Supervisors discuss pair of items regarding county morgue and medical examiner transport arrangement between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 23 to address a full agenda of matters including discussion of employee hiring relating to County Medical Examiner transport staff, the consideration of setting the date and time for the Public Hearing for Amendment 20 to Zoning Ordinance L relating to Data Centers, and the consideration of motor grader quotes. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Keatley present.
During Public Comment, Stacie Sweeney Cooper noted that she would like to add to comments made earlier during the Public Hearing relating to the Proposed Property Tax Levy for Fiscal-Year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 which was held earlier that same morning prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting. Cooper made note of feedback she has received from individuals of diverse economic backgrounds from throughout the county relating to the cost of living and income related challenges faced with most living under tight budgets regarding personal and family spending in addition to the elderly living within fixed incomes.
She encouraged the Supervisors and Department Heads to keep those facts in mind relating to budgeting and spending at the county level to best serve the public in addition to noting Allamakee County’s status statewide from a socio-economic perspective. Cooper made note of higher property valuations allowing for an increase in property taxes which support county operations, with these increases also having an impact on farmers, small businesses and the workforce.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Coyle of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) discussed the “Golden Sledgehammer” event held Thursday, March 12 as part of the renovation project kick-off for the new VMH Postville Clinic location. Coyle advised that the new location is anticipated to be open in October for patients.
Following the time allotted for Public Comment, the meeting moved into the discussion and consideration of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Allamakee County and VMH relating to space for the location of the county morgue. County Sheriff Clark Mellick provided an overview of the Memorandum of Understanding which allows for the county morgue location to remain at VMH following the transfer of ownership of the Medical Examiner vehicle from VMH to Allamakee County and the movement of Medical Examiner equipment and supplies from VMH to storage space at the County Public Safety Center.
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