Jackson County sanitarian seeks public input on animal-control survey, requests $20,000 private-well grant reallocation

County sanitarian Elizabeth Townsend told the Jackson County Board of Supervisors she is preparing a countywide animal-control program survey that will be distributed to local leaders and opened to the public for several months to collect input on animal-bite reporting and other animal-related issues.

"Back in January, I requested a $20,000 reallocation," Townsend said, referring to additional private-well grant money the county was granted to cover extra water testing. She said the county had used most of the current private-well grant year funds and that the reallocated $20,000 would be applied to water-testing services as demand has increased.

Townsend also said she has been drafting a rewrite of the county wastewater ordinance (referred to in the meeting as ordinance No. 250). She told the board the draft was reviewed by staff and then tabled at a previous meeting because pending state legislation could change local responsibilities; she asked for the board's direction and said she would follow up with state contacts to clarify the county's role.

Townsend raised concerns about recent state-level conversations to regionalize or otherwise change local public-health boards, saying the county may need to clarify whether local public-health authority will shift. Board members requested that Townsend follow up with the state representative and report back to the board at a future meeting.

The sanitarian's report also noted the county was represented on the Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association board and that the department had recently sent notices of violation for septic issues, with mostly cooperative responses. Townsend said she will bring legislative and board-of-health clarifications back to the board once she has more information.