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Mills County opens public hearing and approves first reading of ordinance for residential care facilities
Summary
After a public hearing with law enforcement and residents, the Mills County Board approved the first reading of Ordinance 26-06 (Residential Care Facilities) and scheduled a second reading for next week's meeting; County Attorney said the ordinance creates enforcement tools but licensing remains at the state level.
The Mills County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing on Ordinance 26-06, "Residential Care Facilities," heard public comment and testimony from the sheriff's office and the county attorney, and approved the ordinance's first reading with a motion to place the second reading on next week's agenda.
Chair (S1) called law enforcement and the county attorney to the table before opening the hearing at 08:25. Sheriff (S2) described repeated responses to rural residential care homes where staffing was reported as inadequate; he recounted a recent incident that kept two deputies occupied for roughly two hours and said the county needs additional enforcement tools to recoup costs and ensure staff and resident safety.
County Attorney (S11) said the proposed ordinance focuses on operational deficiencies: it establishes a remediation process, requires an operator to submit a plan to correct deficiencies, and allows the county to impose penalties if problems persist. "It gives us an opportunity to... provide the county with a plan on how it's been corrected and if it continues... then there are penalties we can impose," S11 said. S11 clarified that revoking state licenses is not within county authority and that licensing remains a state responsibility; the county's role would be to notify state agencies when appropriate.
Residents and commenters asked how the county would monitor staffing levels and what penalties would apply. County Attorney (S11) and Sheriff (S2) said enforcement would include county penalties and notification to state licensing agencies when warranted. The record shows a motion to close the public hearing at 08:37, which passed, and a subsequent motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 26-06; the board approved that motion by roll call and agreed to consider the second reading at next week's meeting.
The ordinance text will be available to the public for review; the county attorney and sheriff said the enforcement language is designed to address persistent operational problems without duplicating state licensing functions. The board did not adopt the ordinance today; it advanced the measure to the second reading stage.
