Supervisors table indemnity agreement with Rock Valley Physical Therapy after staff raise concerns

Summary

An indemnity agreement drafted for Rock Valley Physical Therapy was tabled at the Jan. 12 Muscatine County supervisors meeting after staff said a county member (Nathan) had concerns and staff recommended further review; the agreement stems from litigation in another county and is intended as a preemptive standard-of-care measure for preemployment physicals.

The Muscatine County supervisors voted on Jan. 12 to table consideration of an indemnity agreement with Rock Valley Physical Therapy after staff raised questions and asked for additional review.

Under Item 8a, Unidentified Speaker 6 noted that Nathan (referenced by staff) had concerns about one provision of the agreement. The indemnity agreement had been drafted by the county labor attorney and reviewed by Jim, according to the record. Unidentified Speaker 7 said the county works with Rock Valley to perform preemployment physicals and that the proposed indemnity was prompted not by any incident in Muscatine County but by ongoing litigation in another county; the purpose is to establish a standard of care for the provider.

Unidentified Speaker 2 moved to table the agreement so Nathan’s concerns could be addressed; Unidentified Speaker 4 seconded. The board voted by voice and the motion to table carried. The meeting record does not include the text of the disputed provision or the exact nature of Nathan’s concern.

The board did not take further action on the agreement at the Jan. 12 meeting and directed the item to come back for review after staff and counsel clarification.