Polk County Supervisor Jill Alteringer briefs Johnston council on accessibility, grants and county savings
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Summary
Polk County Supervisor Jill Alteringer told the Johnston City Council about improved public access to county meetings, a revamped grant process, a newly signed county strategic plan, and estimated savings from aligning the county medical examiner with the state.
Polk County Supervisor Jill Alteringer told the Johnston City Council the county has prioritized public access and transparency, and she highlighted several administrative changes and cost-saving measures.
Alteringer said the county has made it easier for residents to access meetings through live streaming and archived recordings and added hyperlinks to agendas so contracts and resolutions are easier to find. She said the county reworked its grant-review process and has signed a strategic plan to guide future budgeting and priorities.
On facilities and shared services, Alteringer said Polk County aligned its medical examiner function with the state and "We estimate that we save 25 to $37,000,000 straight off the top by not having to build our own facility, plus an ongoing million dollars a year." She also described a new kiosk program for recently incarcerated individuals developed in partnership with Saint Vincent de Paul and said, "We have already served a 193 people in that less than 1 month time." Alteringer said the county is updating personnel policies, including workplace harassment and violence policies that she said had not been revised in more than 20 years.
Alteringer invited questions, and council members thanked her for the update and for ongoing county-city collaboration.
