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County roundup: personnel step increases approved; health department eyes radon testing program; veterans stand-down planned
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Summary
Supervisors approved multiple anniversary step increases and personnel actions, heard health department plans to purchase and distribute radon test kits and an AED for Big Hollow, and learned veterans affairs is planning a county veterans 'stand down' July 24.
At its March 24 meeting the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved a slate of routine personnel actions and received updates from county departments on public health, veterans services and emergency preparedness.
Personnel actions approved included anniversary step increases and administrative leave for county staff: Mandy Spencer (county attorney administrative assistant) was approved for 17.4 hours of unpaid leave effective March 13, 2026; Danielle Cassidy (county attorney legal assistant) received a 30-month step increase to $42,820.49; deputies Clay Foster and Brett Hobrick received anniversary step increases (both moving to approximately $72,942.88); Christine Hayes (treasurer's clerk) received a 12-month step increase to $37,689.50 effective April 3, 2026; and conservation staff Jacqueline Wolken and Brandon Roman received scheduled step increases (Wolken to $23.30/hour, Roman to $51,771.28). The board moved and approved each set of personnel items.
Public-health updates: Krista Povamiller (Board of Health) said the county has seen upper respiratory illnesses and discussed considering physician statements relating to radon; the board discussed purchasing radon test kits for distribution and hosting education materials. Povamiller said the county used public-health emergency funds to procure an automated external defibrillator (AED) to be placed at Big Hollow in an outdoor heated cabinet accessible via a 911-issued code to cut response time.
"Those would be the ones," Povamiller said when asked whether retail radon kits are appropriate for identifying elevated levels. A board member suggested posting a brief instructional video to show residents how to run a kit; Povamiller agreed the video was a good idea.
Veterans and emergency-management items: Brooke Marlin (Veterans Affairs) reported 33 attendees at a recent coffee-and-conversation event and said organizers are planning a veterans "stand down" on July 24 at the auditorium (tentatively 7 a.m.–4 p.m.) and seeking public-health and law-enforcement participation. Shannon Prado (emergency management) announced Severe Weather Awareness Week and noted a statewide tornado drill scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Other routine business: the board received updates from the recorder on a potential statewide property-notification system (an RFQ has been issued) and from the conservation and parks office on spring programming; minutes from the March 17 meeting were approved.
What to watch next: the county's small capital and personnel moves will continue under usual administrative processes; the public-health office may return with details on a radon-kit distribution plan and the auditor will publish documents related to the April 7 hearing on the proposed loan.