’s medic/EMS “received [the health department notification]. So they are going to be accredited or reaccredited for the next 5 years,” and that the accreditation will be formally recognized at a joint Scott County Board of Supervisors and Board of Health meeting in October. No vote or formal action on accreditation was recorded at this meeting; the item was presented as an informational update.

On budgeting, Sharma said department heads have been asked to submit any organizational change requests with a near-term deadline; staff will gather material in October, meet with departments and authorized agencies, and then return to the board to request budget parameters. He also said the board will first discuss a planned space study and then decide whether to refresh the county strategic plan.

Sharma said the county will continue holding an annual Public Safety Authority meeting (a body created when debt for the jail was issued) even though the jail debt has been paid, explaining the authority remains useful if future voter actions or service decisions (for example, medic/EMS) come before the county.

Supervisors offered brief reports. Supervisor Beck addressed a constituent rumor that Scott County Park Pool would close next year and stated, “that’s not true,” saying the current plan is to complete repairs this year and possibly finish remaining work in spring if needed. Beck summarized regional grant work under an RDA program intended to fund larger projects and described nonprofit coordination ideas—including a proposed electronic inventory system for food pantries—saying the interconnect project could cost “about $600,000.” She also described a concept to colocate multiple nonprofits in a large retail space (referred to in the meeting as a more-than-100,000-square-foot site), which would centralize services for residents.

Another supervisor recounted attendance at a Johnson County/Urban County Coalition meeting and said legislative priorities discussed there emphasized property-tax and property-rights issues and unfunded mandates; the speaker noted a report mentioned in the meeting (referred to in the transcript as the “DOGE report”) is due on the 24th and the board plans to reconvene its review after that release.

Procedurally, the board approved minutes from recent meetings and the consent agenda (paragraphs 6–14). A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and the chair closed the meeting. No new ordinances, contracts, or formal budget actions were adopted at this session.

Looking ahead, Sharma indicated the board will receive the space-study discussion and budget-parameter request in October and will formally recognize EMS accreditation at the joint supervisors/Board of Health meeting next month.