Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public-health director outlines radon-awareness grant and plan for a veteran "mini home" in Burlington
Summary
Des Moines County public-health staff described a radon-awareness and testing grant and said the county is pursuing an "Iowa 2x4 for Health" mini-home to provide housing for homeless veterans in Burlington; officials also gave a brief update on hantavirus and a pending Iowa Health & Human Services realignment.
Chris DePue, representing the county health department, told the Board of Supervisors the county is pursuing several public-health efforts, including a radon-awareness grant and a proposal to bring a small, donated "mini home" to Burlington for homeless veterans.
"We're still keeping busy," DePue said, summarizing recent Board of Health actions. He said the radon project is subcontracted through another county and will "focus on radon awareness and work on radon detection and offer radon testing kits." DePue also described a component aimed at cancer resources and noted the steering committee for the Iowa 2x4 for Health program is exploring placing a mini home in Burlington similar to ones in Lee County, Fort Madison and Keokuk.
DePue told supervisors the county also received an update on hantavirus (Loma and Andes virus) and said there is "nothing to be concerned about for the community," characterizing the report as informational. He raised the upcoming Iowa Health and Human Services realignment, which will take effect in January 2027, and said the county does not yet know how district organization will change.
The report did not include cost, timeline, or confirmed site details for a Burlington mini-home; staff said they are pursuing the opportunity and will report back as details firm up.
The board took no formal vote on the mini-home concept at the meeting.
